Scottsdale infill projects to begin in 2012

Scottsdale residents are expected to get their first glimpse next year of construction resulting from the city's controversial downtown infill-incentive district and plan. Construction on the first phase of Blue Sky, Gray Development Group's apartment complex near the northeastern corner of Scottsdale and Camelback Roads, is to begin late in the second quarter. It will include more than 700 units, three buildings and a maximum building height of 128 feet. The proposal originally was filed in summer 2010, just after the City Council narrowly approved the district and plan. Those allow property owners downtown to request amended development standards, such as increased height and density, in exchange for public benefits, such as investment in public art and amenities. The changes established a building-height maximum of 150 feet north of the Arizona Canal and surrounding Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center. Five proposals have been filed under the changes, the latest being Bristol Stadium Lofts, a multistory apartment complex north of the northwestern corner of Osborn and Miller Roads, and just east of Scottsdale Stadium and the San Francisco Giants training complex. It would tentatively include 224 units with nine stories closest to the stadium, and descending to five stories near Miller. Dan Symer, senior city planner, drafted the downtown infill-incentive plan. He said Blue Sky, along with the second phase of the Safari Drive condominium complex and other projects, likely wouldn't have been brought forward had it not been for the district and plan.

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