Roszak/ADC
Towers developer finds support
City, business groups hear plans for Fiesta-area condos
The Arizona Republic
11/16/2005
Jim Walsh |
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It's not taking an award-winning Chicago architect and developer long to win support from city and business leaders for Fiesta Towers, a proposed high-rise condominium project near Fiesta Mall.
Architect Thomas Roszak, 39, president of Roszak/ADC, addressed a Mesa United Way breakfast and spoke to a group of Fiesta Mall business representatives about the plan in a sales tour Tuesday.
The project, publicly announced late last week, now faces a series of city zoning and design approvals expected to take about four months, said Reese Anderson, a zoning attorney.
Mayor Keno Hawker said he plans to be "a cheerleader" for the towers and other projects outlined at the breakfast, which include office parks, an Arizona State University research building at Williams Gateway Airport and IntelaSight, an Internet-based security business that leases three floors at the Bank of America building on Southern Avenue.
"I think it's going to be a very strong economic boost for the area," Hawker said. "I think this will be a little bit of a dynamics change. This will bring in some high-end folks that will want a different lifestyle."
Hawker envisions the condos as part of resurgence along Southern Avenue between Banner Desert Hospital at Dobson Road east to Country Club Drive, including Westcor's renovation of Fiesta Mall.
"We're supportive," said Garrett Newland, Westcor's assistant vice president for development. "From a retail prospective, it will add people. It will give us customers."
Roszak's plans "shows the focus on redevelopment. It's a positive sign," he said.
The proposed project at Grove Avenue and Westwood, just east of Fiesta Mall, features two 20-story high-rise buildings that could be expanded to 25 stories based on sales, and two 10-story buildings.
In all, the glass and steel project would have 540 to 850 luxury "efficiency" condominium units starting at $200,000 with 600 square feet to a $700,000 unit with 1,735 square feet.
The first floor would have 45,000 square feet of retail space for restaurants, a health club and a gourmet market.
Construction would begin in late 2006. The first residents could move in during fall 2007, the company said.
Roszak was scheduled to speak Tuesday night with a group of Fiesta Mall area homeowners.
"It's nice to have a positive response so early," he said of his Tuesday tour.
Roszak said news reports last week about the project have generated interest from potential buyers.
"It's all timing. I just think Mesa is ready for high-rise condominiums," said Roszak, who was featured earlier this year as one of the world's top architects by Architectural Digest magazine. "It's long overdue in Mesa, with 450,000 people."
Matthew Roszak, managing partner of SilkRoad Equity of Winston-Salem, N.C. and the architect's brother, said he has financing arranged for the project, contingent on zoning and pre-sales of condominium units.
The project requires a change in zoning from office to residential.
The renovation of Fiesta Mall, purchased less than a year ago by Westcor, is a vital part of Roszak's business plan. He said he hopes to capitalize on both projects injecting life into the area.
"We both agreed that our renovations would help his project and his project would help our project," Newland said.
Newland said Westcor doesn't have a specific plan in mind for Fiesta Mall, but suggested that renovations would likely pair retail with more entertainment options.
He said the renovations would be planned in 2006, followed by construction in 2007.
"We'd like to add some entertainment, make it a little bit more active," Newland said. "You visit the Fiesta Mall area at night and there's not a lot of excitement."
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