Joint Venture to Revamp Tempe Historic Site

It’s one of Tempe most endearing landmarks. The old Hayden Flour Mill off the Rio Salado Parkway is hard to miss. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that two area developers have been chosen to turn it into a community asset. Venue Projects and Sunbelt Holdings were awarded the bid to work on an adaptive reuse project that would include a lease and development of the 5-acre site. The group will preserve as much of the old mill as possible.

The mill, which is the namesake of Mill Avenue, closed in 1998. In 2003 the city bought the mill, and two different private companies have previously gotten development rights for it over the years, but those rights have expired. The new plan calls for eight buildings, including six newly built structures. There will be a retail component to the site with a few on-site food and beverage options, specialty shops and entertainment retail all being possibilities.

The partners will seek a national nomination for historic preservation for the site.