Easy
Street project gets resounding OK from residents
by
Barry Cohen
CAREFREE
– Scottsdale developer Ed Lewis’ ambitious plans to build
a high‑dollar project
in downtown Carefree met scant opposition and garnered
overwhelming support at a Sept. 26 public meeting.
The
150 people attending had only a handful of questions after
Lewis and architects provided details about the residential,
retail and streetscape aspects of the proposed development.
Several attendees provided what sounded like infomercials
for the Easy Street project that Lewis’ firm, Butte Companies,
plans to start building next year.
One resident did criticize the proposed project. That
led Lewis to ask the audience to indicate by a show of
hands who supported the development and who opposed it.
Only nine opponents raised their hands; the overwhelming
majority gave it a thumbs up.
The
meeting was held at the Carefree Resorts and Villas.
According
to Lewis, the company plans to break ground on the first
phase, Easy Street North, in May 2007 and start Easy Street
South about two years later. The first phase should be
completed by December 2008.
