Tempe approves 395-unit Priest and Third Street mixed-use project, advances Ramada Inn rezoning

Tempe Council OKs Priest and Third Street Mixed-Use, Advances Ramada Inn Rezoning Despite Organized Budget Pushback

On the heels of mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, a public hearing on Tempe's $1.6 million plan to fund 19 new police officers drew fierce and sustained opposition from residents and advocates who called instead for investment in mental health counselors, homeless services, and community resources. The May 27 regular city council meeting, held at the Harry E. Mitchell Government Center, approved two significant housing projects and heard from ten speakers over 60 minutes—many of whom returned from prior budget discussions to argue that crime prevention requires social investment, not enforcement expansion.

Despite the passion of public comment, the council took no immediate action on the police budget, deferring that vote to a later special meeting. The evening's formal business—including unanimous approval of the Priest and Third Street mixed-use development and advancement of the Ramada Inn rezoning—proceeded without controversy, underscoring a broader disconnect between what housing advocates and planners see as critical infill and what some residents prioritize in a city reckoning with inequality, homelessness, and gun violence.

Key Speeches

"Safety looks like funding mental health resources. Safety looks like providing shelters, cooling centers and resource centers for people who have nowhere to go in the desert heat… 1.6 million dollars could build more food gardens, installing misters at bus stops, building more cooling centers, building tiny home villages. Police are not a preventative safety measure." — Phoenix Nelson, Tempe resident

"We put together a one-year evaluative program… to see if we could identify certain properties that could be redeveloped into additional housing options for people that would like to live and work in tempe." — Maria Lochner, City of Tempe Economic Development

"I know you can take money from that budget because you did it with the super bowl money… you could still fund lifetime mental health support with just half of that money… why is it so hard to try something else?" — Phoenix Nelson, Tempe resident

"I really want to thank city manager andrew ching and our city attorney sonya blaine for all their work and putting this together… sue wringler was a life force, she was a warrior for justice, she was a rabble-rouser and she was a woman after our own hearts." — Councilmember Cubie [on the Sue's Espacio resolution]

"If this actually gets done… it could lead a renaissance where then other people come in and say you know what there might be a better use for these other couple of sites… but i think you have to take the first step and do something innovative." — Corey D Woods, on the Ramada Inn project

Timeline

Priest and Third Street Mixed-Use Development (Item 8C2)

• Applicant presentation: Charles Humantle, Humantle and Affiliates, delivered a 3.5-minute overview. He described the site as a long, narrow industrial parcel that had fallen into disrepair, noting it was designed "at a time when priest was maybe a stepchild that was not loved." He highlighted community support, no known opposition, and close collaboration with city staff and the design review commission. The project includes 395 dwelling units, three live-work units, and mixed-use features on the former industrial site at 1416 West Third Street.
• Council discussion: Corey D Woods praised the transformation of a "stepchild" area and noted parallels to prior successes (Banyan North Tempe on the county island). Councilmember Jennifer Adams voiced strong support, saying the project will "transform that area." Councilmember Arlene Chin thanked Humantle and his team.
• Vote: Two votes required. First, on general plan amendments (6–0, with Vice Mayor Randy Keating absent, requiring four votes for 2/3 majority). Second, on zoning and development (6–0, simple majority). Both passed unanimously.

Ramada Inn Rezoning Initiative (Item 8B3)

• Staff presentation: Maria Lochner and Ryan Levesque presented the city-initiated rezoning and general plan amendment, which would change the Ramada Inn property at 1635 North Scottsdale Road from R4 multifamily zoning to MU4 mixed-use, with density increasing from medium-high (up to 25 units per acre) to high (up to 65 units per acre). Staff emphasized that no developer or project is yet proposed, and that the density cap of 65 units allows flexibility—a future project might propose 45 units per acre instead. Both staff noted that any actual project would require a separate neighborhood meeting, design review, and two public hearings.
• Public comment: Darlene Justice, a 57-year resident and North Kimbey Neighborhood Association member, thanked the council for the "insight" to initiate rezoning, noting that the north Tempe area has historically been treated as a "stepchild" and that Scottsdale Road requires revitalization. Christy Arnold, representing Indian Bend Neighborhood, spoke in support of development but proposed lowering the recommended density from 65 to 45 units per acre, citing economic development staff guidance that density can be adjusted based on community concerns. Lane Carraway, a 29-year north Tempe resident, agreed with Arnold and praised the prospect of replacing the Ramada Inn, saying it "needs to go bye-bye" and expressing hope it will catalyze revitalization of the motel-6 and Santa Fe Court Apartments nearby.
• Council discussion: Corey D Woods emphasized the creativity of the city-initiated approach and drew parallels to Banyan North Tempe, which proved to be a proof-of-concept that attracted further investment to the county island. Councilmember Jennifer Adams voiced enthusiasm and noted that developers are already expressing interest in the county island. Councilmember Arlene Chin thanked staff. Councilmember Cubie raised a key concern: the need to incentivize affordable housing rather than market-rate-only development. She asked whether the city could explore incentive programs (e.g., tax abatement or financing) to encourage developers to accept Section 8 vouchers or include affordable units. Staff confirmed willingness to explore such mechanisms in a future development agreement.
• Vote: First hearing held; second hearing and final vote scheduled for June 9, 2022.

Police Budget and Social Services Debate (Public Appearances)

• Public comment: Ten speakers addressed the council over approximately 60 minutes. Five speakers focused primarily on the police budget dispute.
• Dr. Sarah Toccola, a Phoenix resident and public safety advocate, opened by recalling the council's 2020 pivot toward crisis response workers and mental health funding after protests. She noted that community-based participatory research involving 400 marginalized residents had informed the council's prior budget adjustments, but accused the council of now ignoring calls to reallocate funds from police to community services. She stated: "Your own public safety recommendations task force… called for [redistribution of funds from police]. The largest budget in the entire city is the police and the human services and sustainability departments are severely underfunded." She closed by quoting her own organization's slogan: "Equity is a verb. It's what you do."
• Phoenix Nelson, a Tempe resident, delivered the most pointed critique of the 19-officer plan. She noted that the $1.6 million allocation contradicted the council's stated commitment to safety, given that police had waited 40 minutes to enter Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas (two days prior). She argued: "Safety looks like funding mental health resources, safety looks like providing shelters, cooling centers and resource centers for people who have nowhere to go in the desert heat… police are not a preventative safety measure." She challenged the council to redirect at least half the police budget to mental health and trauma-informed care.
• Raquel Hickenbottom, a Tempe resident of 11 years, expressed personal disappointment, noting that at a prior meeting, a human services representative had "almost cried" when describing the consequences of underfunding. Hickenbottom asked why the council would then vote to fund 19 police officers rather than heed the calls of its own agencies and the public: "People at a default level assume that the government doesn't listen to them."
• Amelia Hanson, who works and studies in Tempe, addressed the budget's impact on students. She urged the council to fund mental health counselors rather than police officers, arguing that "our children need you… everything that you do from here on out will echo for the rest of time."
• Kelly Kwok, calling in virtually from Phoenix, aligned with the "people's budget" grassroots movement. She distinguished between reactive policing and proactive prevention: "Community policing is not [public safety]. Food, shelter and water for all is public safety. Mental and physical health for all is public safety. Climate justice is public safety."
• Key themes: Speakers invoked the recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde (May 24–25, 2022) as evidence that police enforcement alone cannot prevent gun violence. Multiple speakers cited the council's own 2020-2021 commitments to mental health and crisis response, arguing the council was now abandoning those principles. Speakers called for redirecting police funds to mental health counselors (six permanent rather than five temporary), homeless shelters, food programs, cooling centers, and community gardens. Several noted that the council had found funds for other priorities (e.g., Super Bowl hosting costs) and should prioritize prevention over enforcement.
• Council response: Corey D Woods opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims in Buffalo and Uvalde, acknowledging "tragedies of gun violence." However, no council member responded directly to the budget speakers during public comment. The council did not table or discuss a motion to alter the police budget proposal. The special budget meeting was deferred to a later date.

Opposition (Police Budget Plan)

• Number of speakers against: Five primary speakers, plus one virtual speaker (Kelly Kwok), plus indirect support from a sixth speaker (Raquel Hickenbottom). Multiple speakers returned from prior council meetings, suggesting organized coordination.

• Main concerns:

  1. Police enforcement cannot prevent gun violence; recent mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo (May 24–25) occurred despite police presence.
  2. City's own 2020 budget commitments to mental health, crisis response, and community services are being abandoned.
  3. The $1.6 million for 19 officers should be redirected to six permanent mental health counselors (not five temporary ones), homeless shelters, and community resources.
  4. Human services departments are "severely underfunded" and staff are demoralized; a human services representative "almost cried" when describing underfunding.
  5. The council's framing of the budget shows that "police are more important than public health, climate change, education, housing, homelessness… parks maintenance workers."
  6. Students and children need mental health support in schools, not police presence; "turning schools into prisons" is ineffective.
  7. The council has demonstrated capacity to fund other priorities (e.g., Super Bowl costs) and should show comparable commitment to prevention-focused social services.

• Most compelling arguments: Phoenix Nelson's direct challenge to the police waiting 40 minutes to enter Robb Elementary School resonated throughout the room. Dr. Sarah Toccola's citation of the council's own 2020 public safety task force recommendations—which called for reallocation from police to community services—undercut the council's apparent shift in priorities. Raquel Hickenbottom's observation that the council's failure to act had bred distrust in government ("people assume the government doesn't listen") captured the emotional impact of perceived inaction.

• Organized groups: Speakers referenced the "People's Budget Tempe Grassroots Movement" and the "public safety recommendations task force." Dr. Toccola mentioned a community-based participatory research project involving 400 residents. Kelly Kwok explicitly stated she was representing the people's budget movement. The coordination and repetition of themes across speakers suggested an organized campaign, though not formally introduced.

Support (Priest and Third Street, Ramada Inn)

• Priest and Third Street: Zero opposition speakers. Charles Humantle reported "no known opposition" and "support from the community." Staff noted "support from staff" and successful design review commission input.

• Ramada Inn Rezoning: Three supportive public speakers.

  1. Darlene Justice: 57-year resident, North Kimbey Neighborhood Association. Thanked the council for the initiative and praised efforts to revitalize north Tempe. She noted the area had historically been treated as a "stepchild" and that Scottsdale Road required intervention.
  2. Christy Arnold: Chair of Indian Bend Neighborhood for seven years. Expressed support for development but proposed lowering density to 45 units per acre. She cited economic development staff guidance that density can be adjusted. She framed this as ensuring "that it comes in an appropriate size and structure that benefits everyone."
  3. Lane Carraway: 29-year north Tempe resident. Said the Ramada Inn "needs to go bye-bye" and expressed excitement that the project would prove a catalyst for revitalization of nearby properties (motel-6, Santa Fe Court Apartments). He noted his own house price had appreciated to $1.5 million.

• Council support: Corey D Woods praised the creativity and proof-of-concept value. Councilmember Jennifer Adams voiced excitement about transforming north Tempe and noted developer interest in the county island. Councilmember Arlene Chin praised the initiative. Councilmember Cubie asked about affordable housing incentives but did not vote against the measure.

Project Details

Priest and Third Street Mixed-Use Development

• Case number: Not stated in transcript.
• Applicant / developer: Humantle and Affiliates.
• Attorney: Not stated in transcript (though Charles Humantle, principal, addressed the council).
• Location / address: 1416 West Third Street, Tempe.
• APN (Assessor Parcel Number): Not stated in transcript.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: GID (general industrial district) → MU4 (mixed-use) with planned area development overlay.
• Current general plan → Proposed: Not explicitly stated, but context suggests medium-high to high density.
• Density / units / square footage: 395 dwelling units and three live-work units on a site described as "long and narrow." Humantle did not provide acreage or floor-area ratio.
• Changes from previous version: This was the second and final hearing; the project was introduced and heard on April 28, 2022. Humantle reported that design and site planning had been refined through collaboration with staff and the design review commission, with no major revisions noted in the May 27 hearing.

Ramada Inn Rezoning Initiative

• Case number: Not stated in transcript.
• Applicant / initiator: City of Tempe (city-initiated rezoning, no private applicant).
• Location / address: 1635 North Scottsdale Road (southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Lilac Drive).
• APN: Not stated in transcript.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: R4 (multifamily residential) → MU4 (mixed-use).
• Current general plan density → Proposed: Medium-high density (up to 25 units per acre) → High density (up to 65 units per acre).
• Site area: 3.14 acres.
• Potential density: Staff presented two scenarios: 65 units per acre could yield up to 204 units; 45 units per acre could yield up to 141 units. Staff noted the actual project density will be determined when a developer proposes a specific plan, subject to a second neighborhood meeting, design review commission review, and two final public hearings.
• Estimated building height: Staff speculated "four to five stories" but noted this depends on product type and will be finalized with a future development proposal.
• Key features discussed: Ground-floor retail (likely "grab and go" given mixed-use zoning); mature landscaping and buffering for adjacent single-family neighborhoods; pedestrian shading; traffic impact analysis (required).
• Precedents cited: Tempe Market Stage Station (approximately 65 units per acre, rio salado area); Banyan North Tempe (approximately 45 units per acre, county island location).

Vote Breakdown

Priest and Third Street (Items 8C2, two votes)

• General Plan Amendments (resolution):

  • Final: 6–0 (two-thirds majority required; four of six votes needed with Randy Keating absent).
  • Yes: All six council members present (Corey D Woods, Doreen Garlid, Jennifer Adams, Nikki Amberg, Arlene Chin, Berdetta Hodge).
  • Absent: Vice Mayor Randy Keating.
  • Individual votes not stated.

• Zoning and Development Plan (simple majority):

  • Final: 6–0.
  • Yes: All six council members present.
  • Absent: Vice Mayor Randy Keating.

Ramada Inn Rezoning (Item 8B3)

• First hearing only; second hearing and vote scheduled for June 9, 2022. No vote taken on May 27.

Other Notable Votes (from Consent Agenda and Regular Items)

• Sue's Espacio Naming Resolution (Item 7C6): 6–0 (Randy Keating absent).
• COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance Repeal (Item 8C4): 6–0 (Randy Keating absent).
• Security Plans Ordinance Amendment (Item 8C1): 6–0 (Randy Keating absent).
• Veterans Commission Membership Amendment (Item 8C3): 6–0 (Randy Keating absent).
• Consent Agenda (Items 7A, 7B, 7C excluding 7C1 and 7C6): 6–0 (Randy Keating absent).

Outcome & Next Steps

Priest and Third Street: The project is now approved and moves to development. Charles Humantle can proceed with permitting and construction. The general plan amendments and zoning changes are final.

Ramada Inn Rezoning: Advanced to a final (second) hearing scheduled for June 9, 2022. At that hearing, the council will vote on the ordinance and resolution. If approved, the city will have completed the rezoning and general plan amendment, allowing a future developer to propose a specific project. Any future project will trigger a third round of public hearings (neighborhood meeting, design review, and two council hearings). Councilmember Cubie's suggestion to explore affordable housing incentive programs (e.g., Section 8 voucher acceptance bonuses) was noted by staff as worth investigating in a development agreement framework.

Police Budget: No action taken on May 27. The special budget meeting, where the council is expected to vote on the $1.6 million police allocation and the broader budget, was deferred to a later date (not specified in the transcript). Public speakers signaled they intend to continue advocating for reallocation toward mental health and community services.

Sue's Espacio Resolution: Adopted 6–0. The non-congregational transitional shelter at 2101 East Apache Boulevard is now officially named "Sue's Espacio" in honor of Susan Wringler. A restrictive covenant will run with the land, requiring any future development to preserve and display the name. Staff will design signage and artwork to be integrated into the building as rehabilitation work continues.

COVID-19 Emergency Declaration: Officially repealed, marking the formal end of Tempe's emergency declaration related to the pandemic.

Controversies & Context

Police Budget and Defund Movement: The May 27 hearing reflected ongoing tension between the council's stated 2020 commitments to mental health and crisis response and its apparent pivot back toward police expansion. Public speakers noted that in 2020, following protests over police violence and racial justice, the council had pledged to fund crisis response workers and mental health counselors. By 2022, however, the council appeared to be prioritizing a $1.6 million allocation for 19 new police officers while mental health counselors and human services remained partially or temporarily funded.

The timing of this debate—two days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting (May 24, 2022)—heightened the emotional resonance of arguments that police enforcement alone cannot prevent gun violence. Multiple speakers invoked the 40-minute police delay at Robb Elementary School as evidence that adding officers does not improve safety. This framing rejected a traditional public-safety model and instead positioned mental health investment, homelessness prevention, and community resources as the primary levers of violence prevention.

North Tempe "Stepchild" Narrative: Both the Priest and Third Street project and the Ramada Inn rezoning were framed by supporters and the council as addressing long-standing neglect of north Tempe and the Scottsdale Road corridor. Darlene Justice explicitly used the term "stepchild" to describe the historical treatment of north Tempe—a neighborhood on the north side of the dry riverbed that had, for decades, received fewer amenities and capital investment than central Tempe. The council's initiative to rezone the Ramada Inn was characterized as an attempt to catalyze revitalization and prove that north Tempe could be transformed, just as Banyan North Tempe (a mixed-use, market-rate development) had sparked interest in the county island.

Some critics of the Ramada Inn rezoning (Christy Arnold, Lane Carraway) accepted the rationale but sought to moderate the density, citing concerns about size, parking, and infrastructure. Their support was conditional on the final project being "appropriate" for the neighborhood—a framing that allowed them to endorse the concept while preserving leverage over future design review.

Susan Wringler Memorial and Homeless Advocacy: The naming of the transitional shelter as Sue's Espacio honored the late Susan Wringler, a homeless advocacy pioneer who co-founded the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging (IHELP) program in the 1990s. The resolution, unanimously approved, included a restrictive covenant ensuring that any future development on the site would preserve the name. Council members praised Wringler's legacy and noted that the shelter would serve as a lasting tribute to her life's work.

Corey D Woods' opening moment of silence for victims of gun violence, and the extended public comment session on the police budget, underscored that the May 27 meeting took place in the shadow of mass gun violence and raised questions about the role of government spending in preventing such tragedies.

Duration

• Police budget and social services public comment: Approximately 60 minutes total (ten speakers, some with extended remarks; the council allotted 60 minutes in aggregate as per standing rules).
• Priest and Third Street item (8C2): Approximately 20 minutes (applicant presentation, council discussion, two votes).
• Ramada Inn rezoning item (8B3): Approximately 40 minutes (staff presentation, public comment from three supportive speakers, council discussion).
• Other items (Sue's Espacio, COVID-19 repeal, security plans, consent agenda, ADU update, summer reading, heat awareness): Approximately 60 minutes combined.
• Total meeting: Approximately 6 hours 55 minutes (began 6:20 p.m., concluded 8:13 p.m., with a formal recess for the special budget meeting and Rio Salado facilities district board meeting to follow).

Other Notable Items

Accessory Dwelling Units Program Update: City staff presented an update on the ADU program, noting that four permits had been issued and one was in progress. The program, adopted in 2019, allows secondary units (up to 800 square feet) on multifamily-zoned properties with existing single-family homes. Councilmember Cubie raised the idea of incentivizing Section 8 acceptance among ADU landlords, and staff agreed to explore such programs. The council discussed potential expansion to single-family zones but deferred further action.

Summer Reading Campaign: Deputy Community Services Director Jessica Chieftain presented the 2022 summer reading program, which runs June 1–August 1 and aims for 5,000 registered participants and 3.75 million minutes of reading. The program features the theme "Oceans of Possibilities" and includes prizes, community experiences, and a staff reading challenge. The presentation was well-received, with multiple council members praising the energy and innovation.

Heat Awareness Week Proclamation: Corey D Woods proclaimed May 23–27, 2022, as Arizona Heat Awareness Week in Tempe, citing extreme summer temperatures and the city's nine heat relief locations and mobile cooling center. The city distributed 600 heat relief packs prepared by McLintock High School students.

2022 Bike Hero Award: Aaron Boyd, head of business operations for Cul-de-Sac (a car-free community under construction on Apache Boulevard), was awarded the 2022 Bike Hero Award in recognition of her work promoting cycling safety and accessibility, including co-founding a local chapter of Cycling Without Age and securing $11,000 in funding for a trishaw (three-wheeled vehicle) for seniors and disabled residents.

Staff Promotions: City Manager Andrew Arlene Chin announced permanent promotions for Tara Ford (Municipal Utilities Director), Jeff Tammy Levich (Community Development Director), Tom Densing (Chief Financial Officer, Deputy City Manager), and Rosa Chelsea (Deputy City Manager, Special Projects). Interim Director Shelly Seiler was thanked for her 17-month service.