Carefree Truth

Issue #368, January 19, 2015

 

 

Mayor David Schwan requested that everyone please hold questions and comments until the end of the presentations.  "We're here to listen and learn."  The Mayor also announced that a special workshop would be held on January 27th at 5 PM to further discuss a Carefree cultural center.  The Council chamber was filled with interested people.  All available chairs were added and many were still standing, some overflowing into the hallway.

 

 

 

The presentation began with former Councilman Bob Gemmill saying that he, Councilwoman Melissa Price, and developer Ed Lewis had been meeting with representatives of Arizona State University (ASU) to discuss a possible partnership between the Town of Carefree, ASU, and the Easy Street South Project/Butte Companies.  The Council has shown a strong interest in revitalizing the merchant district, which could include a cultural attraction.  Mr. Gemmill added that new energy would provide an incentive for Mr. Lewis to begin construction on his condo/retail project.  Condo owners would eat and shop in Carefree, spending their money here. 

 

 

 

ASU is interested, is and prepared to engage in further talks with the Town.  Mr. Gemmill and Ms. Price have met with ASU to discuss feasibility and sustainability.  Both the Town and the University must do their due diligence to see if a partnership makes sense for both parties.  Nothing is in writing to date.  Mr. Gemmill said the Town and Mr. Lewis are "courting" ASU, and it would be "an honor and a privilege" if ASU decided to partner with Carefree in this economic development project.  ASU delivers "name recognition, prestige, and clout", and it would allow ASU to expand into the Desert Foothills region. Mr. Gemmill introduced Ed Lewis and Kirsten Brown of Butte Companies, and Richard Stanley, Gordon Knox, and Cory Rodgers from ASU, then turned the floor over to Mr. Lewis, president of Butte Companies.

 

 

 

Mr. Lewis explained that his project, Easy Street South, is a mixed use project of approximately 120,000 square feet, including 34 "ultra luxury" condominiums for those who want a "lock it and leave it lifestyle".  He said Carefree should invest in the "Village", and that cash sitting in the bank would not revitalize the downtown, which needs pedestrian foot traffic as it is not located on arterial streets.  He believes  Carefree needs an anchor "draw", Easy Street South needs more traffic to attract businesses to his retail/restaurant component, and existing merchants need traffic to increase the vitality of their businesses, which would provide more sales tax to the Town.  The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Baker Study commissioned by the Town both suggest a new attraction.  Mr. Lewis stated that he is unwilling to proceed with his project unless the Town provides more pedestrian traffic.

 

 

 

Mr. Lewis proposed the Town invest in a cultural center that would provide increased pedestrian traffic and sales tax revenue, be the "key" to his $40 million investment in Easy Street South, be a "big leverage of Town investment", and improve Carefree's "brand", all of which would increase commercial and residential property values.  He claimed it is a better investment return for Carefree than having money sitting in the bank.  $4 million dollars spent by the Town for a cultural center that Mr. Lewis would build as part of East Street South, and would sell to the Town at his cost, is the "key" to launching his Easy Street South project.  Mr. Lewis would build both simultaneously to reduce costs.  The ASU cultural center would not include classrooms or credit courses for those in their teens and twenties; it would be a place for "adult entertainment and education".  He reiterated that "cash in the bank accomplishes nothing".  Cash in the bank is "a terrible investment".  Mr. Lewis added that this cultural center must have support from both the Council and the community; a "common vision" is necessary.

 

 

 

The project would be three stories with a generous sidewalk at grade.  The ground floor is retail/restaurant space, with two stories of condos above.  Site plan rendering slides begin on the video at 20 minutes and 25 seconds.  The cultural center would stand alone, as would a restaurant at the other end of the 15,000 square feet of retail/restaurant spaces.  Covered parking would be located mostly beneath and behind the condo units.  A conceptual floor plan of the cultural center is shown at 23 minutes.  Deliveries to the center would be made along a strip beside Elbow Bend Road.

 

 

 

The ground floor includes restrooms, a catering kitchen, and a 1,900 square foot multi purpose room for theatrical performances or tables for dinners.  The multi purpose room holds theater seating for 156 or dinner seating for 150 at 10 person round tables.  The lobby and ASU Museum retail space are accessed from Easy Street.  The second story contains an outdoor sculpture garden, two galleries, a 600 square foot classroom, administrative offices, and restrooms.  ASU would rent out the space for private events and non profit fundraisers.  Mr. Lewis showed an alternate plan that included a Council Chambers, which would reduce theater seating to 132 and dinner seating to 110.  The outside elevation of the cultural center is shown at 34 minutes.   Two other potential exterior elevations for the entire project were presented, as well as a couple of designs for the stand alone restaurant.  

 

 

 

Mr. Lewis finished by saying that ASU has "incredibly exciting resources of cultural programming in operation in metro Phoenix".  He proposes that Butte Companies design and construct the building, which ASU would maintain and operate for a rental rate of $1 a year.  ASU would provide rotating art exhibits, performances, kids' programs, and not for credit adult education.  The programs could expand into amphitheater performances and Garden uses. 

 

 

 

ASU can not utilize state or tuition funds to cover the cultural center's costs, so must raise contributions like the local non profits do.  They will assess viability and sustainability through a capital campaign pledge drive.  They require $500,000 per year for the first 5 years, or pledges of $2.5 million by this summer in order for Mr. Lewis to hold to his schedule.  He plans to start the project in 2016, finishing in 2017.  He said it would save the Town 30% if Butte builds the cultural center, as opposed to getting public bids.  But he again said that everyone must get together and support the vision.          

 

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/117042081/a60bf2de90

 

 

 

Part 2 will be the ASU presentation and part 3 will be Council and audience discussion and questions.

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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