Per AZ Builder’s Exchange, Tempe has a new initiative for design guidelines and peacemaking principles for Downtown, Rio Salado/ Town Lake, Arizona State University, and northwest Neighborhoods in their Character Area 3 draft. 

The plans were unveiled to the public at the Tempe Transformation Center with two sessions to allow maximum exposure to the nearly 12,000 households, 34,000 residents, and 14 neighborhoods set to be affected by the measures moving forward.

The city’s website states the plan’s success will be measured when visitors can identify a sense of place and unique characteristics and when there is a positive impact on the lives of the community. The project will do so with inclusiveness and transparency during the process to get there.

The downtown proposal included several design considerations, including integrating art into the mixed-use and multi-family component, shared and landscape treatments, and enhanced walkability. Specific plans were mentioned for the Hayden Flour Mill, Gateway Plaza, Birchett Park, and Tempe Beach Park.

Bound by Loop 202 on the north, Broadway Road on the South, Priest Drive to the west and McClintock Drive to the east, the 12 neighborhoods to receive guidelines, including Maple-Ash, Lindon Park, Mitchell Park, Clark Park, and Gililland among others, will focus on neighborhood preservation and awareness with specific elements. The guidelines will feature a streamlined review process for historical considerations and implement a program for properties on the Tempe Historic Property Register and the National Register of Historic Places. 

Tempe has invested a significant amount of time and resources in shaping the plan with over 4,000 public contributions received from 2016 to 2017. The city’s hope is to not hinder new development, but rather be more “sensitive” to the prevailing older neighborhoods. After the last public comment opportunity, a revised proposal will go before Council in early 2018.