Hayden Flour Mill
Check out the article of today's Arizona Republic about the latest development regarding the Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe.
Aussie firm sees condos in mill silos
Katie Nelson
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 6, 2005 12:00 AM
The groups, though, have considerable obstacles to overcome.
Although the mill site is regarded as one of the important pieces of real estate by the City Council and city planners because of it's history and location between downtown and Town Lake, the property's complex history left it with plenty of complications.
For one, there's an ongoing lawsuit against Tempe; the city is the current owner of almost the entire mill site but the former landowner, MCW Holdings, contends the city owes them more than $40 million in damages.
In addition to the lawsuit, there are height restrictions and use restrictions on the site, and a severe lack of parking. Plus, there's the City Council's position that the concrete silos not be destroyed.
Never mind that the structure doesn't have water or electricity.
Mayor Hugh Hallman said people propose ideas for the old mill about once a month. The many restrictions usually scare developers off, he said.
Those same restrictions could make Constellation just one in a long line of now disinterested uninterested suitors.
But Shaheen Sadeghi, the creative juice behind the California anti-malls, said he's not deterred. After visiting the area for years, he sees his focus working in Tempe, because of - not in spite of - the space.
"We like the historical integrity of the building and the location," he said. "And from a cultural standpoint, the area has a lot of potential . . . our approach with specialty art and culture focus would do well there. There are certainly already enough Wal-Marts and Gaps and Banana Republics."
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 6, 2005 12:00 AM
The Hayden Flour Mill silos could become condos if an Australian development firm has its way.
The Sydney-based Constellation Property Group has requested a meeting with city leaders this month to discuss the idea. Constellation completed a similar project in Australia, turning a silo into a sleek, chic place to live.
For the Tempe project, Constellation wants to team up with The Lab, a California-based developer that has built two "anti-malls" - one art- and fashion-based, the other focused on sports and recreation - in Orange County. The Lab could create a similar non-corporate approach to retail on the Mill site as well.
The Sydney-based Constellation Property Group has requested a meeting with city leaders this month to discuss the idea. Constellation completed a similar project in Australia, turning a silo into a sleek, chic place to live.
For the Tempe project, Constellation wants to team up with The Lab, a California-based developer that has built two "anti-malls" - one art- and fashion-based, the other focused on sports and recreation - in Orange County. The Lab could create a similar non-corporate approach to retail on the Mill site as well.
The groups, though, have considerable obstacles to overcome.
Although the mill site is regarded as one of the important pieces of real estate by the City Council and city planners because of it's history and location between downtown and Town Lake, the property's complex history left it with plenty of complications.
For one, there's an ongoing lawsuit against Tempe; the city is the current owner of almost the entire mill site but the former landowner, MCW Holdings, contends the city owes them more than $40 million in damages.
In addition to the lawsuit, there are height restrictions and use restrictions on the site, and a severe lack of parking. Plus, there's the City Council's position that the concrete silos not be destroyed.
Never mind that the structure doesn't have water or electricity.
Mayor Hugh Hallman said people propose ideas for the old mill about once a month. The many restrictions usually scare developers off, he said.
Those same restrictions could make Constellation just one in a long line of now disinterested uninterested suitors.
But Shaheen Sadeghi, the creative juice behind the California anti-malls, said he's not deterred. After visiting the area for years, he sees his focus working in Tempe, because of - not in spite of - the space.
"We like the historical integrity of the building and the location," he said. "And from a cultural standpoint, the area has a lot of potential . . . our approach with specialty art and culture focus would do well there. There are certainly already enough Wal-Marts and Gaps and Banana Republics."