"Higher end" residential units going in at 56th Street and Thomas

Each unit will be two stories with two or three bedrooms and an attached garage.

• "It's a higher-end product," says attorney George Pasquel III, who represents the developer.
• It's scheduled for completion in December 2024.

Flashback: The land was previously the site of a commercial center, but has been vacant for years and was "scraped clean" in 2014, Pasquel tells Axios Phoenix.

Between the lines: Pasquel says the developer has been diligent in incorporating the city of Phoenix's pedestrian improvement project along 56th Street.

• The city plans create a multiuse bicycle and pedestrian path on both sides of the road, separated from traffic by shade trees and landscaping, from Thomas to Camelback Road.
• The first phase between Thomas and Indian School Road is scheduled to begin next fall.
• Thomas 56 won't add any "curb cuts" to provide vehicle access from 56th or Thomas. Instead, access will be through a preexisting alleyway, which the developer will pave.

The intrigue: The project faced some unexpected challenges when a zoning administrator rejected variances the developer sought.

• They successfully appealed the decision, Pasquel tells us.