Farmer Avenue Lofts is close enough to Mill Avenue to give its residents easy access to downtown Tempe, yet far enough away to skirt the din of traffic and crowds.

Located two blocks from Mill Avenue at Farmer Avenue and Fifth Street, Farmer Avenue Lofts is at the edge of an urban and a residential area. The townhouses are two blocks from downtown Tempe, 1 1/2 blocks from the light rail and five blocks from Arizona State University.

The proximity to downtown Tempe and the light rail is conducive to the development’s live/work floor plans. Of the project’s 18 three-story units, six have live work/plans. In all, there are 13 different floor plans available.

Each interior has exposed masonry walls, 9- and 10-foot ceilings, two heating and air conditioning units, canned lighting and a full-size washer and dryer. Kitchens have Bosch stainless steel appliances, double-bowl undermounted sinks and maple cabinets. Both kitchens and bathrooms have granite countertops (except for half baths), glazed ceramic tile flooring and Moen fixtures.

Units have two-car garages and driveways, balconies and roof decks with stairway access.

According to Timothy Donhauser, a designer and project manager for Phoenix-based Acanthus Planning and Architecture, which designed the lofts, other noteworthy features include insulated block walls and low-E commercial storefront windows. Seldom used in residential projects, the walls and windows reduce energy costs, he said.

Community amenities include a heated spa, lap pool, bicycle racks and striking landscaping.

The units cost $745,000 to $768,000. Size ranges from 3,582 to 3,725 square feet. Residences have two or three bedrooms and 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 baths.

Construction will be completed this month.

For more information and/or to get a tour of Farmer Avenue Lofts, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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Mezzo, an infill development in Phoenix, offers distinctive urban architecture in a quiet neighborhood setting.

Located near 12th Street and Osborn Road, the urban-looking Mezzo is in a residential area. With light rail access about a mile away, however, downtown Phoenix is easily accessible.

The development’s 10, three-story residences have two-car parking at the ground level of each unit. Five units have yards and five do not. Every unit is allotted a small garden in a common area.

Designed by Will Bruder, architect of the Burton Barr Central Library, Mezzo’s well-placed dual-pane windows provide great views of the street sans creating the sense that privacy has been compromised. Metal screens outside bedroom windows provide additional privacy as well as shade.

The exteriors of the two buildings have a vibrant mix of colors with exposed masonry block and steel.

Interiors have European-style solid cherry cabinetry in kitchens and baths, bay windows and GE Monogram stainless steel appliances. Units come with either bamboo, slate or limestone flooring.

Prices are from $395,000 to $420,000. Units have two bedrooms, a study and 2 1/2 baths. Each residence is roughly 1,525 square feet.

Construction was completed this summer.

Click here for pictures.

For more information and/or a tour of Mezzo, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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Located at the center of the bustling Tempe Mill Avenue District, Centerpoint Condominiums has an enviable location and sweeping views of downtown Tempe.

Bordered by Ash Street, Fifth Street, Maple Avenue and Centerpoint Plaza, Centerpoint is walking distance from the light rail, Arizona State University and scores of shops and restaurants. The mixed-use development has 357 residential units in two towers, one that’s 30 stories and the other 22 stories. Two additional towers have been planned for the site.

The two towers share a 30,000-square-feet amenities area on the seventh floor with a fitness center, two movie theaters, business center, concierge, commercial demonstration kitchen and video game lounge. On an outside deck there is a swimming pool with integrated hot tub and an artificial beach. The ground level will have an Italian restaurant, winemaking facility and a market and cafe.

Buyers get a choice of flooring, cabinetry and countertops. All residences come with alarm systems.

A 10-level garage with four floors underground and six above ground provides parking. There is also nearby metered parking and parking lots.

Studios start at the mid-$300s while larger units begin at $1 million. Size runs 500 square feet to upwards of 7,200 square feet. There are over two dozen floor plans.

Construction of the first two towers is expected to be completed in 2009. A construction timeline for the additional towers has not been released.

The Phoenix office of Gould Evans Associates designed the project in conjunction with Vancouver-based IBI/HB Architects.

For more information on Centerpoint, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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Like the mythological bird that rises from its ashes, downtown Phoenix has been reborn.

The tallest residential building in Arizona, 44 Monroe, is one of many signs of the downtown’s rebirth. Located at Monroe and First streets, the 34-story, 196-unit condo tower is expected to be completed by mid-2009.

The building is next to the light rail and within walking distance of downtown businesses and attractions.

Not surprisingly, residents of 44 Monroe have incredible views of downtown Phoenix from inside their units and their balconies. The units also come with travertine tile in the kitchen and foyer areas, granite countertops in kitchens, sound- and fire-rated partitions and Kohler fixtures in bathrooms.

The eighth floor offers several community amenities: a fitness room, business center, conference room, community room with catering kitchen and outdoor grill area and a pool and spa area with restrooms.

A seven-floor parking garage, which has cameras and other security features, provides parking for residents. Additionally, there is metered parking on Monroe Street and parking garages in the area.

Prices go from $483,100 to $4.19 million. Size ranges from 965 to 4,268 square feet. Units come in a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans.

Designed by San Diego-based Tucker Sadler Architects, the building was inspired partly by a painting from artist Jennifer J.L. Jones called “Five Elements.” The five vertical fins on the facade correspond with the five Chinese elements of nature — earth, wood, water, metal and fire — featured in the painting. The design element is also a theme in the building’s interior.

For more information on 44 Monroe, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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At Portland Place you get a downtown Phoenix address in a charming park setting.

Located at Portland Street between Central and Third avenues, Portland Place is in the Roosevelt Historic District and just a few minutes from downtown attractions. In front of the condo building, Portland Parkway’s gas-lamp-style streetlights and wide grassy median with benches and monuments give the quiet street a quaint look. Just a stroll away is Margaret T. Hance Park, the Ro Ho En Japanese garden, Calabria Italian Grocery & Deli, Portland’s Restaurant & Wine Bar and light rail stops.

One of the highlights of the 53-unit, six-story residential building is the roof, which not only has amenities like a barbeque area, wet bar and heated pool, but striking panoramic views of the city. To the north is the Japanese garden and Piestawa Peak; to the south is the downtown skyline; to the west is Interstate 10; to the east is Central Avenue and the light rail.

Other common area amenities include a lobby, conference room and underground parking.

The one- and two-bedroom units are priced from the $300s to $1.45 million. Size ranges from 800 to 2,829 square feet.

The modern interiors vary in features and finishes. Suffice it to say that many of the remaining units have had significant upgrades.

DAVIS, a Tempe-based architecture firm, won a Gold Nugget award for Best Attached Housing Project of between four and seven stories for their design of Portland Place last month in an award ceremony in San Francisco. The annual award program honors achievements in architectural design and land use planning. Entries come from 14 Western states as well as internationally.

Construction of Portland Place was completed in 2007. Sales agents for the property say plans for a 10-story and a 12-story building are on hold until the Phoenix housing glut ends.

Click here for photos.

For more information on Portland Place, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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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.

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ASU students and parents looking to buy a condo will likely find Tempe’s Dorsey Place an attractive housing option.

For parents seeking to offset college costs by investing in a condo where there child can stay through their college years or for older students returning to college, the 90-unit, four-story complex could be deemed prime real estate.

Located at 1275 E. University Drive, about half a mile east of Rural Road, the development is walking distance from campus and downtown Tempe.

Buyers get a choice of two floor plans: a two-bedroom, two-bath plan at 1,100 square feet and three-bedroom, two-bath plan at 1,300 square feet. In recent months, prices were reduced. Prices start at $299,900 and go to $415,000.

Every unit features granite countertops and porcelain tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, designer carpet, 9-foot ceilings, GE appliances, designer lighting and a balcony.

The community features a heated pool, a courtyard with a fountain, a private mail room, underground parking, an elevator and a room for gatherings.

Security measures at the site include a gate, front door with camera and phone, and cameras throughout the complex. Additionally, units are pre-wired for security systems.

Construction of Dorsey Place was finished this month.

Click here to see more photos.

For more information on Dorsey Place, contact Joe Kovesdy.

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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.

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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.

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In my recent e-mail interview, Bardinger commented on the state of Valley architecture, energy conservation and his latest project.

Click here to read the interview.

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