Papago Plaza is moving forward with its 11-acre redevelopment plan for an urban mixed-use lifestyle community featuring specialty restaurants and retail, a grocer, luxury apartment homes and an all-suites hotel designed in an orchard-like setting at the southwest corner of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads.
Serving as a catalyst for the redevelopment of the South Scottsdale corridor and a significant boost to the area’s revitalization and economy, Papago Plaza will replace the iconic, Pueblo-style Papago Plaza retail center, originally built in 1962 and renovated to its current design in 1988.
The new Papago Plaza will feature an adaptive re-use design of natural elements including brick, stone and wood with a mid-century modern aesthetic. The retail development will include art murals, neighborhood gathering areas for events, a common heavily-landscaped park area with full service Wi-Fi, fountains, benches and child-friendly water feature.
Located just south of Old Town Scottsdale, Papago Plaza will capitalize on its Scottsdale Road frontage across the street from SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center featuring a dynamic hub for companies that have a focus on innovation and technology. Papago Plaza is in close proximity to various South Scottsdale iconic venues including the scenic Papago Park, hiking and biking trails, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Municipal Stadium and the proposed San Francisco Giants training facility at Scottsdale Stadium.
Real estate veteran, Lee Mashburn, president of Pivot Development of Scottsdale –developer of Papago Plaza — is known for improving older prime areas into thriving urban lifestyle communities. Mashburn was responsible for rezoning and entitling the Scottsdale Waterfront mixed-use retail community located along Camelback Road, across from Scottsdale Fashion Square. The construction of this iconic redevelopment included the negotiation of the location for the first Nordstrom department store in Arizona.
“Understanding the market dynamics and the potential of a corridor such as South Scottsdale Road is an essential component of the redevelopment of older established commercial uses. Differentiated uses of lifestyle and activity can act as a catalyst for sustaining a variety of commercial uses in times of changing market conditions,” said Mashburn.
“Times have changed and it’s time to create a more pleasing and modern community asset that is beneficial to the area and surrounding neighborhoods, especially since this location represents the gateway to South Scottsdale,” Mashburn said.
The site of Papago Plaza serves as a renaissance area of Scottsdale which is transforming into a revitalized core of new retail, office, restaurants and residences.
Architect of Papago Plaza is Nelsen Partners of Scottsdale, with lead architect, Jeff Brand, a neighbor of Papago Plaza who is significantly interested in the outcome of the project. The architectural firm designed Kierland Commons of Phoenix and the Scottsdale Quarter, and assisted Mashburn in his Scottsdale Waterfront efforts.
A 39-year retail expert, Judi Butterworth, senior vice president of Orion Investment Real Estate is handling the retail leasing for Papago Plaza assisted by Carol Schillne, first vice president with CBRE Retail Services, specializing in retail and restaurants.
Construction of Papago Plaza is planned to start in August with completion slated for fall 2020.
Papago Plaza is a quality urban lifestyle community under planning and development at the southwest corner of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads in Scottsdale. The community will be home to specialty restaurants and retail, luxury apartment homes, a grocery store and an all-suites hotel in an orchard-like setting with pedestrian courtyards and walkways. For more information, contact Judi Butterworth of Orion Investment Real Estate, handling the retail leasing for Papago Plaza at 480-750-1215.
