Carefree Truth

Issue #413, August 6, 2015

 

 

 

Ed Lewis, president of Butte Properties, presented his revised plan for the Easy Street South condominium project at the August Council meeting.  The proposed project now consists of 3 stories of condos, with no retail element or cultural center included, and the facade has been amended to be more in keeping with Carefree's ambience.  Mr. Lewis is not requesting or receiving an investment, subsidy, fee waiver, or tax credit of any type from the Town of Carefree. The calculated revenue from applicable sales tax will be approximately $990,000.  When plan reviews and permit fees are factored in, revenue to the Town will be in excess of $1 million.  The new plan meets all the zoning requirements. 

 

 

 

The plan proposes 3 stories containing 49 ultra luxury condominiums, ranging in size from 1,500-3,600 square feet, built on Butte's south parcel, which is currently a dirt lot.  Butte's north parcel is not part of this project, and will be subject to future planning and development ideas.

  

 

 

 

Mayor Les Peterson thanked Mr. Lewis for working with the Town.  Mr. Lewis said it was a pleasure to be back with his reconfigured plan.   He feels that the downtown has "lots of future potential" and that his condos "will be a tremendous asset" to Carefree.  The new plan includes a pad for a future freestanding restaurant, as Mr. Lewis believes Carefree is "on the verge of becoming a substantial restaurant haven".  He sees "a tremendous demand".  The future restaurant will be deed restricted to a single story with an 18' maximum height, in order to preserve the spectacular views from the  pool/recreation area located on the second story of the condos.

 

 

 

 

The main entrance will have a large metal trellis overhang. The texture palette will include rusted and dark brown steel, synthetic mustard stucco with the color running throughout the material, insulated glass, and natural stone.  The exterior elevation and the roof line are stepped to add design interest.  The sidewalk will be made of exposed aggregate.    

 

 

 

Secured parking for the condo residents will be located beneath and behind the building.  Access points to the resident parking will be from Carefree Drive and from Sidewinder Road.  Street parking will remain as it is now.  Sufficient parking is included to accommodate the future restaurant. 

 

 

 

There will be 7 condos at the street level, with private verandas where residents can do some of their own landscaping and/or have a place for their pets to be outdoors.  A dog run will be built out back.  A green belt park with terraced walls will be planted along the border with Elbow Bend Road.   The ground level will include a large storage room and various sized "man caves" that could house workshops, a hobby car, motorcycles, etc. 

 

 

 

 

 

The second and third floors will each contain 21 condos with air conditioned corridors and elevators to the parking garage.  The second story, which will be the "action floor", will have a rooftop outdoor recreation area which includes a resort style heated pool and spa, a fire feature, ample seating, and a two story clubhouse with a conference table.  The clubhouse can be used as a conference room or for entertaining, and will house the concierge service.  The second story of the clubhouse will open onto the third floor of the condos, and will contain a fitness center and a steam room.

 

 

 

Mr. Lewis said these would be the first ultra luxury condominiums in the Desert Foothills area.  Like the condos he developed in Kierland, the last of which were just sold, the price would be in the million dollar range, and the quality would be very high.  He anticipates attracting area residents who are ready for a more maintenance free lifestyle.  Should the project be approved by the Council at this meeting, marketing would commence immediately, construction would start in May or June of 2016, and the project would be complete and ready for residents to move in by September of 2017.  You can visit  their website at www.EasyStreetCarefree.com  

 

 

 

Mayor Peterson thanked Mr. Lewis for an excellent presentation and an excellent project.  Councilman Mike Farrar said he was thrilled with the project proposal and thanked Mr. Lewis for working with the Town.  He felt this new project was far superior, and he gave it his 100% endorsement.  Mayor Peterson echoed those sentiments.  The project was unanimously approved.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/135543218/c8fcd88918

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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