Options for living in downtown Phoenix just keep getting better. This week, The Marquee Apartments at 620 North 2nd Avenue staged its Grand Opening in the heart of the Historic Roosevelt District. The Marquee is a smartly realized midcentury apartment complex developed by Community Development Partners, a development team dedicated to providing high quality, affordable housing to income-restricted seniors.
If you are 62 and over and living with a limited income, this renovated complex offers easy access to light rail, Hance Park, the main library, the post office, the Public Market and a host of cafes and coffee shops, all within an easy walk.
Cutting the ribbon, from left to right: Michael Trailor, Director of Arizona Department of Housing; Darren Berberian, President of CDP, Sean Robbins, CFO of CDP, Kyle Paine, Director of Land Acquisitions of CDP; Eric Paine, CEO of CDP
Built in 1958, the Marquee suffered years of neglect before being chosen by Community Development Partners (CDP) as the perfect place to put their feet down in Phoenix. In describing their focus as developers, Eric Paine, CEO of CDP said, “We are passionate about sustainability, about improving lives, and about helping to build the strong, diverse community that is coming to life along the light rail.”
The building is a good example of midcentury architecture that CDP took great care in preserving by restoring many of the original architectural details. In addition, they integrated sustainable elements designed to make the residents more comfortable while conserving energy, including new solid surface flooring, energy efficient appliances, water conserving plumbing fixtures, Energy Star lighting packages, new electrical infrastructure, new cabinets and countertops, fresh paint and in-unit washers and dryers.
A bright living room space.
Some units offer a view of downtown.
Paine also paid tribute to the impact the arts community has had in helping bring vibrant life to downtown. Local artist Hugo Medina, who spoke at the opening, reiterated the crucial role artists play in building communities when he said, “artists give cities their souls, their character and their color.” The Marquee will honor this impact by working with local artists to curate and display regularly changing exhibitions in the complex’s community center.
Overlooking the pool and courtyard.
Colin Tetreault, Mayor Stanton’s Senior Policy Advisory for Sustainability, emphasized the connection to the building’s “sustainable” history. He pointed out that in 1958 when the building was new, many people had their own vegetable gardens, dried their clothes on clotheslines, darned their socks instead of tossing them, and engaged in a host of other “sustainable” energy-saving activities “before being sustainable was cool.…”
He added, “Projects like the Marquee cultivate the growth of a diverse future for downtown. The people who live here bring their experience, their backgrounds and their energy to the community. Adaptive reuse of properties like the Marquee and the integration of sustainable elements provides benefits to business, and has a direct impact on the quality of life for residents.”
Marquee resident Richard Fox with Colin Tetreault.
Resident Richard Fox was one of the first tenants to move into the Marquee. He came to Arizona to study at Arcosanti in 1972 and never left. Fox loves his home at the Marquee. “When I was growing up we had a beach house in Florida, and yet, this is still the best place I’ve ever lived,” said Fox. “I moved in over Easter weekend and as night fell I looked out of the bedroom window and could see the full moon shining over the Sheraton. It was beautiful.”
Michael Trailor, from the Arizona Department of Housing pointed out that the main difference between developing affordable housing and market rate housing is the complexity of the financing. In the Marquee, CDP found a way to navigate the process and deliver a smart, efficient and welcome new option for living downtown.
Apartments in the complex are still available, so if you are at least 62 and living with a fixed income, you need to check them out.
Select photography provided by The Marquee, courtesy of Tony Felice PR & Marketing
