The project, called New Square, will be built in two phases.
In November, the council approved buying a home on Morelos Street for $130,000 and previously purchased much of the land around the home for the Washington Street extension.The city will work to acquire necessary land and complete design work over the next two fiscal years, and construction is projected to start in fiscal year 2021-22, she said.Less than an acre of raw land is currently available for development in Chandler’s historic district, said Kim Moyers, the city’s cultural development director.Down the street, a 37,000-square-foot development billed as the city’s newest “entertainment destination" has been approved by the City Council for one of the last vacant city-owned properties in the area.The city plans to punch through Washington Street, which currently dead-ends at Fairview Street, south to Pecos Road, creating another entrance to downtown on the west side of the historic center, Moyers said.The city has rebranded that area as South Downtown and crews put up new monument signage and decorative light poles to encourage redevelopment of the vacant spaces that line the street, she said.As the city’s core approaches buildout in the next few years and new businesses move into existing spaces in the historic district, city officials and developers are eyeing expanding the downtown east and west of Arizona Avenue and south toward the Loop 202, she said.The city is also trying to assemble properties east of Arizona Avenue to accommodate larger developments.Plans also call for building a park in the area to add additional green space, she said.In October, the city completed a $6.1 million road project on Arizona Avenue from Frye Road south to Pecos Road. Read the latest news from Gilbert and Chandler here.According to AFT President Randi Weingarten, the ability for schools to reopen safely hinges on the federal government as state budgets continue to get slashed amid the pandemic-induced economic downturn.Face masks will be required of guests in lobbies, hallways, restrooms and in auditoriums when not eating or drinking.Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Pecos Campus is now a location for drive-thru COVID-19 testing, according to a news release.© 2005-2020 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved.Looking for something local to do this weekend?Gov. Chandler Park and Serrano’s Popular Store and Arrow Pharmacy were still open.Several new projects are also under construction, and the City Council recently approved an agreement for a new entertainment space at Arizona Avenue and Buffalo Street.Ric Serrano is president and CEO of Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants, which has been operating in downtown Chandler since 1979.Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soups’ newest Valley location is under construction next to the Sleepy Whale and is expected to open in early fall.Longtime Chandler resident Jennifer Valencia said while the library used to be the only thing that brought her downtown, the new locally owned and operated shops have created a “cool” and “hip” atmosphere. SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF. Here’s a look at what they offer.Here’s a look at some of the new spaces that have opened in downtown Chandler and what visitors can expect in the next few years.As new restaurants and brewpubs move into once-vacant storefronts in downtown Chandler, the city center has become a hotbed of activity, with diverse dining and entertainment options.The new developments have brought a “new sense of life” downtown, he said.Some lamented the loss of historic character that new developments bring and said they preferred the “old Chandler” when the U.S. Air Force plane was on display at Dr. A.J.
But not all favor the transformation.“There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with it, but it never had anything to really draw me downtown,” he said.The city announced earlier this year that medical consulting firm Revint Solutions is opening its regional offices on the entire second floor of the Overstreet development. (Alexa D'Angelo/Community Impact Newspaper)Hamilton High School senior Anika Attaluri said she wants to make sure girls have the opportunity to connect with science, technology, engineering and math in high school.Chandler USD, like districts across the state, is facing several challenges as it readies for the new school year. CHANDLER, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- What would normally be a vibrant Downtown Chandler full of people and life, was not the case on this first Friday night after restrictions on Arizona bars and restaurants went into place.
'Most importantly our team got back together': Sibley's West owner talks about reopening the downtown Chandler gift shop
Place your to-go order at a Downtown Chandler restaurant, pack your lawn chairs or picnic blanket and take advantage of the extra space at Dr. A.J.
25 S. Arizona Pl, Suite 330 Chandler, AZ 85225 (480) 855-3539.
Everyone left by the 8 p.m. curfew, and no one was arrested.