For many years now, urban advocates like Richard Florida have been writing about the “Creative Class”.  Since you are already reading a blog focused entirely on Downtown Tempe urban living, our guess is you are well aware of what that is, or more than likely, you are part of the creative class yourself!  But, just in case you aren’t aware, according to Richard Florida,

“This “creative class” is found in a variety of fields, from engineering to theater,

biotech to education, architecture to small business. Their choices have already had a

huge economic impact. In the future, they will determine how the workplace is organized,

what companies will prosper or go bankrupt, and even which cities will thrive or wither.”

Essentially, the creative class consists of all those who “create for a living”. (Think web designers, architects, all types of artists, biomedical researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, and the list goes on.)  Now that we have that background, what does this have to do with Live/Work zoning?  Well, this environment tends to be perfect for those folks in the creative class. The live and work zoning is a mash up of residential and office space, created to suit both needs.  This is more than just a “home office”.  Unlike a home office, the live/work zoning allows for employees, which is usually one employee for every so much square footage.  (As an example, The Lofts at Orchidhouse’s Live/Work zoning (pictured above) includes one employee for every 400 square feet.)  Speaking of The Lofts at Orchidhouse; the 83 lofts in the seven story brick building located at 21 E. 6th Street (6th Street & Mill Avenue) are actually ALL zoned live/work, making it the premier “live/work” building in Downtown Tempe, and quite possibly, the entire Valley.

Find Live/Work Spaces For Sale & For Lease at The Lofts at Orchidhouse Here

Creating a building like the Orchidhouse, where all of the units are zoned live/work, was quite unique since most of the other developments that include the zoning within their development, usually only designate a small percentage of the units towards that use.  Some good examples of this type can be found at Regatta Pointe, 525 Town Lake, The Vale or Farmer Avenue Lofts.  In each of these cases, the units which face the busy street are zoned live work while the remainder are designated residential only.  This makes finding a live/work space in one of these properties a little more difficult, but it also provides street-side storefront customer/client access.

So, if “Live/Work” sounds like the type of housing you’ve been searching for, give Urban Realty a call to discuss or check out some of our live/work office listings here. No other firm in Arizona sells more live/work property than us.  We can guide you through the options and help you find your perfect place to create!

No matter what your Downtown city living preferences are, you can be sure of this... Urban Realty has it all on lock.  For more information on living, working, or playing in Downtown Tempe, contact the Broker who specializes in only that!

Email Tom Tokoph | 602.549.9000

Designated Broker | Urban Realty & Development