by Diana Balazs – Nov. 16, 2009 10:31 AM
The Arizona Republic
When hotel designer Dodd Mitchell first came to Paradise Valley, he was struck by the beauty of Camelback Mountain.
Mitchell hiked the prominent landmark and saw the shuttered Mountain Shadows Resort below him.
Inspired by the bird’s-eye view, Mitchell, 43, and his project team are putting finishing touches on a $150 million redevelopment plan for the 337-room former resort at 56th Street and East Lincoln Drive.
Mitchell intends to submit the plan to the town before Thanksgiving.
Both the Paradise Valley Planning Commission and Town Council must hold public hearings and sign off on the proposal before construction can begin.
The focal point of Mitchell’s plan is the mountain, with buildings taking advantage of the view. Mountain Shadows would remain the resort’s name.
“I am in love with this property and this land. There is such inspiration that comes off that mountain,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell and business partners Robert Banovac and Daniel Hendon of HB Equities have an option to buy the property from the current owner, developer Robert Flaxman.
They want to use industrial development authority bonds to finance construction. To do that, the town must formally designate the 50-year-old Mountain Shadows a redevelopment area and one that is blighted. It also must adopt a redevelopment plan.
Nick Wood, the project’s zoning attorney, oversees an ad-hoc committee of resort neighbors that helped craft the plan.
“We don’t want this to be an island with these walls separating us. We want this to be part of the neighborhood,” Wood said.
Mitchell’s plan calls for tearing down all existing buildings and constructing a 180-room resort hotel and 46 privately owned homes. There would be a new clubhouse, full-service spa, three restaurants and 575 parking spaces.
Fifty-sixth Street, which bisects the 68-acre property, would be realigned to improve vehicle and pedestrian access and unify the two sides. In addition, the resort’s existing 18-hole golf course would be improved.
Mitchell is planning a green development, using recycled building material from the existing resort. A 4,000-square-foot greenhouse would grow the fruits and vegetables for resort chefs.
Mitchell said he was further inspired in his design after reading “Camelback, Sacred Mountain of Phoenix” by Gary Driggs.
He said the resort’s color palette will complement the mountain’s. Reflecting ponds will capture the light and colors of sunrise and sunset.
“I want this property to be just as beautiful for our patrons and people walking through our walkways as it is from the view from the mountain,” Mitchell said.
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