Southbridge II, an Old Town project decades in the making, approved

Old Town Scottsdale canal location of Southbridge 2.0. / File photo

Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Spring Creek Development

By Paulina Pineda and Lorraine Longhi | Arizona Republic

Fred Unger’s vision for the Canals of Scottsdale would have transformed the city’s waterfront into something akin to the San Antonio Riverwalk, but was rejected by voters 20 years ago.

Carter Unger is seeing the vision through as a split Scottsdale City Council on Wednesday approved the evolution of his father’s plans.

The project, called Southbridge II, proposes more than 1 million square feet of office and retail space, condos and a hotel on 10 acres along the south bank of the Arizona Canal in Old Town.

The development is expected to dramatically reshape the popular area off Fifth Avenue now lined with low-slung buildings housing an eclectic array of shops and restaurants.

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