In continuing its multiphase renovation, Friendship Village Tempe, 2645 E. Southern Ave., has opened a new four-story 142,000-square-foot building that offers living spaces along with a full-service restaurant and microbrewery where residents can learn to brew their own beers.
This opening marks the completion of the 50-acre retirement community’s second phase of renovation, which is being completed by Ryan Cos. and LCS Development. First built in 1980, Friendship Village Tempe’s older buildings are being updated for its current and future residents.
Ryan Project Manager Samantha Vark explained that this second phase of development took 20 months to complete, finishing up construction at the end of 2023. Friendship Village Tempe has been leasing units out since and the building has reached 89% occupancy.
“This is phase two of an expansion for the campus, so this took a three-floor building down, built a parking garage to phase one and then we built up four floors of resident living and rooftop qualities,” Vark said.
The second phase created 64 independent living apartments, four guest suites and 69 underground parking spaces.
Developers are in the design process for the next phase of the project that is expected to begin construction in late 2025, bringing about 71 resident units along with more common areas, a spa and another bar. In total, there are expected to be five project phases, according to Vark.
Grand opening
Friendship Village Tempe held its grand opening for the second phase on Feb. 20, inviting residents to celebrate its completion with food and refreshments from the building’s restaurant Starfire and live music from the community’s band The Desert Ramblers.
Several featured speakers also welcomed the new building, including Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Ryan Regional President Chuck Carefoot and Friendship Village Tempe Executive Director Cole Marvin.
Mayor Woods, who also serves as a board member at the retirement community, spoke about Friendship Village as a pillar of the community and the amenities that it provides to its residents currently and with the latest building.
(Independent Newsmedia/Caroline Yu)
“Friendship Village Tempe is one of the first continuing care retirement communities in the region, and it’s obviously been a staple in the city of Tempe for many years and will continue to be for years to come,” Woods said.
He went on to say that the renovations completed in both phases have transformed the landlocked campus with new attractions like a pickleball court along with the living spaces. As Woods explained, Friendship Village Tempe continues to offer a holistic community that creates and promotes healthy, functional lives for older adults in the city.
“I’m just excited to see — how Friendship Village, how Ryan Cos., LCS Developments — how they are all going to continue working and partnering together to improve this community for all of our seniors when it comes to not phase one or not phase two, but phase three,” he said.
Representing Ryan Cos. and Friendship Village leadership, Carefoot and Marvin echoed the mayor’s sentiments, thanking all of those who have worked on the project for their collaboration and resilience in this multiphase process.
In his speech, Carefoot commended those involved for working through many challenges in both phases to get the job done, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and procurement issues.
“The whole team came together at each challenge to find a way to solve the problem and create a result that we can all move forward with and be proud of,” Carefoot said.
(Independent Newsmedia/Caroline Yu)
Speaking to the landlocked nature of the campus, Marvin talked about how the team was able to build resident living spaces while also balancing the campus out with valuable amenities by creating rooftop experiences.
“But it continues to be a learning experience, we honestly get better each time, each phase, we learn a little bit more, we make changes and we modify our approach,” Marvin said.
Along with the city and development team speaking at the opening, Friendship Village Tempe resident and former board member Don Cassano spoke briefly about the new building.
As a board member for over 40 years, Cassano said that he used to think that he was too young to live at Friendship Village Tempe, but it has not only become his home but the home for many new residents to come.
He pointed to the community’s location between Mesa and Tempe, highlighting how its position in the East Valley makes it an appealing living option for locals throughout the area now and going forward.
“With the new amenities that we’re building here, it’s going to be home for a lot of new people that are going to find out what Friendship Village is about,” Cassano said.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Caroline Yu
Reporter | Tempe
cyu@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.
Hobbies: Hiking, painting and crocheting.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here