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Light-Rail System Spurs $1.5 Billion of Mixed-Used Construction in Central Phoenix  As the Phoenix area's political and business leaders predicted, its 20-mile Metro light-rail system, set to start December 2008, has already spurred $1.5 billion of mixed-use construction in the central city -- half of the investment in public money -- fueled a frenzy of land deals along the most advanced Apache Boulevard line, and recently brought the first transit-oriented project to Tempe, some 10 miles southeast. The Campus Edge project, reports Scottsdale Tribune writer Garin Groff, a $40 million-plus, 100-unit high-rise condo complex proposed by Nelson Phoenix LLC for a boulevard gas-station site is expected to get off the ground next April and be ready when the trains begin to run. ''I really think everything we're seeing along the light-rail line is exceeding our expectations,'' said Phoenix transit-oriented development manager Bo Martinez. Tempe has spent more than $20 million since 1995 to improve its section of Apache Boulevard, said city redevelopment manager Neil Calfee, pointing out that now developers will be putting their money into the corridor, but noting that light rail usually propels most redevelopment within five to 10 years of construction. Having the most track miles and a high demand for downtown living, Phoenix is well ahead in transit-oriented development, while Mesa, east of Tempe, with an under-a-mile line and only one stop, still awaits developers. West Mesa Community Development Corporation Executive Director Dave Richins thinks they may be initially reluctant because of frequent local opposition and legal challenges to development and because of a ''lukewarm'' official commitment to light rail. Still, he believes that developers will come to Mesa, too, a belief shared by its Vice Mayor Claudia Walter. ''The fact that there is only one light-rail station,'' she stressed, ''does make a difference.'' Click here to view the original article |
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