Chandler's ambitious development project, The District Downtown, has received an updated green light from the city's Planning & Zoning Commission. The revised plan which now includes provisions for automobile and truck retail sales among other changes, will next face the Chandler City Council for approval on Oct. 17. Originally endorsed by city officials in 2022, the project envisages a new configuration for downtown Chandler's landscape, as reported by ABC15.
The development, poised to transform nearly 45 acres at the southwest corner of Pecos Road and Arizona Avenue, subtly scales down the previously planned office and commercial space, according to a report from the Phoenix Business Journal. Now, the site, just north of Loop 202, will feature two instead of four office buildings, totaling 72,000 instead of 360,000 square feet. Similarly, commercial space is down from plans of over 125,000 square feet to now proposing a modest 45,115 square feet.
Amidst these shifts, Meridian West AZ/202 LLC, the developing firm behind The District Downtown, is also refinishing the residential aspect by swapping a planned wrapped parking garage for surface parking. This reconfiguration seems aligned with the broader strategy to enact a buildout that meets current market demand, as showcased in the developer's presentation on Sept. 18.
Brennan Ray, an attorney with Burch & Cracchiolo, is handling the legal intricacies for Meridian West AZ/202 LLC in this project. It is noteworthy that, the updated proposal not only reduces the commercial footprint, but also introduces the potential for two hotels sporting 196 rooms—slightly bolstering the hospitality element of the development. Illustrating the project's trajectory, the initial phase will focus on perimeter enhancements along Pecos Road and Arizona Avenue, with the vertical expansion to follow.
Amidst the tactical revisions, the essence of The District Downtown remains intact—as a mixed-use haven encompassing office spaces, a hotel, residential units, and retail. This process anchors Chandler's evolution, as Micah Miranda, the city's economic development director, emphasizes the need for strategic project pursuits within a city that is over 90% built out, a sentiment he shared as a panelist at the Phoenix Business Journal's Growth Corridors event last month.
While the updated plans still await the verdict of the Chandler City Council in October, the city inches toward invigorating its downtown area, with The District Downtown at its core. For further information and to stay abreast of the latest developments, readers can subscribe to free newsletters from the Phoenix Business Journal, which also offers an app for breaking news alerts.
