By Ken Sain | San Tan Sun News
City officials say the demand for office space is falling, reflecting one way that the pandemic impacted businesses’ outlook for the future as many employees who worked from home are resisting a return to offices.
“We have not seen many new office development proposals,” said David de la Torre, the city’s planning manager.
Chandler City Council approved a change at the New Square development at the northwest corner of Chicago Street and Arizona Avenue in downtown that reflects that decreasing demand.
The project was first approved in 2018 and has already seen construction of a three-story office tower and the Hilton Garden Inn hotel.
Council approved changing part of the plan that calls for a four-story office building at the corner of Chicago and Oregon.
Now, the plan calls for a retail and multi-family development. Kim Moyers, city cultural development director, said the developer decided to make the change to condominiums because of the lower demand for office space. Moyers’ office is in charge of downtown development.
