A dispute over a 30-foot-wide strip of land owned by Buckeye Councilmember Tony Youngker has stalled Dominium’s plans for an affordability-focused 376-unit Build-to-Rent townhome and apartment community at Miller and Broadway roads.
The property is needed for a road-widening component that is required for Dominium’s Valor Apartments, formerly known as Arlo Flats, an affordable housing development. It is also part of the longtime Youngker homestead, where the Councilmember still resides.
A local news outlet reported Dominium’s appraisal set the value of the 2.5 acres at approximately $650K. Youngker is demanding $5M.
Under the development agreement between Dominium and the City of Buckeye, the roadway must be widened before construction can begin. Buckeye has a related project—Miller Road: Broadway Road to Lower Buckeye Road—in the design stage, according to the DATABEX project database.
The City has refused to get involved in the dispute, referring to it as a private matter.
The agreement provides the land for the road widening for free, but Dominium officials say Buckeye has done nothing to acquire it and has put the obligation on the developer. Dominium alleges Youngker is using the land and his price demand as leverage.
Negotiations are reportedly at an impasse.
Dominium has also questioned the fairness of the process, since Youngker is represented by Patrick Hagestad, who is also a member of City Council.
City officials declined requests to be interviewed about the issue but said in a statement the City is committed to working with both developers and landowners to “support responsible growth.”
Dominium takes issue with Buckeye’s stance treating the dispute as a private matter and questions its commitment, since the City’s development agreement directly links the construction of Valor Apartments to obtaining the property needed for the road widening.
The company said it is considering legal action and asserts the delay has already led to approximately $11.5M in losses.
DATABEX shows Valor Apartments is part of the Copper Falls III master-planned area from Arizona Land Consulting. Copper Falls III also contains Dominium’s planned 281-unit Canal at Broadway affordable Build-to-Rent townhome and apartment community.
