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Canal Bank Improvement Project
Scottsdale Waterfront: Creating a New Urban Lifestyle (pdf / 2.8 MB / 30 pgs) -
Mayor's Presentation to National League of Cities, December 2006
Project Update: 09-Apr-07
This is an update on the status of the Arizona Canal Bank and the various projects that are integrated into this area. While the primary focus is the section of the canal bank that extends between Goldwater Blvd. and Scottsdale Road, this update also highlights one private sector project that is located immediately west of Goldwater - the Rose Garden West.
A. Capital Projects between Goldwater & Scottsdale Rd:
South Bank (3 contracts & sequences)
2A - Marshall Way Plaza - A pedestrian plaza adjacent to the Marshall Way alignment between the Canal and Stetson Drive; was awarded by Council for $1.5 million; work is on-going.
2B - Stetson Streetscape and Canal Storm Drain - Work is on-going.
2C - Canal Park - A series of landscape improvements, paths, seating and viewing areas along the South Bank between Goldwater and Scottsdale Road; bid award scheduled for May 8 Council agenda; with completion slated for October 2007.
North Bank (1 contract with 3 sections)
- A transit and pedestrian bridge across the Canal in the Marshall Way alignment; the transit bridge along the Marshall Way alignment is complete
- A series of landscape improvements, paths, seating and viewing areas along the North Bank between Marshall Way and Scottsdale Road. On Nov. 14, Council approved the construction award. Work includes amphitheater, cantilevered overlook, spray fountain (paid for by the developer) and concrete walkways seating areas, landscaping and lighting.
Goldwater Underpass: A path connection on the South Bank underneath Goldwater Blvd; $400,000 of which is to be funded from Federal T21 grant. City Council is reviewing the funding IGA on April 10. Construction award tentatively scheduled for June 2007.
B. Private Sector Projects:
- Scottsdale Waterfront - A mixed-use development (1.1 million sq. ft. of office, retail and residential) on a 11.3+/- acre parcel)
Phase 1 (retail/office): Retail tenant improvements along Marshall Way nearing completion
Phase 2 (residential): West and east towers are topped out and progressing on schedule. Moving into the West building started in February 2007. Completion of the East Building is anticipated in May 2007.
Phase 3 (development of 4-acre Starwood parcel): Application submittal anticipated in the next 45 days
- Stetson Plaza/South Bridge (Unger project) - A series of four buildings that flank the city public plaza, fronting both the canal and Stetson Drive, with 264 spaces of public underground parking in addition to the private parking. The $35M project contains approximately 115,000 square feet of mixed-use: retail, seven restaurants, and office condos.
Construction completion is slated for summer 2007 when the public garage, public restrooms, and all exterior building construction will be complete. Owner and Tenant interior improvements (TI's) will continue into early 2008. - Rose Garden Project - This $60M residential mixed use project has three separate architects and is going through the DR process as three submittals. A total of 65 residential units, 15,500 sf of retail, and 4,100 sf for one restaurant is planned with private parking and 180 spaces of public parking. Utility relocation will start during the summer of 2007, with construction of all building phases starting in 2008.
Rose Garden West - DR process under way, expected to be heard in May, 2007.
Rose Garden Center - Development Review process is under way, hearing expected in June 2007.
Rose Garden East - Development Review process under way, hearing expected in June, 2007.
- Kyoto Restuarant - Received Development Review approval on Sept. 21; Alley abandonment received conditional PC approval on March 29th will be scheduled for CC as soon as the conditions are met. The applicant expects to start construction in 2007.
C. Art components:
- Hashknife sculpture - The Scottsdale Public Art Board approved the Marshall Way cul-de-sac as the site for the monument. Hashknife sculpture design has been approved with anticipated completion in February, 2008.
- Donald Lipski's "The Doors" sculpture - The dedication of 'The Doors', a large kaleidoscope-like sculpture at the corner of Scottsdale and Camelback Roads will be held on May 12. The sculpture represents a partial fulfillment of a art in private develop obligation at the Scottsdale Waterfront. The dedication will not only mark the installation of a signature work of public art in Scottsdale, but also celebrate the gifting of the art by the developer to the city.
- Soleri Bridge and Plaza - A conceptual design of Paolo Soleri's proposal for a pedestrian bridge and plaza at the AZ Canal west of Scottsdale Rd is complete. A CIP request, which is currently under consideration, has been submitted to the City to fund the remainder of the project. (The developer has committed $500,000, which was budgeted in FY07) Staff will be prepared to show how this project fits into the overall context of the canal bank, including the interface with the Sun Circle Trail, at the April 26 budget meeting.
- Spring Creek Development - Development agreement responsibility to program Stetson Plaza; public art staff have begun dialogue with Mr. Unger about collaborating on programming. Unger's team has indicated they expect to have programmed events on the plaza starting in the late fall of 2007. They want to be sure that the landscaping and all other work is done around the plaza and that the weather is more conducive to public gatherings.
- Concepts for signature works at Arizona Canal - Public art staff is working with city staff on an overall plan for improvements adjacent to the AZ Canal. The plan will include ideas for incorporating signature artwork along the canal.
D. Pedestrian Connections Assessment for Canal bank improvements between Indian Bend Wash and the Cross Cut Canal
Project milestones:
- Identification of opportunities for public open space and revitalization along the canal corridor;
- Recommend alignments for a multi-use path and the Sun Circle trail;
- Recommend locations for pedestrian bridges across the canal and improved connections to adjoining neighborhoods and businesses;
- Recommend options for improving crossings at intersecting streets;
- Recommend connections to the larger regional canal and path system;
- Develop landscape/aesthetic themes and identify locations for shaded rest areas
Current status:
The initial canal-related task assigned to Engineering & Environmental Consultants (EEC), the city's on-call path consultant, was to develop a concept plan for the entire canal bank area. The final document is being prepared now and should be available for review later this month. The first public meeting was held in July 2006 and the second in January of 2007. The study will recommend new pedestrian bridges at 68th Street, Jackrabbit, and Lincoln. Several sites are identified for potential public art and rest areas. Locations for paved paths and unpaved trails (Sun Circle Trail) are proposed. The report will include recommendations for street crossings at mid-block and signalized locations. Concerns from attendees at the meetings related to adequate room for runners, wayfinding markers, dog waste, aesthetics, street crossings, and privacy for adjacent properties.
Construction has begun for the Crosscut Canal Path from McDowell to Thomas including reconstruction of the approaches to the McDowell Road Underpass. The asphalt street segment just west of the canal at Oak Street is being converted into a pedestrian area. Design has started for the Crosscut Canal Path from Thomas to Indian School. A Federal Enhancement grant of $500,000 is helping with this segment. The Arizona Canal Path from Chaparral to McDonald, scheduled for 2011, includes $1 million of Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding.
Additional information: The City of Tempe has completed the path link from Tempe Town Lake to the Indian Bend Wash Path and are about to start design on the Crosscut Canal Path from Canal Park to Curry/Mill. The Crosscut Canal Path from Canal Park to McDowell (connecting to our project) was completed in 2003.
