Smith Innovation Hub | City of Tempe, AZ

smith hub logo

The Smith Innovation Hub is approximately 302 acres (1/2 square mile) with mostly light industrial and office uses. It is bounded by Rio Salado Parkway, Loop 101, University Drive and McClintock Drive. It was selected for the pilot area because of its unique innovation ecosystem near current and planned transit investments, adjacency to the ASU Novus Innovation Corridor and other amenities and variety of uses already in place.

Smith Road Improvements

University Drive to Rio Salado Parkway

Construction anticipated early January through Spring 2024.

Improvements include:

asphalt pavement removal
new curbs and gutters
bike lanes
traffic calming measures to include medians
landscaping and irrigation
improving sidewalk ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards
stormwater improvements

Construction begins south end at University Drive and progresses north to Rio Salado Parkway. During construction, traffic will be maintained in both directions, but a middle turn lane will be unavailable. Access to businesses remain open but may be inaccessible for short periods of time.

Questions: Bob Sanders, Project Manager: 602-316-3800

Public Meetings

Tempe is improving bicycle and pedestrian access along Smith Road, between Apache Boulevard and University Drive. The final design proposals would add dedicated bike lanes and remove parking on Smith Road. The improvements will enhance visibility and bicycle and pedestrian safety in the project area, and include pavement markings and signage for bike lanes, reconstructed sidewalks, bus shelters, ADA ramps/driveway improvements, landscaping and lighting. This project will result in a mile of improvements.

Previous public meetings:

May 13, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Aug. 12, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Dec. 9, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Comments received are posted under the documents section

Background

Tempe is developing recommendations for infrastructure improvements along Smith Road, between Apache Boulevard and Rio Salado Parkway.

Recommendations will include streetscape improvements to enhance visibility and bicycle and pedestrian safety in the project area. The safety improvements could include pavement markings and signage for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, bus shelters, ADA ramps/driveway improvements and lighting.

PAST MEETINGS

May 13, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Aug. 12, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Friday, Dec. 9, 2022 Meeting Presentation

Documents

Smith Innovation Design Guidelines

Read the Design Guidelines

Public Meetings

Background

The City of Tempe is creating design guidelines for the Smith Innovation Hub. The guidelines will define the preferred aesthetics of the area and include items such as suggested material types for building design and form, signage, public art and public space guidelines, adaptive re-use, etc. The guidelines will support the continued incorporation of mixed-use and new residential uses. They will also align closely with the city’s sustainability goals.

Documents

Smith Innovation Hub Infrastructure Master Plan

Read the plan

Public Meetings

Background

Strategies

Preserve current industrial land uses and businesses
Encourage wider variety of uses including residential where appropriate
Improve multi-modal transportation connections (streetcar, light rail, bus, bike and pedestrian amenities)
Invest in amenities and infrastructure to support Smith Innovation Hub, such as lighting, sidewalks, road improvements, shade, transit, public art and bike lanes

Updates

The City of Tempe has hired HDR to develop the Smith Innovation Hub Infrastructure Master Plan. This plan will identify infrastructure needs for the Smith Innovation Hub, ensuring it aligns with the community’s vision for the area as defined by the Apache Character Area Plan (2018), Urban Land Institute Arizona Technical Assistance Panel Summary Report (2019), Smith Industrial Innovation Hub Development Guidelines (2020) and Smith Industrial Innovation Hub General Plan Amendment (2020).

The Master Plan will provide an overall plan for the area (developed to a conceptual level) that outlines specific projects, estimates costs and prioritizes construction of infrastructure improvements on a logical timeframe. The plan will serve as a guide for both City of Tempe and private development infrastructure investment in the area.

Meetings were held to gather community input for the Smith Innovation Hub Infrastructure Master Plan on June 4and July 30, 2021. Additional community meetings will be held in Spring 2022 to further discuss improvements to Smith Road between Apache Boulevard and Rio Salado Parkway.

Smith Innovation Hub General Plan Amendment and Development Guidelines Adoption

For two years, the City of Tempe worked to develop the Urban Core Master Plan and Urban Code District to plan for the next 20 years of growth in the city's central core. The plan as a whole was tabled due to lack of community consensus.

However, the portion of the plan regarding Smith Innovation Hub garnered wide community support. As a result, on October 15, 2020 Tempe City Council adopted Smith Industrial Innovation Hub (SIIH) Development Guidelines. The SIIH Guidelines is a policy document providing strategies to enhance connectivity, attract employment growth and development, and help the area maintain its relevancy over time. The guidelines also help promote the city’s 20-minute City goal, encourage a broader mix of uses and improve the visual quality and functionality of the area.

A General Plan Amendment (GPA) was also adopted by Tempe City Council on October 15, 2020 modifying General Plan 2040 Projected Land Use and Density Maps allowing for more density and a broader mix of uses in specific portions of the northern area of the hub. See documents attached showing the GPA and Smith Industrial Innovation Hub Guidelines including the changes to the Projected Land Use and Density Maps.

Documents

Smith Innovation Hub project fact sheet July 2021

Smith Innovation Hub Public Input Summary July/August 2021

Smith Innovation Hub July 30, 2021 Public Meeting Presentation

Smith Innovation Hub Public Input Summary June 2021

Smith Innovation Hub June 4, 2021 Public Meeting Presentation

Smith Innovation Hub Business Survey Results 2021

Smith Industrial Stakeholders June 28, 2018 Meeting Presentation

Smith Industrial Stakeholders June 28, 2018 Meeting Summary

Smith Industrial Innovation Hub Development Guidelines

Smith Hub Infrastructure Plan

Jan 6 Tempe City Council Work Study Session Smith Hub Infrastructure Master Plan Presentation

Smith Innovation Hub Public Input Summary July/August 2021

Josh Rutherford
Economic Development Program Manager
(480) 350-8813
joshua_rutherford@tempe.gov

Background

The Innovation Hub Initiative was approved by Tempe City Council on March 1, 2018. It is an economic development initiative to enhance key employment corridors to promote new investment, job creation and placemaking that attracts and retains a quality workforce. Eight hubs were identified and the Smith Innovation Hub was selected for the pilot project.

Purpose

The purpose of the City's efforts is to:

Guide public and private infrastructure improvements
Identify and prioritize infrastructure needs for short- and long-term timeframes
Provide planning-level costs and prepare an implementation plan

Implementation

Projects will be phased in over time, as funding becomes available, using this plan as a guide for many years to come. City staff will also continue to work with private developers to provide opportunities to implement infrastructure or fund improvements.

Documents

ULI AzTAP Summary Report

Apache Character Area Plan

Innovate Tempe Presentation

Smith Industrial Stakeholders June 28, 2018 Meeting Presentation

Smith Industrial Stakeholders June 28, 2018 Meeting Summary

Smith Industrial Innovation Hub General Plan Amendment

Smith Industrial Innovation Hub Development Guidelines

Tempe General Plan 2040

Tempe Transportation Master Plan