Grand Canal
Scottsdale Ambitiously Develops Around Waterway

By David M. Brown

A variety of public and private projects are under way surrounding the redesigned, 124-year-old Arizona Canal, which serves as the lifeblood of downtown Scottsdale's revitalization.

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A lot is going on along the Arizona Canal between Goldwater Boulevard and just east of Camelback and Scottsdale roads in downtown Scottsdale.

The final vision for the city-the only municipality in Arizona where a canal runs through its downtown-is one in which the central focal-point artery is not for vehicles but for pedestrians, a water-centered area similar to San Antonio's Riverwalk.

Public projects along the 124-year-old canal include bridges, a plaza, fountains, streetscaping and other canal-bank improvements. On the private side are condominiums, lofts, mixed-use communities, restaurants, boutique shops and office space.

Public Projects

A decade ago, anticipating development along the canal, Scottsdale contracted with Salt River Project to construct vertical canal walls between Goldwater Boulevard and Scottsdale Road, says Jim Duncan, SRP's senior analyst for water engineering.

The walls structurally support cantilevered north-shore amphitheaters as well as intensify the waterfront sensation for pedestrians. In addition, to maintain a high water level, the city paid for a radial gate structure at 64th Street, which controls the elevation of water in the canal.

Scottsdale has since phased about $16 million in canal-bank improvements.

The federal government has also pledged $400,000. Downtown Reinvestment phase one was a $5.5 million contract including the Marshall Way bridge, trolleyway, roundabout, bollards (some retractable for trolleys and public-service vehicles) and lighting.

Construction began in January 2003 and was completed in November 2005.

Downtown Reinvestment phases two, three and four comprise $14.5 million in park-like improvements along the south bank of the Arizona Canal between Goldwater Boulevard and Scottsdale Road.

Downtown Reinvestment Phase 2

Phase two is a three-segment construction-manager-at-risk contract with Phoenix-based W.E. O'Neil Construction Co. of Arizona. The E-Group of Phoenix is the architect. Work began November 2006 and is expected to be completed in December.

Marshall Way Plaza, phase 2a, is a $1.6 million contract, which includes installing four fountains on Marshall Way on the south side of the canal just over the bridge, courtyards, landscaping and lighting. W.E. O'Neil is expected to complete this project by August.

Stetson Streetscape, phase 2b, is a $750,000 project to complete streetscaping as well as installing a storm drain on the south side of the canal. W.E. O'Neil was awarded this project in October and completed it in June, says Bill Peifer, senior project manager with the city of Scottsdale.

The Southbank Park, phase 2c, is an approximately $1.6 million contract expected to be awarded to W.E. O'Neil this month to be completed by December. This job includes improvements to the Maricopa County Sun Circle Trail along the south side of the canal.

The trail connects county regional parks primarily by using canal right-of-ways. Along the canal between Goldwater Boulevard and Scottsdale Road, it will be marked by a 4-ft-wide granite path and a 12-ft-wide concrete walk.

Phase 3, Northbank

Under a $1.7 million contract with Phoenix-based contractor Opus West Corporation, construction included SRP right-of-way roadwork from Marshall Way to Scottsdale Road and a cantilevered amphitheater in front of the Waterfront Residences. Also part of this was the creation of a spray water feature and other landscaping by Floor Associates of Phoenix.

"The design concept draws heavily from desert landscape imagery, incorporating the stylized forms of native cacti and cactus flowers into the central water features, amphitheater and hardscape plazas," says Chris Brown, principal of Floor Associates. "Bold forms, colors and textures create a unique sense of place, unifying the public and private areas into a cohesive project."

This job was completed last month.

Phase Four, Goldwater Underpass

The Goldwater Underpass is an $800,000 project, split between the city and the federal government, to connect a multiuse path under Goldwater Boulevard on the south bank of the canal.

The city is expected to award the contract this month, Peifer says. The project includes lighting, landscaping and increasing the height of the existing underpass and connecting paths.

Soleri Bridge

Finally, the proposed Artist Waterfront Canal Bridge, designed by Phoenix architect Paolo Soleri, would be the second pedestrian bridge and plaza in the area, located just south of Camelback Road on the west side of Scottsdale Road.

The city estimates approximately $4.3 million for the suspension bridge, plaza, lighting, amenities, bell tower and extending the Sun Circle Trail across Camelback and Scottsdale roads, says Judith Patrylak, project manager for Scottsdale Public Art.

The project is as yet underfunded, although Greenwich, Conn.-based Starwood Capital Group, the co-developer of the Waterfront condos on the north bank, has pledged $500,000 and the Scottsdale Public Art program $1 million.

The Scottsdale City Council has asked the public art committee to continue developing plans and will consider funding for the fiscal year 2008/09 capital improvement program budget, Peifer says. Adds city project manager Dan Worth: "If the project is funded, we anticipate at least two years for design and construction."

Future Public Projects

An additional canal-improvement phase would improve the Starwood Capital Group-owned parcel west of Marshall Way to Goldwater Boulevard, but the details of that project have not yet been determined, although there is preliminary talk of a hotel or condo/hotel, Peifer says.

In addition, a contract is expected to be awarded this month to possibly reroute the waterfront sanitary sewer line. The city has selected an engineering firm to analyze the situation and propose solutions. No timeline for construction has been set, but the city has designated $2 million for the project.

Private Projects

Three major developments are complete or in construction along the canal banks.

Safari Drive Condominiums

Located at the canal east of Scottsdale Road, just north of Camelback Road, the $55 million first phase of the Safari Drive Condominiums got under way in May 2006.

The project is being built by Phoenix-based general contractor Okland Construction Co. and Scottsdale-based developer Riverwalk Development Co. and should be complete in December. Future market-driven phases will include mixed-use residential, retail, restaurant and office spaces, says Alan B. Collier, Okland vice president and Safari project director.

Designed by Seattle-based Miller/Hull Design, the 191,000-sq-ft condominium/mixed-used project includes an 80,000-sq-ft underground parking structure. Owned by Scottsdale-based Vanguard CityHome, which is managing the construction, Safari will include 96 units in phase one, from under 1,000 sq ft to more than 3,000 sq ft at a cost of $600,000 to more than $2 million.

The basic construction is concrete, structural steel and metal framing, and the exterior is Cor-Ten panels, stucco, floor-to-ceiling glass, and glued-laminated roof structures, Colllier says.
"A significant challenge to the project has been incorporating unique floor plates for the majority of the condominium units," he adds. The project's design called for various configurations to make the final product more unique and appealing to buyers.

Collier adds that other issues included upgrading the city and county storm drain in the Arizona Canal right-of-way and integrating structural elements as finished surfaces.

Scottsdale Waterfront

The 1.1-million-sq-ft Scottsdale Waterfront mixed-use project, nearing completion, includes retail and residential construction components. The 11-acre project contains two residential towers, office/retail/restaurant space and the yet-to-be-developed acreage south of the Nordstrom's parking garage at neighboring Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall.

Built by the Phoenix office of contractor The Weitz Co., the two-level 202,000-sq-ft retail/office/restaurant component was delivered to developers Starwood Capital Group and Golub/IDM in July 2006.

This area extends from the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Camelback roads to Marshall Way at the canal and includes restaurants, boutiques, office condos and a 214,000-sq-ft, double-level underground garage excavated by Phoenix-based Buesing Corp.

Weitz constructed the parking garage with tilt-panel walls and precast while the retail and office space was constructed with structural steel components, says Melisa Johnson, project manager with Weitz.

Phoenix-based Suntec Concrete and Coreslab Precast were the concrete subcontractors.

In order to enhance the look of the project, stone, precast, and EIFS were integrated throughout for individual facades.

Opus West Residential Development, an affiliate of Opus West Corp., and Scottsdale's Geoffrey Edmunds developed the two residential towers - a $240 million, 500,000-sq-ft project on 2.25 acres.

The executive architect on the towers was Opus Architects & Engineers, also an affiliate of Opus West Corp., and the design architect was Chicago-based Solomon Cordwel Buenz & Associates in association with Scottsdale-based H&S International.

The 13-story towers offer 198 luxury condominiums, 1,100 to 5,000 sq ft, with an average sales price of $1.2 million. OWR Construction, an affiliate of Opus West Corp., is the general contractor for the towers.

The first tower, on the west end, has opened, and floors of the second tower are opening in phases.

Crews had to deal with such issues as scheduling pours around concrete shortages, maintaining adequate manpower and coordination of deliveries and subcontractors on a tight site, according to David Hullinger, director of construction with Opus West.

SouthBridge

The first phase of SouthBridge includes a four-building, 120,355-sq-ft mixed-use project on a two-acre parcel at Stetson Drive, south of the canal adjacent to the city's new plaza bridge. Allen + Philp Architects is the project architect, and W.E. O'Neil is the general contractor.

The $30 million project consists of seven restaurants, retail stores along the Stetson frontage and approximately 60,000 sq ft of office condos. It includes a two-level underground parking garage with a spiral staircase to street level.
Developers Fred and Jennifer Unger, principals of Scottsdale-based Spring Creek Development, which restored the Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas in Phoenix and the Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, say they wanted to create a one-of-a-kind urban village bringing together non-nationalchain boutiques, shops, restaurants, cultural festivals and art amidst a waterfront park environment.

To achieve the look of an urban center grown over time, various design aesthetics were used, including contemporary, early-20th Century industrial, Mediterranean and a Spanish colonial interpretation, says Jonathan F. Heilman, vice president for design with Allen + Philp. "The varied personalities of the buildings enhance the retail concept of promoting locally-owned, independent businesses with their own unique personalities."

W.E. O'Neil began construction August 2005, with completion of phase one scheduled for this summer.

The second phase will include 24 condominiums east of Goldwater Boulevard and fronting the south side of the Arizona Canal and 42 condominiums fronting Fifth Avenue and the Arizona Canal, west of Goldwater Boulevard, says Gary Roe, land-use consultant to the developer.

Variously designed by Don Ziebell/OZ Architects, Allen + Philp and Lamb Architects, all of Scottsdale, the units will range up to 3,500-sq-ft brownstones facing the canal. The retail component will occupy the ground floor fronting Fifth Avenue.

No contractor has yet been selected for the second-phase residential, which will begin in six to 10 months.

Future Projects

The 24-year-old Kyoto Restaurant on Stetson Drive will be replacing its existing building with a two-story canal-side restaurant/office building of 15,000 sq ft with underground parking. The project will complete the private-side projects on the south bank of the Arizona Canal.

Selection of the general contractors has been reduced to two, says Scottsdale architect Sam J. West, who adds that construction of the approximately $4 million project will start when the city issues the building permit.

Waterview @ Scottsdale will be a 10.37-acre mixed-use project on the northwest corner of Buckboard and Camelback roads, along the east side of the Arizona Canal. Its six buildings will include an approximately 200-room luxury hotel, condos, restaurants and office space, says John Wanninger, co-partner with Mark Madkour of Scottsdale Canal Development.

Now in the design phase by Dallas, Texas-based Three Architects, the project is still about a year from start, with a two-year build-out.

Useful Sources

For more information on Scottsdale's canal improvement projects, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/canal

For more information on the Soleri Bridge, visit
www.scottsdalepublicart.org/ development/waterfront.php