City planners have announced that construction on another luxury apartment complex will begin soon, located in the middle of the road in the Third and Roosevelt street intersection.

The new development, Roosevelt Slant, will stand 18 stories high and be located alongside current complex Roosevelt Point.

Abitt Shady, development manager for Roosevelt Slant, is excited to begin the efforts towards bringing life to the downtown Phoenix area.

“Residents at Roosevelt Slant will be given an amazing opportunity to experience the urban culture of downtown,” Shady said. “What better way to experience the intersection of arts and culture than to also live in an intersection, for example, Third and Roosevelt.”

The announcement of the development has caused extreme controversy throughout the downtown community.

Roosevelt Slant representatives, who asked to stay anonymous for safety concerns due of violent backlash from the arts district community members, have cited the lack of available space in the area for the decision to build directly in the road. Representatives have gone as far as calling it, “an innovative use of space” and an “opportunity to think about the pedestrians, for once.”

Residents of the area have raised concerns to the traffic problems that will be created by closing off Third, Fifth and Roosevelt streets. Roosevelt Point resident Ida O’ntcare is concerned about the construction affecting her driving routine.

“What’s the point of illegally exiting off I-10 onto Third Street if I can no longer get to my apartment?” Ontcare said.

Drivers on both Roosevelt and Third streets will need to use Roosevelt Slant’s underground tunnels in order to pass through the intersection. According to Shady, the fifty foot underground highway would be “at least mostly efficient” and would only require a “modest fee” for passing traffic.

Berly Makinit, an advocate for the Roosevelt Row arts district, was “appalled” by the announcement of Roosevelt Slant.

“This complex is dividing the arts scene of downtown,” Makinit said. “This is a terrible idea. They’re literally building an apartment in the middle of the road.”

Makinit continued, as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

“I don’t know if this is legal, but the gentrification is so out of hand. I feel uninspired to fight the good fight anymore. Maybe this is how the local community dies out…”

Construction is set to begin at 4 a.m. on Friday, April 1.