2008 May | The Urban Desert Real Estate

Archive for May, 2008

Tempe’s Mosaic condos to feature Whole Foods store

May 26th, 2008 categories: Tempe condos, lofts and townhouses

Mosaic in Tempe will offer many amenities, one of the most impressive being a Whole Foods store.

When construction begins in 2009, a 52,885-square-foot Whole Foods Market and Cafe will be built at the bottom of the condominium tower at the northwest corner of University Drive and Ash Avenue. The natural and organic food store will include a sushi bar, pizza kitchen and a gourmet deli.

Other building amenities will include the following:

Seventh-floor deck with pool, spa, barbecue grills and firepit.
Private elevator from the Whole Foods entrance to the seventh-floor deck.
Lobby with valet, 24-hour security, on-site HOA manager, concierge, mail center and seating areas.
Fitness Center with locker room facilities, steam rooms and private showers.
Business center with a large conference table and Wi-Fi.
Resident lounge with catering kitchen and game table.
Secured above-ground parking with storage for bicycles.
Additional storage available for purchase.

Standard features in the units will include Bosch stainless steel appliances, Kohler plumbing fixtures, undermounted sinks, European-style cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling windows with Low-E glass.

The 239-unit, 23-story tower will have six townhomes, nine penthouses, 48 flats and 176 tower condos, between 509 and 3,300 square feet. Prices will go from the low $300s to $2.9 million.

Otak, a Lake Oswego, Ore.-based architecture, engineering and design firm with a Tempe office, designed the tower to minimize exposure to the harsh western sun and maximize exposure to the north-south corridors.

Mosaic is now accepting reservations.

For more renderings, click here.

For more information on Mosaic, contact Joe Kovesdy.

Spoken by Joe Kovesdy | Discussion: No Comments »

Phoenix set to have more green condos

May 11th, 2008 categories: Phoenix condos, lofts and townhouses

Another green residential development is in the works for Phoenix.

The Victor, a planned 37-unit condo development, will have a variety of sustainable and green building materials and finishes to help it achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for environmentally sensitive building quality. The certification is obtained through the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit coalition of builders, manufacturers, developers and public and private organizations.

The infill project was designed by [merz] project, a Phoenix-based architecture and urban design firm. The firm also designed Phoenix’s Galleries at Turney, which was the first residential development in Arizona to receive LEED certification.

LEED features will include low-E windows, xeriscape landscaping, Energy Star appliances, high-efficiency water fixtures and dual-flush toilets.

The site for The Victor, which is now being excavated, is located at 15th and Pierson streets, between Camelback Road and Highland Avenue.

Its location will add to its eco-friendliness by placing residents close to major businesses in the Biltmore area, reducing commute times, improving quality of life and decreasing environmental impact.

At a marketing event, held last month at Copenhagen Imports in Phoenix, architect Joe Herzog said the design, which includes a street-level pool and bench seating along a secure perimeter, aims to promote interaction with the community.

There are five floor plans: live/work, two bedroom flat, private yard, private garage and one bedroom flex. The units range from 1,600 to 2,160 square feet. Pricing begins at $395,000.

In addition to the private garages available in some units, there will be on-site underground parking and street parking available.

The development is offering buyer incentives for the first 10 contracts. One of the most compelling is a $25,000 package, which includes interior design services, appliance upgrades and furniture. As another incentive, the seller will make purchase price adjustments to reflect any subsequent price drops.

The Victor is expected to open in 2009.

To view renderings and the materials used for the interior and exterior, click here.

For more information on The Victor, contact Joe Kovesdy.

Spoken by Joe Kovesdy | Discussion: 3 Comments »

At Tempe Urban Living, the name says it all

May 7th, 2008 categories: Tempe condos, lofts and townhouses

From its name to its modern design, Tempe Urban Living screams urbanity.

Designed by innovative Tempe-based architect Ilan Bardinger, the interior design of the townhouses show an emphasis on open spaces with clean lines and ample natural lighting. The outside has masonry blocks, multi-colored smooth cement boards, decorative concrete and rusted gates.

Interior features include Bosch appliances, Italian wood veneer cabinets, Italian porcelain tile floors, quartz counter tops, Toto sinks and toilets, recessed and decorative lighting and upgraded carpet in bedrooms.

Units have generous concrete paver rooftop decks with hose bibs, electric outlets, TV, computer and phone cabling and optional retractable canopies. At the back entrance of each residence is private covered parking.

The 15-unit development, located at Fifth and Roosevelt streets, is a five minute walk from downtown Tempe.