Kinella Capital Revives One Camelback: A Phoenix Landmark Transformation
In a significant move for urban development in Phoenix, Arizona, Kinella Capital, LLC, under the leadership of Founder and CEO TK Stratton, has successfully acquired One Camelback, a prominent property poised for rejuvenation after nearly five years of stagnation. Located at the bustling crossroads of Central Avenue and Camelback Road, this endeavor represents a new chapter for a project that had suffered extensive delays amid economic challenges.
Originally envisioned with plans for 163 residential units, One Camelback's journey has been fraught with obstacles since its 2018 launch. A series of cost escalations due to inflation, pandemic-induced setbacks, and disputes with contractors brought construction to a halt at approximately 80% completion. The building eventually fell under the ownership of Acore Capital as a result of a trustee sale before Kinella Capital stepped in to take charge.
With the acquisition complete, Kinella Capital is now focusing on stabilization efforts to revive the project, gaining debt financing for renovation through Post Road Group. Despite the delays, the structure has maintained its architectural integrity, featuring a stunning 150-foot atrium, expansive floor-to-ceiling glass, and breathtaking views from the eleventh floor. Dale Phillips, Founder of Stellar Residential—currently advising on development strategy—has reinforced the notion that the building's allure remains intact, despite the prolonged inactivity.
Stratton expressed his team's ambition to look beyond the troubled past of One Camelback. “We recognized its potential as a landmark corner of Uptown Phoenix,” he stated. “It required a dedicated team capable of meticulously addressing every aspect of design, construction, and operations to realize its potential.” He firmly believes the core challenge lay not with the building's design but rather in navigating a complex financial climate that escalated with rising interest rates, rendering it economically unfeasible for the previous owner.
Kinella Capital's initial strategy focused on re-establishing order. Their builder-operator model, supported by licensed contracting and engineering expertise, has enabled them to take the hard decisions necessary to regain control of the construction process and eliminate competing consultants that contributed to the project's previous hurdles. Stratton remarked, “One Camelback required a principal who could comprehend every facet from fire-life-safety systems to structural connections. You can’t just pass this off to subcontractors in a distressed conversion.”
Acknowledgements of Kinella Capital's decisive actions include:
- - Taking complete ownership of the stalled project and preventing further degradation.
- - Implementing their builder-operator model to navigate years of permitting and construction challenges.
- - Assuming total oversight of remaining construction and engineering to resolve conflicts and streamline processes.
- - Re-establishing financial and operational stability at an important site in Uptown Phoenix.
- - Utilizing the combined efforts of KB-1 contracting and A-1 engineering to address outstanding problems effectively.
- - Repositioning One Camelback as a noteworthy case in successful adaptive reuse of distressed properties.
This project is more than just physical construction; it represents a broader vision of urban revitalization. The renovation plans are aimed at modernizing the site while retaining attributes that promote walkability, public transit access, and proximity to local amenities. Future enhancements include stylish updates, expansive glass facades, wellness spaces, and a rooftop pool designed to cater to contemporary residents' lifestyles.
Stratton has emphasized that their experiences in revitalizing hundreds of properties bring clarity to what once appeared as a heavy undertaking.