Luxury Scottsdale condos likely to replace empty apartments

An abandoned apartment complex near Scottsdale Fashion Square likely will be demolished in July to make way for a luxury multi-level condominium complex with street-level retail. Last summer, the Scottsdale City Council approved zoning changes to allow Optima to build its Optima Sonoran Village complex on the southeastern corner of Camelback Road and 68th Street. Optima, which has developed properties in Arizona and Illinois, purchased the 10-acre property in spring 2010.The Orchidtree apartments have been sitting vacant on the site for more than three years. Optima Sonoran Village will include 493 residential units and 40,000 square feet of commercial, retail and amenity space, for a total of 726,700 square feet of floor space, the company says. Five buildings will be arranged around two courtyards in the center of the property. Four of the buildings will be seven stories, while the fifth building will have five floors on its north side and fewer floors on its south side. Optima's plan drew mixed reactions from surrounding residents. Some support it, while others said its height and density are inappropriate for the area. David Hovey Sr., Optima president and owner, said activity on the site will likely begin in July and the sequence for construction will be from east to west. The first units should be ready for occupancy in 2013, he said.

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