The Marshall on Spence - Photo credit: City of Tempe
TEMPE, AZ (May 20, 2025) -- The Tempe Development Review Commission has recommended approval of a zoning amendment and Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay for The Marshall on Spence, a proposed 105-unit, 271-bed student housing project on East Spence Avenue, southeast of Rural Road and Apache Boulevard.
The site, identified as 1026 and 1034 E. Spence in project documents, is currently home to the Tempe Palms Apartments. Aptitude Development plans to redevelop the 0.88-acre parcel with a new student-focused community with 120 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a pedestrian pathway connecting to nearby Apache Boulevard retail.
The proposed unit mix includes:
- 21 studios
- 10 one-bedrooms
- 17 two-bedrooms
- 27 three-bedrooms
- 25 four-bedrooms
-
5 five-bedrooms
Parking accommodations include 89 vehicle spaces and 132 bicycle spots. Due to the student housing focus, the project is expected to generate lower parking demand and traffic impact than typical market-rate developments.
This is Aptitude’s second student housing redevelopment in the area. Their first, The Marshall at Tempe, is under construction just north at 1057 E. Apache Blvd., repurposing a former hotel into 189 student housing units.
Project team members include BKV Group as architect, CHA Companies as civil engineer, and Snell & Wilmer as legal counsel.