Joe Kovesdy

Mezzo, an infill development in Phoenix, offers distinctive urban architecture in a quiet neighborhood setting.

Located near 12th Street and Osborn Road, the urban-looking Mezzo is in a residential area. With light rail access about a mile away, however, downtown Phoenix is easily accessible.

The development’s 10, three-story residences have two-car parking at the ground level of each unit. Five units have yards and five do not. Every unit is allotted a small garden in a common area.

Designed by Will Bruder, architect of the Burton Barr Central Library, Mezzo’s well-placed dual-pane windows provide great views of the street sans creating the sense that privacy has been compromised. Metal screens outside bedroom windows provide additional privacy as well as shade.

The exteriors of the two buildings have a vibrant mix of colors with exposed masonry block and steel.

Interiors have European-style solid cherry cabinetry in kitchens and baths, bay windows and GE Monogram stainless steel appliances. Units come with either bamboo, slate or limestone flooring.

Prices are from $395,000 to $420,000. Units have two bedrooms, a study and 2 1/2 baths. Each residence is roughly 1,525 square feet.

Construction was completed this summer.

Click here for pictures.

For more information on Mezzo or other urban properties, contact Joe Kovesdy. Information on developments in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale is also available at www.theurbandesert.com.

Located at the center of the bustling Tempe Mill Avenue District, Centerpoint Condominiums has an enviable location and sweeping views of downtown Tempe.

Bordered by Ash Street, Fifth Street, Maple Avenue and Centerpoint Plaza, Centerpoint is walking distance from the light rail, Arizona State University and scores of shops and restaurants. The mixed-use development has 357 residential units in two towers, one that's 30 stories and the other 22 stories. Two additional towers have been planned for the site.

The two towers share a 30,000-square-feet amenities area on the seventh floor with a fitness center, two movie theaters, business center, concierge, commercial demonstration kitchen and video game lounge. On an outside deck there is a swimming pool with integrated hot tub and an artificial beach. The ground level will have an Italian restaurant, winemaking facility and a market and cafe.

Buyers get a choice of flooring, cabinetry and countertops. All residences come with alarm systems.

A 10-level garage with four floors underground and six above ground provides parking. There is also nearby metered parking and parking lots.

Studios start at the mid-$300s while larger units begin at $1 million. Size runs 500 square feet to upwards of 7,200 square feet. There are over two dozen floor plans.

Construction of the first two towers is expected to be completed in 2009. A construction timeline for the additional towers has not been released.

The Phoenix office of Gould Evans Associates designed the project in conjunction with Vancouver-based IBI/HB Architects.

For more information on Centerpoint or other urban properties, contact Joe Kovesdy. Information on Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale developments can also be found at www.theurbandesert.com.

Scottsdale’s X (Ten) Wine Lofts gives buyers loft features in a building built from scratch.

While the genesis of lofts is in converted industrial buildings, they have evolved to include new builds like X Wine Lofts. The great rooms, industrial stairs and hollow metal doors in the units are all features that can be found in traditional lofts.

Other features include Canac European cabinets, granite countertops, Kohler plumbing fixtures, oversized balconies and 9 1/2-foot ceilings.

Located at Osborn Road, just west of Scottsdale Road, the 82-unit, four-story building is within walking distance of over 75 restaurants, 70 galleries, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn and shopping.

Community amenities include a heated swimming pool and spa, sun deck, fitness center, courtyard and club room.

Prices run from $399,000 to $990,000. There are 11 floor plans with sizes ranging from 889 to 2,140 square feet.

There is underground parking with one designated space for one-bedroom units and two spaces for two-bedroom floor plans.

In keeping with the wine motif, each unit has a U-line wine chiller and floor plans are named after grapes.

The building, designed by Phoenix-based Todd & Associates, Inc., is expected to be completed this month.

Click here for renderings.

Contact Joe Kovesdy for more information on X Wine Lofts or other urban properties. Information on developments in Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tempe is also available at www.theurbandesert.com.

Mosaic in Tempe will offer many amenities, one of the most impressive being a Whole Foods store.

When construction begins in 2009, a 52,885-square-foot Whole Foods Market and Cafe will be built at the bottom of the condominium tower at the northwest corner of University Drive and Ash Avenue. The natural and organic food store will include a sushi bar, pizza kitchen and a gourmet deli.

Other building amenities will include the following:

• Seventh-floor deck with pool, spa, barbecue grills and firepit.
• Private elevator from the Whole Foods entrance to the seventh-floor deck.
• Lobby with valet, 24-hour security, on-site HOA manager, concierge, mail center and seating areas.
• Fitness Center with locker room facilities, steam rooms and private showers.
• Business center with a large conference table and Wi-Fi.
• Resident lounge with catering kitchen and game table.
• Secured above-ground parking with storage for bicycles.
• Additional storage available for purchase.

Standard features in the units will include Bosch stainless steel appliances, Kohler plumbing fixtures, undermounted sinks, European-style cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling windows with Low-E glass.

The 239-unit, 23-story tower will have six townhomes, nine penthouses, 48 flats and 176 tower condos, between 509 and 3,300 square feet. Prices will go from the low $300s to $2.9 million.

Otak, a Lake Oswego, Ore.-based architecture, engineering and design firm with a Tempe office, designed the tower to minimize exposure to the harsh western sun and maximize exposure to the north-south corridors.

Mosaic is now accepting reservations.

For more renderings, click here.

Contact Joe Kovesdy for more information on Mosaic or other urban properties. Information on developments in Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale is also available at www.theurbandesert.com.

With soaring gas prices added to the Valley’s traffic tie-ups, one of the most attractive amenities at Century Plaza is its excellent light rail access.

The 15-story high-rise residential condo development, which is located at 1 Lexington Avenue across the street from Park Central Mall in midtown Phoenix, is just a few steps away from the light rail station at Central Avenue and Osborn Road. Beginning in December, the 20-mile light-rail line will shuttle people through Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

Century Plaza is less than five minutes from US Airways Center, Chase Field, Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Phoenix Convention Center, Dodge Theater, Herberger Theater, Orpheum Theatre and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute.

Standard features and building amenities of Century Plaza include the following:

• Security system featuring iris scan with voice activation at the elevators.
• Dramatic 11-foot-10-inch ceiling heights.
• Kohler fixtures and faucets.
• Assigned covered parking.
• Open gourmet kitchens with extended bars, custom-made Italian cabinets and granite countertops.
• Concierge service.
• Resort-style heated pool and spa with private cabanas.
• State-of-the-art workout facility with locker rooms.
• Ground-floor retail.
• Three spacious high-speed elevators.
• Pre-wiring for ceiling fans in all bedrooms and a security system.
• Large shaded patio terraces off the living room and bedroom areas.
• Spectacular views of Phoenix skyline and mountains.

Condos range from 734 to 2,846 square feet, with prices from $411,325 to $1.89 million.

The 15-story building is expected to be completed this year.

Contact Joe Kovesdy for more information on Century Plaza or other urban properties. Information on developments in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe is also available at www.theurbandesert.com.