Scottsdale residents nervous about potential neighbor

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottsdale is working to build a new museum, but residents of a nearby condominium complex are worried about what could be built next to it.

The city wants to put a multimillion-dollar Western museum near Second Street and Goldwater Boulevard.

Rob Millar of Scottsdale’s Economic Development Department said the city has been asking vendors to present creative proposals for a cultural venue that would be built on land next to the museum.

There are exceptions.

“Multifamily residential, retail, or office are the clear non-cultural activities that the city is not interested in receiving proposals on,” said Millar.

But some residents of the nearby Gateway on Main Street condominium complex are still upset about what is acceptable to the city.

They said one reason they bought into the complex is because the property next door is zoned as residential. The president of the homeowners association, Wayne Ecton, said he’s been told by the city that it’s looking to build an outdoor concert venue.

That means there could be a loud outdoor concert spot right outside his door.

“That gives us security problems,” said Ecton. “It gives us problems with noise. If there’s food and that kind of thing, there’s going to be rats and all kinds of animals and things like that around.”

Ecton said that condo residents support the idea of a Western museum at the site.

Millar responded that the city wants whatever is developed on the site “to be complimentary and to have a positive impact not only on the surrounding area and to the downtown area as a whole.

“We have to be sensitive to the surrounding areas. That takes time. The public input into what is done with that land is an important part of the process.”

The deadline for developers to submit statements that they are qualified to develop the site is July 24.

One of the submissions will be taken to the city council for discussion and consideration sometime between the end of August and mid-September.