Tempe neighbors have once again slammed the brakes on a proposed seven-story student housing complex on South Spence Avenue, arguing it would loom over a narrow residential block and choke local streets with cars. The project, called The Marshall on Spence, would replace the aging Tempe Palms apartments and has already gone through several redesigns as community pushback has grown. At a June 4 council meeting, members voted 6-1 to give the developer more time to rework the proposal instead of taking a final vote.
According to ABC15 Arizona, the latest plan calls for a seven-story building on a lot smaller than one acre, packing in roughly 296 bedrooms and 89 parking spaces. Neighbors argue that kind of density, combined with sections of the neighborhood street that narrow to about 25 feet, would overwhelm nearby single-family homes. The outlet noted the project has already been kicked back for revisions multiple times.
Neighbors Say the Scale Is Wrong
“We know the city needs housing, but this particular project is out of scale and out of whack,” Phil Amorosi, co-chair of Citizens for a Vibrant Apache Corridor, told ABC15 Arizona. Residents showed up with diagrams illustrating how the proposed building mass would dwarf the surrounding homes, and several urged councilmembers to push for a shorter, slimmer structure and different garage access to cut down on drivers using neighborhood streets as a shortcut.
What the Filings Show
City planning records list the project as file PL240473 at 1026 S. Spence Ave. and detail an overall building program of about 170,328 square feet, with roughly 101 units and a maximum height of 85 feet, according to the City of Tempe council packet. Earlier Development Review Commission materials, cited by AZBEX, described a 105-unit layout with about 271 beds on approximately 0.88 acres, along with a small ground-floor retail space and 89 vehicle parking spots.
Council Delays Vote, Asks for Changes
The Tempe City Council voted to continue the rezoning request for six months so both new and returning members can review updated plans and hear additional neighborhood feedback, Rose Law Group Reporter reported. Representatives from CHA Consulting told the council the design includes a mix of studios through five-bedroom units, bike storage and adjusted exit routes. Mayor Corey Woods was the lone vote against the continuance.
Why This Fight Matters
Tempe planning documents show a long list of sizable projects aimed at housing students and other residents, and that growth is putting pressure on already tight neighborhood streets in parts of the Apache corridor. That context helps explain why housing advocates are pushing for more units while nearby residents are demanding larger setbacks, traffic mitigations and firmer guarantees on parking and loading operations before any rezoning goes through, according to the City of Tempe council packet and industry reporting…