By Hunter Cisiewski ’17
THE ROUNDUP

A new four-story, 266-unit apartment complex named “Elevation Central” is being built across the street from Brophy on southwest corner of Central and Highland avenues.

The construction started late last December, and its completion date is yet to be revealed according to Arizona Builder’s Exchange website azbex.com.

The building is on the 4.3 acre lot where the “West Lot” used to be. Sunbelt Holdings Inc bought the land for $2.9 million according to Arizona Builder’s Exchange website azbex.com.

Elevation Central is one of the many transit-oriented developments planned along the Light Rail corridor. It is located a short distance from the Light Rail, and offers 50 bike parking spaces in the six-story parking garage. It will feature studios, one and two bedroom apartments, a two-story fitness center and a swimming pool, according to an article on downtowndevil.com.

“This is a true transit oriented development project,” Vedura Residential Managing Director, Bruce Hart said on the Arizona Builder’s Exchange website azbex.com.

Transit-oriented development, or TOD, is a type of community development that includes a mixture of housing, office, retail and/or other amenities integrated into a walkable neighborhood and located within a half-mile of quality public transportation, according to reconnectingamerica.org.

“Transit oriented development is a term used in urban planning that refers to larger buildings, or what we call higher density development, that we try to promote around major transit corridors like the light rail,” said the project manager at the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department Curt Upton on azbex.com.

With the apartment complex holding 266 apartments, there will be a growth in nearby  population, which in turn could lead to more traffic.

“It will increase the amount of traffic in the morning for sure, making it harder to get to school,” said Spencer Kolasar ’17.