Archive for the 'Scottsdale condos, lofts and townhouses' Category
Optima Camelview Village is green in more ways than one
July 17th, 2008 categories: Scottsdale condos, lofts and townhouses
It’s green design that truly looks green.
With 23 acres of landscaping squeezed into a 14-acre site, Scottsdale’s Optima Camelview Village has the look and feel of a verdant urban oasis. The sustainable development’s terrace plant life is for more than aesthetic purposes: It’s part of a green roof system that aims to reduce the much-talked-about urban heat island effect.
Every unit’s landscaped terrace helps lower ambient air temperature and re-oxygenate the air. The low-water-use plants also cleanse airborne toxins, recycle nutrients, help with stormwater management, reduce noise transmission within each building and protect roofs from ultra-violet light. When it rains, a unique under-soil mat system either recaptures the water or directs it to the storm sewer system. During drier conditions, plants are replenished by a computerized drip water system.
Optima Camelview has other environmentally-friendly features like roof top photovoltaic panels to convert solar rays into energy, double-glazed insulated glass and special chutes for recyclables in each building. Also, the development has cantilevers and overhangs to produce shade and large outdoor spaces to promote air flow.
Located at the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Highland Avenue, the development is a short walk from Scottsdale Fashion Square mall and close to Old Town Scottsdale nightlife, shops, restaurants and art galleries. The mixed-use community will offer its own on-site businesses including an eatery, dry cleaner and hair salon.
No streets cut through the 11-building, 700-plus-unit community, allowing pedestrians to walk freely. The three- to seven -story buildings are connected by skywalks. Resident and guest parking is available in an underground parking garage.
Units come in one to three bedrooms and there are numerous floor plans available. Size runs 780 to 3,354 square feet. Prices run $349,990 to $2.7 million. Over 430 units have sold.
Interior features include travertine floors and Berber or plush carpet, floor-to-ceiling glass, GE appliances and granite countertops in kitchens.
Community amenities include a 24,000-square-foot health club, two outdoor heated pools and spas, barbeque area, a dog walk, artwork and concierge services.
Optima Camelview was designed by acclaimed architect David Hovey and his Glencoe, Illinois-based company Optima Inc. The company’s other Arizona projects include Optima Biltmore Towers in Phoenix and homes in the Village of Saguaro Forest at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale.
In 2007 Optima Camelview was honored as one of the top architectural achievements in Arizona by The American Institute Architects (AIA) and AZRE magazine.
The final phase of the development is expected to be completed by 2010.
Click here for more pictures.
For more information on Optima Camelview, contact Joe Kovesdy.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Safari sets new standards for Scottsdale luxury communities
July 13th, 2008 categories: Scottsdale condos, lofts and townhouses
With its access to a plethora of high-end stores, restaurants and thoughtful environmental design, the large canal-front development Safari Drive seems destined to redefine the Scottsdalian idea of a luxury community.
The 14-acre mixed-use development at the northeast corner of Camelback and Scottsdale roads is within walking distance of Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, which has a Barneys New York department store, 30 upscale stores and underground parking scheduled to be constructed by the fall of 2009. Safari is also close to Old Town Scottsdale restaurants, shops, art galleries and nightlife.
Of course, residents don’t have to leave their community to shop and eat.
That’s because working with Valley developers Vanguard City Properties and The Wolff Company, renowned Seattle-based architecture, planning and design firm Miller-Hull Partnership created the community to have its own goods and services.
Of Safari’s 11 buildings with residential space in them, four buildings will contain retail stores; two will have restaurants; one will have live/work floor plans. The property’s remaining four buildings provide space for two additional restaurants, retail, a spa and health club and offices.
The size of the residential units, which consist of live/work lofts, flats and townhomes, is expected to run 800 to 2,857 square feet. About half of the first phase’s 89 units have sold. The units still available for purchase are 1,040 to 2,857 square feet and are priced from $710,000 to $2.14 million.
Safari has a significant architectural design, thanks to the oft-laurelled Miller-Hull, which won the 2003 American Institute of Architects (AIA) award for best firm.
The inspiration for the design of the buildings came from the cactus, which because of its grooved form is at least partly shaded at all times. Similarly, the undulating building exteriors provide pockets of shade to reduce heat on the building facade and give residents who linger outside a haven from the sun. The use of thermal mass and deep overhangs provide additional passive cooling. Active cooling techniques include the use of an evaporative cooling tower to emit cool air to gathering spaces.
Materials like exposed burnished concrete block, weathered steel and integral-colored stucco are durable and require little maintenance. Aesthetically, the fine grain finishes and warm colors are pleasing.
Interior features include floor-to-ceiling glass, Scavolini Italian cabinets, Waterworks fixtures and Bosch stainless steel appliances.
The community’s fireplaces, water features, three pools, outdoor kitchen and fire pit area and art pieces will help serve as gathering areas.
The development’s groundbreaking was in May 2005. It is expected to be completed in 2010.
Click here for more images.
For more information on Safari, contact Joe Kovesdy.
| Discussion: No Comments »
X (Ten) Wine Lofts offers new building, not a conversion
July 7th, 2008 categories: Scottsdale condos, lofts and townhouses
Scottsdale’s X (Ten) Wine Lofts gives buyers loft features in a building built from scratch.
While the genesis of lofts is in converted industrial buildings, they have evolved to include new builds like X Wine Lofts. The great rooms, industrial stairs and hollow metal doors in the units are all features that can be found in traditional lofts.
Other features include Canac European cabinets, granite countertops, Kohler plumbing fixtures, oversized balconies and 9 1/2-foot ceilings.
Located at Osborn Road, just west of Scottsdale Road, the 82-unit, four-story building is within walking distance of over 75 restaurants, 70 galleries, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn and shopping.
Community amenities include a heated swimming pool and spa, sun deck, fitness center, courtyard and club room.
Prices run from $399,000 to $990,000. There are 11 floor plans with sizes ranging from 889 to 2,140 square feet.
There is underground parking with one designated space for one-bedroom units and two spaces for two-bedroom floor plans.
In keeping with the wine motif, each unit has a U-line wine chiller and floor plans are named after grapes.
The building, designed by Phoenix-based Todd & Associates, Inc., is expected to be completed this month.
Click here for renderings.
For more information X Wine Lofts, contact Joe Kovesdy.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Living at 4020 Scottsdale lofts eases transportation needs
June 20th, 2008 categories: Scottsdale condos, lofts and townhouses
When you live at 4020 Scottsdale Old Town Lofts, there’s less need for transportation — public or private.
Restaurants, coffee houses, nightlife, high-end art galleries and Scottsdale Fashion Square mall are all within walking distance of the development at the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and 1st Avenue. Additionally, the ground floor of the building will soon have a restaurant, dessert shop and a national bank.
Features include the following:
- 10- to 12- foot ceilings and exposed ceilings.
- Sleek and contemporary finishes.
- KitchenAid stainless steel appliances.
- Concrete floors.
- Private patios.
- Reserved parking in the underground garage.
- Elevator to all levels.
Construction of the 21-unit building, which held offices before it was converted, is expected to be completed this month. Prices go from about $465,000 to $676,000 and unit size from roughly 900 to 1,300 square feet.
Tempe-based Architekton, an architecture and planning firm whose past projects include Tempe Center for the Arts and the Arizona State University Foundation Headquarters, designed the lofts.
For renderings, click here.
For more information on 4020 Scottsdale Old Town Lofts, contact Joe Kovesdy.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
