Okay, here’s an update on my previous blog about the property at the southeast corner of Congress and 5th Avenue. Apologies for not including this in the original post - it seems that somebody didn’t have it together. It wasn’t me, I promise.
So, I talked with the construction foreman assigned to the property, and I got a little more info on the project: construction will be recommencing in the next week, and they’re using drawings and photos of the building (dating back to 1918) to match the original look. I saw the photos - pretty cool stuff.
Renovations will include a scalloped arch at the top of the corner edifice, balconies with seating overlooking Congress and in the rear of the building (overlooking a lushly landscaped courtyard), and dedicated parking in the lot between the Rialto building and the former Skrappy’s building.
Interior carpentry is mostly complete, and the plumbing/electrical work is scheduled to begin shortly, along with the exterior masonry work. The awnings that are up above the corner entrance to the space are actually the original awnings - they were found in storage and touched up.
And it looks like the business and conference spaces which will be located on the second story will have rear access via the courtyard stairway. The developers have also been working closely with the Arizona Historical Society to ensure that the building updates keep the feel of the original design. In the meantime, these empty spaces will see some use as a staging area for this year’s Club Crawl on October 3rd.
Like I said before, things are definitely progressing. I’ll keep on eye on things for y’all.
intheknow
