Arena Amenities Work to Start in Spring

Work is poised to begin at Westgate City Center mixed-use development, with the first series of projects recently announced.

The site is anchored by the new Glendale Arena.

The Entertainment Village, the project's central core, is scheduled to open in 2005.
Westgate has secured the commitments of a variety of new retail businesses, including a movie multiplex and some of the Valley's leading restaurants.

Westgate officials recently indicated that they now expect the project to begin construction in Spring, with the cinema, restaurants and first phase of mixed-use opening in the Fall of 2005. The first submittals for the City of Glendale design review process are planned within 60 days.

The Westgate City Center, upon completion, will include more than 6.5 million sq. ft. of retail, entertainment, restaurants, office, residential and hotels, making it one of the largest commercial real estate developments in North America.

Companies to Build Offices, Warehouses

Project architect Euthenics Architecture of Phoenix and general contractor D. L. Withers of Phoenix recently broke ground on a 222,288-sq.-ft. office and warehouse development in the booming West Valley.

Commerce Plex, located at 10297, 10199 and 10115 W. Van Buren in Tolleson, Ariz., is being developed by EJM Development Company of Scottsdale, Ariz. Plans call for construction to be finished in May 2004.

Firm to Provide Pre-Design Services

Kitchell CEM was recently awarded a contract by the Town of Fountain Hills to provide pre-design services for Phase II of the Civic Center Development.

The new facility will accommodate town offices, senior services, city council chamber rooms, courtroom and sheriff's operations. Construction is scheduled to begin in June of 2004.

Vestar Moves on Large Projects

Vestar Development Co. is breaking ground on three regional power centers within the metropolitan Phoenix area. The three projects, located in Chandler, Gilbert and Phoenix, will generate more than $200 million in sales tax revenue over 10 years; create more than 7,000 jobs and cost approximately $250 million to build.

The first phase of construction on all three projects will be completed in March 2005. Upon buildout, the projects will represent a combined total of nearly 3 million-sq.-ft., anchored by power retailers such as Wal-Mart Supercenter, Super Target, Barnes & Noble Bookseller, Ross Dress for Less, Linens-n-Things, Michaels and Cost Plus World Market.

Two of the projects are located in the Southeast Valley. One of those, Crossroads Towne Center at the intersection of Loop 2002 and Gilbert Road, will comprise 1.3 million sq. ft. upon buildout. Phase II of this project will be on 75 acres at the southwest corner of Loop 202 and Gilbert Road in Chandler, and Phase III will comprise 20 acres at the southeast corner of Gilbert and Germann roads, also in Gilbert.

The second Southeast Valley project is Gilbert Gateway Towne Center, an 800,000-sq.-ft., 80-acre retail development at the intersection of the planned Loop 202 Freeway and Power Road in Gilbert. The center will break ground this month and be built in two phases, with the first located on 50 acres at the northwest corner of Power and Ray roads.

In Phoenix, Vestar will break ground in March on Happy Valley Towne Center, an 80-acre, 800,000-sq.-ft. retail development at the southeast corner of Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Road. Project architect for all three centers is Butler Design Group, Phoenix.

Team Starts Office Project

The design build team of The Orcutt Winslow Partnership and Sahara Inc. recently started work on a medical/office professional project near Bell Road in Surprise, Ariz. The 32,400-sq.-ft. condominium project consists of six office buildings ranging from 3,600 to 7,200 sq. ft.

The $4 million project will open this spring.

Sundt Building New Facility for Arizona National Guard

Sundt Construction Inc. recently broke ground on a new, 92,000-sq.-ft. hangar project at the Pinal Airpark just north of Tucson.

When the $13 million project is completed in the fall, the steel-framed building will be used to maintain Apache and Blackhawk helicopters for the National Guard.

New Med Center Starts Construction in Goodyear

Johnson Carlier recently started construction on the new 102,000-sq.-ft., $20 million, Goodyear Integrated Medical Services Building in Goodyear, Ariz. The pre-cast facility consists of two buildings separated by a two-story glass atrium entry topped with a steel trellis. The building wings are two and three stories, and are situated on an 8.1-acre site located adjacent to the Vanguard Hospital in Goodyear, Arizona. The facility will include an ambulatory surgery center, a radiation oncology treatment center with linear accelerator, doctors' offices and treatment rooms. The facility, which has been designed for future expansion, will be home to doctors serving the Vanguard Hospital and West Valley communities. The site will accommodate parking for 567 cars.
August is the expected completion date.

Firm to Develop Tribal Land

Lincoln Property Company is developing Chaparral Business Center V, the fifth building in the office park located at the intersection of Chaparral Road and Loop 101 Freeway.

The 70,000-sq.-ft. office building will be an addition to the fully-occupied park that already contains 286,134 sq. ft. of space. Plans call for breaking ground in first quarter of 2004 and estimated completion in fourth quarter 2004.

Lincoln Property Company will develop the building in conjunction with Salt River DEVCO, the entity that holds the land lease. Salt River DEVCO is an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which is involved with the commercial development of the 101 Corridor. The new building was designed by DFD/CH Architects and construction will be handled by hardison/downey. Both are Phoenix-based firms.