By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Another noted Arizona resort is planning an expansion and modernization project.
Grossman Company Properties (Arizona Grand Resort LLC) has filed a planned unit development application with the City of Phoenix to redevelop and modernize portions of the Arizona Grand Resort at the SWC of I-10 and Baseline Road.
According to the submitted narrative, the project will focus on “infill sites” that have never been developed on the property and updating other areas in an effort to modernize the resort’s amenities and offerings while maintaining its classic character.
The total project will add conference/ballrooms, one or more event lawns, new dining and entertainment options and new hotel rooms and/or multifamily residential across nine parcels on the 63.72-gross acre-site. Seven of the parcels are largely undeveloped, while two are incorporated into the existing resort operations.
Planned building heights will range from 36-feet to 90-feet. Development standards for the overall development list size and density maximums according to planned use as:
- Conference: 121.8KSF,
- Food & Beverage: 35KSF,
- Hotel: 1,100 keys, and
- Multifamily: 190 units.
Planned amenities include a water park, a welcoming lobby, event spaces, new restaurants and a fitness center, among others. Walkability is a key focus of the plan, with a network of pathways included to provide access across the resort property.
To promote enhanced sustainability, the project intends to shift the entire resort into a more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use property. In addition to the enhanced walkability, many of the property’s parking spaces will be relocated from the core area to the perimeter adjacent to the highway.
The narrative says, “This strategy will allow redevelopment of the existing parking spaces with landscaping and pedestrian walkways. Other strategic low impact redevelopment planning strategies include use of landscaping measures that mitigate stormwater runoff, low water use plants and grasses limiting the use of potable water for irrigation, introducing shade strategies to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, energy efficient site lighting and reduction measures for the existing asphalt.”
Part of a Growing Trend
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority estimated sports and tourism made up 6.4% of the state’s economy in 2022, contributing $24.2B to the state’s Gross Domestic Product and $13.7B in direct sales.
The Arizona resort market is extensively diverse and highly competitive, and properties often undertake modernization and redevelopment efforts to maintain their advantage and enhance their brand and customer appeal.
A keyword search of “Resort Expansion” in the DATABEX project database shows eight other resort and resort-affiliated hospitality expansions in Arizona since 2016. A search under “Resort Remodel” adds one more for a total of nine, not counting Arizona Grand.
Grossman Company Properties is the owner. The design firm is SWABACK, pllc. CivTech is the traffic engineer, and CVL Consultants is the civil engineer. The project is represented by Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. No phasing and development schedules or hearing dates had been set as of press time.
