AZBigMedia
The East Valley city of Tempe is transforming into the Metro Phoenix’s second urban center, as high-rise buildings begin to fill in around Arizona State University, one of the biggest development magnets, if not the biggest, in Arizona. Much of that development is occurring along the traditional avenue, Mill. Currently, there are four major projects in the Mill Avenue corridor set to be completed in 2019 or early 2020. Those projects, the Westin Tempe, Mirabella ASU, Tempe Hilton Canopy Hotel and The Local, will do much to add to the urban feel of Tempe.
But Mill Avenue isn’t the only area of rapid development in Tempe or the East Valley, as the urbanization of Rural Road is well on its way.
Currently, there are four major construction projects underway along Rural Road, north of University and spanning across Tempe Town Lake where Rural technically turns into Scottsdale Rd. The most notable project is the massive Watermark development on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake. The 656,041 square foot structure is rapidly taking shape, as is the neighboring Aura Watermark Apartments. Those two structures dominate the north shoreline.
