The era of great skyscrapers may be returning to Phoenix.
A project that will see the construction of a 535 foot-tall structure has now been approved by the Phoenix City Council.
The project, set for downtown Phoenix, will surpass in height the well-known 483 foot-tall Chase Tower that went up in 1972.
What is being called Astra Phoenix will belong to Aspirant Development, with a second tower topping out at 380 feet.
Aspirant is a division of the Empire Group of Scottsdale. Project architect is the internationally known firm of Solomon Cordwell Buenz, which is based in Chicago.
Planned for a nearly 3-acre site near the east side of Second Avenue, just to the south of Fillmore Street, the project, now approved by the Phoenix City Council, will house around four hundred luxury apartments as well as a 230-room hotel.
The site has been the home to a parking lot serving the Lincoln Family YMCA, which last month announced it was closing with its services taken up by nearby YMCA branches.
Also included in the project: 200,000 square feet of office space, and 40,000 square feet of retail space.
Plans were originally announced for the $350 million high rise last fall.
By Garry Boulard
