Dear Neighbors:
As you may know, an Ahwatukee developer has submitted a proposal to build a massive, high density, 300-resident senior living facility on more than 8 acres at the corner of Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. The land – currently owned by North Phoenix Baptist Church – has been zoned residential for more than 120 years. To get this project done, IPA, the developer, will need special zoning treatment from the City of Phoenix. In essence, this “apartment complex on steroids” would be a commercial enterprise amid a residential neighborhood.
Last week, Phoenix Councilman Daniel Valenzuela announced his opposition to the project in an opinion column. Now Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton also has gone public with his opposition, according to the President of the North Central Phoenix Homeowners Association, which represents about 2,500 properties in the area.
Mary Crozier, the NCPHA President, said the following in an email blast sent over the weekend to Association members:
Thank you again for your interest and willingness to help as scores of neighbors work together to oppose the massive, high-density senior complex proposed for land currently owned by the North Phoenix Baptist Church (ZA-54-16). We will continue to be vigilant in our opposition to this development, which would require a special zoning change for the developer, IPA, to move forward.
Unfortunately, IPA has yet to withdraw its application for this development. Thus, we have continued to press ahead, urging members of the Phoenix City Council to join us in opposing IPA’s plans. And we are clearly making progress.
In a recent conversation with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, the Mayor made it clear to me that he opposes the IPA proposal. More importantly, the Mayor assured me that he will contact IPA immediately to urge them to withdraw their application. The Mayor’s public opposition is another strong signal to IPA that their plan to site a massive “apartment complex on steroids” in the middle of what has been a residential neighborhood for more than 120 years is, quite simply, unacceptable.
Stay tuned for more developments on this struggle between IPA and scores of neighbors committed to protecting North Central.
