By: Cody Weisel | Vizzda.com
An abandoned theological institute west of the northwest
corner of Priest Road and University Drive may soon be transformed into a new
low-density student housing complex. The site—which was operated as the Charles
H. Cook Christian Training School from 1965 through its closure in 2008—could
soon be razed and replaced with “village-style” student housing units.
The
project is referred to in planning documents as Capstone Cottages and would
contain 159 units for a total of 718 beds with a variety of townhome and
multi-unit cottage style housing products. Tempe Development Review Board (DRB)
recently approved a design approval request for the project on April 21st,
2014, however the DRB approval will be appealed before City Council later this
month.
The Lindon Park Neighborhood Association, a community
organization for the neighborhood just east of the proposed site, has been
fervently opposed to the project since being approached by the city and
developer. This is not the first time residents of Lindon Park have been
opposed to projects at the site. Proposed developments in 2008 and 2011 were
both met with opposition by the Neighborhood Association, and were ultimately abandoned.
The current issue of contention is one that echoes past
concerns of the residents. Specifically, medium to high density projects at the
site would generate increased traffic within the community. To mitigate these
traffic concerns, the Capstone developers have agreed to provide a shuttle bus
service for residents, install a traffic signal at Lindon and University, and
to place speed bumps on the roads which abut the development. Despite these
offers, residents remain skeptical about the project.
Contention surrounding this and other academic housing
projects raises the issue of specific zoning designations for student housing
within the Tempe. The city has no such definition within the Zoning Ordinance
for student housing developments, and thus, this and other academic housing
projects are able to get away with being considered “multi-family”. Emily
Gersema, President of the Lindon Park Neighborhood Association, raised this
issue at an April DRB meeting, and will the make a final appeal of the project
before Tempe City Council on May 22nd, 2014.
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