Projects whether they be new, or redevelopments can go on odd journeys when being evaluated in Scottsdale. That’s because of the independent nature of each of the councilmembers, and an engaged citizenry.
But in an era when Scottsdale’s council majority has tilted more to a slower growth nature, it’s still a head scratcher what’s taking place with a project called 92 Ironwood across from Honor Health’s North Scottsdale hospital.
There, a weird office building empty for 12 years sits. That’s not a typo.
There, current zoning allows up to 48 feet in height. There, a plan soon coming before the City Council would redevelop the site and actually LOWER allowed heights.
There the project enjoys overwhelming support from those closest to the site – an adjacent shopping center, its small businesses, Honor Health, the two closest HOAs and even the Arizona Nurse’s Association. Opponents, decrying apartments in general but really nothing about 92 Ironwood specifically, live miles and miles away.
There, densities would be the lowest of any apartment project in North Scottsdale in 5 years. And this would be the first such one within five miles of 92 Ironwood in 20-31 years, depending on who you are talking to.
There, where the proposed use would have less traffic than existing uses and zoning.
There, just across the street lies a northern section of one of Scottsdale’s greatest achievements, its Greenbelt. Presumably it was built for resident, recreational use.
There, also just across the street sits the Mustang Library, presumably it too was built at taxpayer expense for nearby resident use too.
Without getting into a debate about Adam Smith there is a strong argument to be made that far southern Scottsdale might benefit from taking a break from new apartment projects. There certainly are a lot of them.
But 92 Ironwood? To preserve a sad site when shopping centers (that provide critical city sales tax revenue) need shoppers not stagnancy?
Let’s hope at the end of the day this isn’t a result too strange to be true for a city which, in the past year, has done a pretty good job of balancing businesses needs with neighborhood interests, despite many concerns to the contrary. And it can again with projects like 92 Ironwood.