Lesley Wright
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 31, 2008 07:56 AM
Scottsdale developer PDG America wants to market the last vestige of Los Arcos as the new “center of life” for south Scottsdale. Rick Sodja, chief executive officer of PDG America, christened the planned $150 million redevelopment of the faded Los Arcos Crossing shopping center as Scottsdale Centrovida.
As a major redevelopment project, it is likely to first be the center of some controversy. PDG will submit its proposal today to Scottsdale planners, who are expected to give the design intense scrutiny.Sodja said that he is not asking for “one dime” of public money from the city to build the private retail, office and residential sections of the project, southwest of McDowell and Miller roads. But he does want Scottsdale to construct two roads on the 28-acre site and maintain them as city streets.
Centrovida would connect to next door’s SkySong, the high-tech collaboration between Scottsdale and Arizona State University, via an east-west road that also would lead to Indian Bend Wash and Papago Park.
Plans call for 70 townhouses, up to 525 apartments, some family-style restaurants, small shops and neighborhood retail, such as a dry cleaner.
The apartments would rise up to 60 feet tall and probably be the source of consternation for critics. Rents would range from $800 to $2,000.
The plans call for a partly drivable promenade, with shade trees and wide walkways to appeal to nearby residents and workers, said zoning attorney Lynne Lagarde. Plenty of seating and outdoor shaded areas would be a signature of the site.
An unnamed grocery store will replace the faded Bashas’, which is closing in May.
The developer and publicist Susan Bitter Smith said they have consulted closely with neighbors.
