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September 2016 Powered by
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Storage solutions for smaller spaces Condo community maps Right-sizing via downsizing to a condo
Easy Street, Butte Properties
Park it, store it
Garage areas in condominiums don’t skimp on parking, storage By Cara LaBrie
W
hether it’s holiday ornaments or a prized collection, tools or an odroad vehicle, it seems that we all have plenty of paraphernalia that eventually ÿnds itself stashed in the garage. For residents of condominiums, it might seem like a challenge to store everything and still be able to park a car or two. Fortunately, that’s not necessarily the case anymore. In addition to designated parking for residents, many new condominium communities oder their residents extra storage for vehicles, big toys, bikes and years’ worth of books and knick-knacks. Responding to residents Developers are learning what their buyers want — and plenty of easily accessible storage is o`en at the top of the list. When Tim Sprague, owner and principal of Habitat Metro, which is building Portland on the Park in Downtown Phoenix, and his team found out how important storage was — including the need for long-term storage — they converted unneeded parking spaces into locked storage compartments. “When we built Portland Place, we learned that storage was dear to folks,” Sprague said. “We built storage in our building itself that’s separate and distinct from each unit. We also have an abundance of parking. We think it’s important to have the ability to feel comfortable with that.” ee developers of Easy Street condominium community in Carefree also listened to buyers from previous projects and have made storage a priority. “We found that people have a great need for both storage space and parking spaces,” said Ed Lewis, owner of Butte Companies, which is developing Easy Street. “In addition, some of those people have a hobby car or a sports car and they wanted more security than a standard parking spot.” Easy Street oders lockable storage spaces that run from 50 square-feet to 250 squarefeet. “eer e also are private lockable garages with garage-door openers just like you’d ÿnd in a single-family home,” Lewis said. “Some of them are sized for two cars so you’d have room for a single car and a work bench if you want.”
Easy Street, Butte Properties
THE ‘URBS’ OR THE ‘BURBS’?
Which type of condo living is right for you?
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Contour on Campbell Ave., Courtesy of Liv URBN
By Debra Gelbart
s an urban condo better than a suburban condo, or vice versa? And what do those terms mean anyway? We asked local real estate professionals who specialize in selling or developing condominiums/ condominium communities to explain the diderences.
“An urban condo is deÿned by a location that provides convenient access to an abundance of spaces and places where people choose to be: great restaurants, theaters, art galleries and museums, waterfront parks, roo`o p bars, dynamic architecture resulting in mixed-use buildings and high-quality open space,” said Chris Chamberlain of Northern Arizona Development Group, which developed Eldorado on 1st, an intimate condominium community in Downtown Scottsdale. “We believe to be truly urban, a condo must be located in the main part of a metroplex, closer to a primary downtown or business district,” said Chris Murdy of Liv URBN Development, which has developed Contour on Campbell Ave. in the Biltmore
neighborhood in Phoenix and ee Mason in Central Phoenix. In Arizona, an urban condo has a much diderent deÿnition than in other parts of the country, said Erik Jensen, an agent with Realty Executives representing four urban condo communities. Here, “an urban condo doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s located in the downtown area of a major city, although it could be.” Urban condos in this state, he said, are located near public transportation, restaurants, shopping and major employers and are in areas with a high walkability score. By contrast, a suburban condo is one that’s located outside high-density commercial and employment centers, explained Ed Lewis of Butte Companies, which has developed Easy Street Ultra Luxury Condos in Carefree.
“
“Le re may be fewer retailers, restaurants and employment opportunities in the
Storage for big toys “We have certain residences with their own two-car private garage areas,” said Phil Tibi, broker for Two Biltmore Estates in Phoenix.
suburbs, but where would you rather go for a bike ride?” Ed Lewis,
PARK IT, STORE IT; continued on page CL4
Easy Street, Butte Properties
Butte Companies
“Suburban condos would be located in residential neighborhoods or commercial districts that are low-density.” !,)"+$('$"& +%) *)")#+Like almost everything, there are advantages for both urban and suburban condos. Many — such as maintenance-free living — are pretty much universal for the condo lifestyle. Chamberlain, Murdy and Jensen, as well as John Waldron of Williams Waldron (which manages the sales and marketing operations for ee Enclave at Borgata in Central Scottsdale), have identiÿed several advantages of urban condos: Location. “Urban buyers are interested in connection and engagement,” Waldron said. “Many buyers have moved from a suburban neighborhood, [now they can enjoy] creating new relationships while enjoying a variety of services and amenities that were not readily available in the suburbs.” Walkability. With hundreds of restaurants, bars and cafés in Downtown Scottsdale, for example, condo residents “have access to a variety of great food within minutes of stepping out the front door,” Chamberlain noted. “eey can also easily accomplish all the things they need to do on any given day,” thanks to the dozens of businesses in all areas of commerce in an urban area. Desirable office markets. “Today’s top companies have an a]n ity for these areas and invest in them,” Chamberlain said. “ei s will ensure that the quality of life continues THE ‘URBS ’OR THE “BURBS’; continued on page CL4
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