Innovative 38-Unit Townhome Project Completed in Downtown Phoenix

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorPhoenix–JAG Development has recently completed construction of its latest project, Portland 38, the first large-scale private investment in years in the historic Garfield District, adjacent to downtown Phoenix. Located at 7th and Portland streets, the 38-unit complex, designed by award-winning architect and Arizona State University professor Michael Underhill, features a large play pool with tile accent walls, communal dining and barbeque areas, and a reflection garden.“There are close to 60,000 people working in downtown Phoenix and with gas prices rising, many want to cut down their commutes. As a result, demand for products in this area is rising,” Allan Gutkin, principal at JAG Development, tells MHN. “This location puts residents within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, and nightlife of Roosevelt Row, in addition to the light rail, which is an eight-minute walk from the project.”Portland 38 is features three-level townhomes with their own private yards and garages. The unique front spaces serve as both front entry and garage, borrowing an innovation from several cutting-edge housing developments in Eastern Harbour District in Amsterdam, Netherlands that increases density and enhances sustainability. The units also incorporate distinctive features like sandblasted block walls, polished concrete floors, Miele stainless steel appliances, Kohler plumbing fixtures, and 2-in. tile baths.The townhomes range in size from 1,272 to 1,606 sq. ft. and are priced from the low $200s to $300,000. “By any stretch, the for-sale market in Phoenix is not doing well. But it is picking up because the prices have bottomed out, having gone down 30 to 35 percent from their peak,” Gutkin adds.He anticipates that the units in this project will be sold in a year. “This is definitely a down market, but on the other hand, we don’t have any competition in this price range and quality,” Gukin says.