The Phoenix City Council has unanimously approved PHX Commons, a $4 million plan to redevelop a location that has remained unoccupied since 2012. Being touted as a 21st century community gathering space, project planners were granted a 10-year contract for the property, which formerly housed the Matador restaurant. The proposal calls for a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining areas, a coffee and grab-and-go food bar, a newsstand and bookstore mixed use area, a pop-up retail specialty area, an Arizona local products showcase space, and a technology living room that will be used for meetings and individuals. 

At it’s January 4th meeting, The Downtown, Aviation, Economy and Innovation Subcommittee recommended City Council approval by a 4-0 vote, which came after years of research, focus groups, meetings, and feedback from the downtown community. $2.5 million will be funded by PHX Commons up front for site improvements, and the city will provide a tenant improvement allowance of $529,600 credited against rent over the first seven years of the tenant’s lease term. A total of $716,840 in rent will be paid by PHX Commons over the initial 10-year contract, and it will also pay for all utilities and a share of the Enhanced Municipal Services District assessment, according to city records. PHX commons may purchase 20 monthly parking passes for the Regency garage, and up to 20 monthly passes may be purchased for the East Garage. 

The site is located at the corner of Adams and first streets in downtown Phoenix, with the two spaces totaling just over 13,000 square feet (including patios). The addresses are 125 E. Adams St. and 131 E. Adams St.

More information should be available within the next couple of months, with the hope of opening sometime in 2018. 50-75 full and part-time jobs are expected to be created by the project.

The project’s website is still under construction.