Tempe is moving forward with the development of an updated institution that would provide temporary housing in the city, creating a new building for office space, shelter beds and other shared communal and service spaces.
The Tempe Development Review Commission voted to recommend that city council approve a use permit and development plan review for the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center, located at 2423 E. Apache Blvd., during its Nov. 12 meeting. It passed in a unanimous 7-0 vote, with some modified conditions.
Senior city planner Jacob Payne wrote in a city staff report that the proposed development is a two-story, 22,964-square-foot office, housing shelter and homelessness services building. The project site is located south of Apache Boulevard, between the Loop 101 Freeway and the Tempe Canal.
Payne along with applicant Mike Duffy with RSP Architects and Tempe Community Action Agency CEO Deborah Arteaga spoke at the Nov. 12 meeting, providing insight into the scope of the project from the perspective of the applicant and the city.
TCAA is the owner of the property, and Duffy is with the architecture firm taking charge of the social services agency’s project. TCAA is developing this new building to support its work helping vulnerable households in the East Valley.
Arteaga explained that the nonprofit is the most expansive and longest lasting agency delivering human services to Tempe and other East Valley residents, boasting nine different programs that are designed to address the causes and effects of poverty in the community.
“Our programs are designed to address food insecurity in our community, housing instability, health and wellbeing and economic mobility,” Arteaga said.
Duffy went on to say during the presentation, that in working with nonprofits like TCAA, it’s common that they’re doing great work in spaces that may not have been built to support the services they provide.
A rendering of TCAA's new building, which recently received support from Tempe's Development Review Commission for the approval of a use permit and development plan review.
Courtesy City of Tempe
(Courtesy City of Tempe)
He said that the proposed building aims to support TCAA’s services by making efficient use of the space, including features like a welcome center, market-style pantry, a space for economic mobility services and even trauma-informed design choices to create a feeling of safety and security.
“I get so excited as a designer and architect to provide a positive impact, to make what they do hopefully a little bit easier and make people who occupy these spaces be their best, to do their best and contribute to the community in a positive way,” Duffy said.
From the city’s perspective, Payne said that the proposed project meets the criteria for the use permit requested and the development plan review, and the project has even received three letters of support. There was also one member of the public who spoke in support of the center during the meeting.
However, he did note that there was one letter of opposition received. Staff provided their recommendation that the commission send the permit and development plan review for city council approval with a number of conditions.
Payne said that there are three unique conditions:
There shall be a cross access easement on the final plat of the project to provide entry and exit to the site to allow for future access to city-owned property east of the site;
The front door of the building should be moved north to curb crime by reducing the space that people can gather in at the front of the building; and
The breezeblock vestibule at the northwest corner shall include cement blocks with void in addition to the pattern spacing to allow for better visibility and public safety.
Following the presentation, the commissioners asked questions and engaged in discussion of the project, delving into the unique conditions for approval proposed by staff.
Duffy and Arteaga commented on the cross access easement and front door conditions, noting that the former should allow for overflow parking for TCAA’s clients given the reduction in onsite parking needed for the easement. The latter, according to Duffy, should allow for some space in the front of the building as a secure gathering point, providing greater benefits to TCAA clients despite the “perceived public safety concern.”
Ultimately, the commission voted to recommend approval, amending the above conditions to require the front door setback be within 12 to 18 inches from the face of the building and that a shared use agreement be negotiated in the future for the use of city-owned property by TCAA.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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