Another high-rise housing project could show up near campus in coming years, but this one wouldn't be upscale condominiums catering to buyers with big bank accounts.
The All-Saints Catholic Newman Center has considered building a 20-story residence hall for students, according to church and city officials.
In a meeting with Tempe City Council members this year, church officials mentioned the possibility of building a student housing complex on their 0.8 acres of land across the street from campus, said Onnie Shekerjian, a council member.
Shekerjian said church officials were exploring the possibility of creating a tight-knit living environment for students.
The church officials, whom Shekerjian didn't identify, said the complex would be open to all students, not just Catholics, the council member said.
"I think that it's smart for different communities in and around the campus to create smaller social environments where students can feel their connectedness," Shekerjian said. "It's really great that there are community groups that are looking to aid ASU in bringing students on campus, getting them out of our neighborhoods ... and doing it in a way that enhances student success."
Mary Macuga, the Newman Center's development director, said church officials have no specific plans to build a housing tower, but didn't rule out the possibility.
"At a very preliminary stage, it's a dream of ours," Macuga said. "It would be wonderful if something like that came to fruition in the future."
Officials are "having conversations about other options that may be possible in the future," she said.
The focus is on completing fundraising for a new chapel and student center, she added.
"Right now the chapel is our main focus," she said. "We've been in a campaign for three years and we're just really anxious to get this church built."
Church officials had hoped to start construction in September, Macuga said, but a prolonged permit process meant construction couldn't begin until February.
Skyrocketing construction prices boosted the project's cost by about $1.6 million, Macuga said.
No matter what ultimately is built, the Newman Center's historic church building will stay, Macuga said. The church is the Valley's oldest.
Founded in 1975, the Newman Center was ASU's first religious club, she added.
The Newman center has not submitted design plans for a housing complex, said Chris Anaradian, Tempe's development services manager.
A spokeswoman from ASU's Residential Life department did not return a phone call for comment.
A University spokeswoman declined to comment because she didn't have enough information.
Reach the reporter at: jonathan.cooper@asu.edu.
