April 11, 2007
Newman Center at ASU floats proposal for 20-story dorm
Garin Groff , Tribune
The next high-rise in downtown Tempe might not be another condo, hotel or office tower — it could be part of a church.
The All Saints Catholic Newman Center is considering a roughly 20-story tower for dorms on its property across from Arizona State University.
The tower plan seems highly preliminary and lacks specifics, according to several city officials who spoke with church officials. The Newman Center officials met with the city to see if there’s enough support to pursue the idea.
The Newman Center already has plans to tear down part of its 1960s-era building to construct new offices and a larger chapel, but the tower could put that on hold.
A Newman Center official wouldn’t discuss the tower plan Tuesday.
“I’m not going to comment on anything about that,” said Mary Macuga, the development director. “What I know is we’re so anxious to get a new chapel built.”
The Newman Center sits on 0.8 acres and includes the landmark red-brick church at the corner of University Drive and College Avenue. That red structure, built in 1903 and the Valley’s oldest church, would remain.
The dorm tower plan was too vague to suggest whether it deserves city approval, Tempe Vice Mayor Hut Hutson said.
“I couldn’t tell you right now,” Hutson said.
The Newman Center has been planning to rebuild and expand its cramped facility for years.
The church received a building permit in February for a two-story office and chapel project that was supposed to cost $5.7 million. But spiraling construction material costs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina pushed the estimated price tag to $7.3 million.
The church put construction on hold until it could raise the extra money, Macuga said.
The Newman Center serves about 800 students and nearby residents, who often attend standing-roomonly masses. Most services are held in a ‘60s-era room designed when the campus was a fraction of its current size. It seats 250 people, but up to 500 worshipers can show up. The new chapel would seat 600 to 700.
“We just want to get that chapel built as soon as possible and we desperately need more space to accommodate our growing community,” Macuga said.
