‘The Albany’ apartments planned in Mesa

By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

Four two-story buildings with 36 total units are planned for The Albany apartments to be constructed west of Recker Road and north of Main Street in Mesa.

The preliminary design for the 1.5-acre development recently was discussed by the Mesa Design Review Board. It will have a 3,500-square-foot dog park and playground, and a 3,600-square-foot pool area with ramadas, according to city documents.

Alternative-compliance requests include:

• The city requires garage doors located below upper story living space shall be recessed at least 3 feet from the upper facade; the development shows a 6-inch recess from the upper facade;
• The city requires each facade shall incorporate at least two primary materials; one primary material — stucco — is proposed on the side and rear elevations;
• Building entrances shall have a roofed projection with a minimum depth of 5 feet and a minimum horizontal area of 50 square feet; the development is proposing covered entrances with a minimum horizontal area of 30 square feet.

“There are a multitude of alternative compliance requests with this project,” Staff Planner Sean Pesek said during the board’s Dec. 14 meeting. “Our code requires two articulation methods for multiple-residence development, so the applicant is providing articulation along the front sides, but we are lacking any articulation on those side facades where the signage is proposed.”

Tim Boyle of Tim Boyle Design is the applicant. Craig Ahlstrom is the owner.

All units will have 216-square-foot private yards with view fencing; those on Albany have yards facing the park across the street and the second-floor bedrooms have mountain views, according to a project narrative from Tim Boyle Design.

“Mesa is in need of new, quality dwellings. This development provides upscale units and focuses its qualities where people will walk, recreate and look through windows. The quality of spaces designed for people to spend time are the focus and the quality of the drive aisle is according to code but minimal. Enough of Mesa is dedicated to vehicle circulation and asphalt; infill developments do not need to overdesign drive aisles,” it states.

The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two citizens, according to the city’s website.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.