Tempe Hardware Building
Description
The historic Tempe Hardware Building on Mill Avenue in Tempe, Arizona offers a small residential housing cooperative for active, independent older couples or older single adults. It also serves as an activity center for the local community. In doing so, this mixed-use space also promotes sustainable living, the arts, lifelong learning, and wellness.
Residents are vibrant, active, and independent older adults who are interested in the arts and maintaining close ties to their community. By deciding to downsize and sacrifice the ownership of large homes, in exchange they gain access to activities and a community of like-minded neighbors that will allow them to maintain the fullest and healthiest lives possible.
The space offers residents and locals an on-site gardening program where they raise and sell their crops in an outdoor farmers’ market or provide supplemental produce in the adjoining public café. Classes and studio space for painting, ceramics, jewelry making, dance, yoga, and performances are also offered. Throughout the public spaces, the various art that is created in the studios is displayed and sold.
Residents are vibrant, active, and independent older adults who are interested in the arts and maintaining close ties to their community. By deciding to downsize and sacrifice the ownership of large homes, in exchange they gain access to activities and a community of like-minded neighbors that will allow them to maintain the fullest and healthiest lives possible.
The space offers residents and locals an on-site gardening program where they raise and sell their crops in an outdoor farmers’ market or provide supplemental produce in the adjoining public café. Classes and studio space for painting, ceramics, jewelry making, dance, yoga, and performances are also offered. Throughout the public spaces, the various art that is created in the studios is displayed and sold.