Redeveloping and revitalizing Downtown requires the ability to adapt, and in order to adapt, the City has to think beyond one-size-fits-all building regulations.
To stimulate the growth of our traditionally suburban Downtown and help convert it to a more urban environment, Chandler established an out-of-the-box plan for allowing businesses to adapt older buildings to meet their new needs.
Chandler’s Adaptive Reuse Program assists property and business owners seeking to adapt and reuse older buildings for commercial purposes without being hindered by excessive costs for code and regulation updates.
The program aims to prevent setbacks for regulations (such as landscaping, parking, mechanical screening and infrastructure updates) that disproportionately impact buildings in targeted redevelopment areas.
Benefits of Adaptive Reuse
Most qualifying projects go through a streamlined process to make development timelines and costs more predictable. By allowing for flexibility in applying City regulations the program also offers new opportunities to reuse underutilized properties and encourages investment Downtown and beyond.
The program also offers new opportunities to reuse underutilized properties and encourages investment that provides needed services, amenities and jobs to the community.
Adaptive reuse stimulates reinvestment in established areas by:
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Supporting the development of local businesses
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Generating jobs for Chandler residents
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Generating tax revenue to support City Services
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Supporting neighborhood revitalization by providing services nearby
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Encouraging sustainability by making use of existing building materials
The Criteria
In Chandler, a qualified Adaptive Reuse Project meets these criteria:
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The building must have been built before 1990.
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The project must be less that 15,000 square feet, including any proposed additions.
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The total lot size must be 30,000 square feet or less.
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The building is a commercially zoned property that is in the identified Adaptive Reuse Overlay District.
Success Stories
Just a few of the businesses in Downtown Chandler that have successfully taken advantage of the Adaptive Reuse Policy for their downtown developments:
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Civic Market
Flo Yoga and Cycle
Flo Yoga and Cycle came to Downtown Chandler in 2017. The founders, husband-and-wife-team Eddie and Debbie Davis, built the studio using the bones of a neglected building near the corner of Frye Road and Arizona Avenue.
The City’s adaptive reuse program allowed the Davis’ to build their studio in an older space that would have required several extensive changes had they not been able to utilize the reuse regulations.
“We love Chandler because there's lots of great families here. Lots of great places to eat. Great places to hang out with your friends and drink,” Eddie said. “We love being a part of the revitalization that is happening in this area.”
Explore Growth in Downtown Chandler
Downtown Chandler has a little something for everyone, whether you are looking for a party venue, local brewery, high-end dining or one-of-a-kind shopping. Learn more about the heart of our City and everything it has to offer, now and in the future.