Downtown Mesa may get 50-unit artist colony

courtesy of Parker Leavitt, The Republic | azcentral.com9:42 a.m. MST October 22, 2014 Non-profit developer Artspace wants to build an affordable-housing project for working artists in Mesa. (Photo: Artspace) STORY HIGHLIGHTS Non-profit developer Artspace wants to build a 50-unit artist colony in downtown Mesa Nearby light rail was a major factor in choosing the Mesa site The colony could be open by fall 2016  44CONNECT 23TWEET 1LINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE Downtown Mesa’s light-rail extension, set to open next fall, is driving new development in the area as plans have come forward for a 50-unit artist colony within walking distance of a future station at Mesa Drive. Non-profit developer Artspace, which has opened 35 artist housing projects in 13 states, plans to open its first Arizona colony near 2nd Avenue and Hibbert within two years. Artspace communities provide affordable housing for working artists who pass income and background checks. The apartments typically feature high ceilings, large windows, wide doorways and about 100 to 150 square feet of studio space, while the complex includes places for small businesses and community gatherings. Proximity to the light rail was a major factor in selecting the vacant lot at 155 S. Hibbert, said Heidi Kurtze, vice president of property development for Artspace. Also just two blocks away is the Mesa Arts Center, which the group hopes will provide opportunities for collaboration, she said. 5 artist colonies around the U.S. Here’s a look at several other artist colonies non-profit developer Artspace has opened in the U.S. Brookland Artspace Lofts | City: Washington, D.C. | Opened: 2011. | Cost: $13.2 million. | Size: 39 units. (Photo: Photo by: Artspace) Fullscreen Next Slide While...

Light rail spurs fourth housing proposal for Mesa

Courtesy of Gary Nelson The Republic | azcentral.com Feb 7, 2013 Sycamore station complex in works Mesa is on the verge of bagging its fourth new housing project with close proximity to light rail. Amcal Multi-Housing Inc. of Agoura Hills, Calif., is proposing a four-story, 82-unit apartment complex immediately adjacent to the Sycamore Street light-rail station. Like the three others, which broke ground last year, Sycamore Station Apartments would be financed by federal tax credits that are designed to encourage development of low-income housing. The tax breaks allow developers to charge lower rents and still make a profit. Amcal is applying to the Arizona Department of Housing, which issues the tax credits on a competitive basis and will decide this spring which projects to support. The department has focused in recent years on developments with access to public transit. That criterion resulted last year in a mother lode of projects for Mesa, which had gone for years without seeing much interest in tax-credit housing. The three projects under way will: Create 81 units of low-income senior housing near Center Street and First Avenue. It is the first privately financed major construction in downtown in a quarter of a century. Replace the vacant Escobedo Apartments on the north edge of downtown with a 124-unit development called Escobedo at Vista Verde. Replace most of the La Mesita Family Shelter on West Main Street with 80 units of workforce housing. Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh, in whose district the project would be built, said Sycamore Station Apartments appears to be a prime candidate for state approval. “It has many of the elements that are...

Property Management in Light Rail Corridor

[Editor’s Note: LRA Real Estate Group manages properties in the light rail corridor. Light Rail Connect endorses LRA Real Estate for their smart decision. This fits in tightly with the Light Rail Connect motto: “We make it easy to live, work and play near the light rail”] Drive down the light rail corridor any day, and you will find thousands of houses and properties near the light rail. A percentage of these homes are owned by intelligent investors. And, investors are looking for aggressive management to care and keep the properties full and maintained. Call LRA Real Estate property management for fast and courteous quote to discuss your situation. 480.734.7878, or bryan@LRAphx.com • lock in the 2012 rate of $50/house management fee • move before year end • Act now • payments made to owners quickly • investor friendly • broker owns rentals and understands issues  ...

Downtown Phoenix move has saved couple lots of money, time

Downtown Phoenix move has saved couple lots of money, time [Editors Note: 44 Monroe is one of may upscale living spaces to live along light rail. You can find more about Live, Work and Play at LightRailConnect.com] Courtesy of Emily Gersema – Sept. 29, 2011 The Arizona Republic A year ago, the Helgesons were celebrating a makeover of their Queen Creek home by TV star designer Nate Berkus. This year, Jessica and Cody Helgeson have turned that southeast Valley home into a rental and are celebrating their recent move to a high-rise in downtown Phoenix, 44 Monroe. Moving downtown has saved them hundreds of dollars a month in gas, reduced their headaches, eliminated their long commutes and improved their social lives, they said. The switch from suburban to urban life has its price. They lost nearly 800 square feet of space and a lush green yard. Do they miss it? “We haven’t really,” said Cody Helgeson, 26. “We had a yard that was all landscaped, but at the same time, we were paying a gardener to come out every week.” “Here we have Civic Space Park,” he said. “It’s not even a block away.”  44 Monroe in Phoenix The Helgesons are among an influx of new tenants at the 202-unit, 34-story building at First Avenue and Monroe Street. The tower once intended for condos is around 75 percent full, rebounding from a slump that began with the housing-market crash a few years ago and foreclosures tied to the bankruptcy of lender Mortgages Ltd. A year ago, a new company in Chicago, ST Residential, bought the tower out of foreclosure and opened...

Life is Suite living at Campus Suites

by Lynlee Smith Campus Suites is the perfect student accommodation located just off the Lightrail at Apache and Mc Clintock station. With two bedroom suites currently starting at $745, three bedroom suites starting at $675 and four bedrooms starting at $635. This complex offers some of the best facilities along the Lightrail. Each room consists of private bathrooms for each individual, hard wooden floors, granite counter tops, washers and dryers and flat screen TV’s to top it off. The amenities don’t stop there. Campus suites has great shared facilities such as a 4,000 square foot gym which has top of the range cardio equipment with built in television sets to enjoy your favorite TV show while you work out, two outdoor swimming pools, an entertainment area consisting of Pool tables, Nintendo Wii, X box and for the ladies who don’t have time to tan outdoors, tanning beds. With these kinds of facilities why wouldn’t you want to live here? Local resident Zac Helms said “Campus Suites is a great place to live. The student atmosphere is great and there is always something going on, the staff are really helpful and are on call 24/7 to assist with any problems”. Campus Suites is the perfect place to make your home, for students wanting off campus living. Their main client base consists of ASU, Rio Salado and other local community college students in the local Phoenix area. Being right beside the Lightrail has helped their establishment become more recognized due to the increased foot traffic in the area. ASU offers free light rail passes for a year for ASU students to...

Light Rail Apartment News: Phoenix – Tempe – Mesa corridor

Apartment News in the Phoenix – Tempe – Mesa Light Rail Corridor Steve was surprised when he started looking for an apartment rental near the light rail transit in Phoenix. ‘There were more options than I thought there would be.” With over 300 apartment complexes in the light rail corridor, everyone who is looking is bound to find one that is affordable and well located. But, you need to start looking. The current market has all apartments available at reasonable prices. There are many locations that can fit your lifestyle and budget. You may find one that is near your current job or even your next one. For years, families have fled from the inner city to the suburbs. Now, after many decades of outward movement, the flow is tending towards the inner city. Work, convenience and access to amenities, desire to reduce commute times all contribute to the success of living near transit.  We have received many reports that living near fixed transit such as light rail is becoming more popular. Urban living is attractive as an alternative living in the suburbs. Not only is apartment living along the light rail corridor desirable, but pockets of homes that for years were neglected have become new fixer-uppers due to the popularity of cable programs such as seen on HGTV. Some of the more popular apartment complexes near the light rail tracks are: Campus Suites, Colter Park, Pala Mesa, The Met, Gateway at Tempe, Apache Station, Henson Village, The Lofts at Rio Salado, and Coral Point. Residents enjoy sparkling pools, clean and spacious living spaces, exercise facilities, new friends, and...