What's Hot

    Industry Professionals 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

    July 2, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    AZBEX
    NEWS TICKER
    • [July 8, 2025] - Industry Professionals 07-08-25
    • [July 8, 2025] - Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25
    • [July 2, 2025] - Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent
    • [July 2, 2025] - Mesa P&Z Recommends Data Center Zoning Restrictions
    • [July 1, 2025] - Retail Center & Senior Residential Development Planned in Casa Grande
    • [July 1, 2025] - New 108-Room Hotel, Conference Center Planned in S. Phoenix
    • [July 1, 2025] - State Government Shutdown Averted as Hobbs Signs Budget
    • [July 1, 2025] - Industry Professionals 07-01-25
    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    • Home
    • News
      1. View Latest
      2. Planning & Development
      3. Local News
      4. Classifieds
      5. Editorial Analysis
      6. Budgets & Funding
      7. Commercial Real Estate
      8. People on the Move
      9. Arizona Projects
      10. Legislation & Regulations
      11. Trends

      Retail Center & Senior Residential Development Planned in Casa Grande

      July 1, 2025

      New 108-Room Hotel, Conference Center Planned in S. Phoenix

      July 1, 2025

      Phoenix-to-Tucson Rail Study Advances

      June 27, 2025

      Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix to See $5.5M in Renovations

      June 27, 2025

      Mesa P&Z Recommends Data Center Zoning Restrictions

      July 2, 2025

      Arterial Life Cycle Program Covers 20 Years of Street Development

      June 27, 2025

      $56M+ MAG Program will Enable $90M in Arterial Street Widening Projects

      June 24, 2025

      Ariz. Construction Shed 1,700 Jobs in May

      June 24, 2025

      Glendale Voters to Determine VAI Resort’s Fate

      May 16, 2025

      Legislation Would Effectively Strip NIMBYs of Referendum Tool

      February 11, 2025

      2025 Forecast Tries to Clarify an Uncertain Market

      February 7, 2025

      KOREPlex Buckeye Site Quietly Listed For Sale

      January 31, 2025

      State Government Shutdown Averted as Hobbs Signs Budget

      July 1, 2025

      Arterial Life Cycle Program Covers 20 Years of Street Development

      June 27, 2025

      $56M+ MAG Program will Enable $90M in Arterial Street Widening Projects

      June 24, 2025

      MAG Committee Info Details Upcoming Pavement Plans

      June 20, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-01-25

      July 1, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 06-24-25

      June 24, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 06-17-25

      June 17, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-01-25

      July 1, 2025

      Industry Professionals 06-24-25

      June 24, 2025

      Industry Professionals 06-17-25

      June 17, 2025

      Arizona Projects 06-27-25

      June 27, 2025

      Arizona Projects 06-20-25

      June 20, 2025

      Arizona Projects 06-13-25

      June 13, 2025

      Arizona Projects 06-06-25

      June 6, 2025

      Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

      July 2, 2025

      State Government Shutdown Averted as Hobbs Signs Budget

      July 1, 2025

      Hobbs, Legislators Reach Water Use Compromise

      June 24, 2025

      Phoenix Delays Data Center Rezone Vote

      June 20, 2025

      Ariz. Construction Shed 1,700 Jobs in May

      June 24, 2025

      NABH Council Partnership Wants to Expand Workforce Pipeline

      June 17, 2025

      Project Abandonments Hit a Record in May

      June 13, 2025

      U.S. Construction Added 4,000 Jobs in May

      June 10, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

      July 2, 2025

      Mesa P&Z Recommends Data Center Zoning Restrictions

      July 2, 2025
    • AZBEX
      • Subscribe
      • Classifieds
      • Advertising
    • DATABEX
      • Webinars
      • Monthly Snapshot
    • Events
      • 2025 Mid-Year Update
    • About Us
      • Meet the Company
      • Meet the Sales Team
      • Meet the Editorial Team
      • Meet the BEXperts
    AZBEX
    Home » Planning & Development » $900M Movie Studio Project Moving Ahead in West Valley
    Planning & Development

    $900M Movie Studio Project Moving Ahead in West Valley

    BEX StaffBy BEX StaffOctober 31, 2023No Comments6 Mins Read
    Credit: RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture/Maricopa County
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Roland Murphy for AZBEX

    A pair of requests scheduled before the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission could bring the Phoenix area’s first new large-scale movie production studio closer to reality.

    Desert Studios is proposing a multi-phase, $900M development on 320 acres north of Interstate 10 and 339th Avenue in the Tonopah area.

    According to the project narrative, “The Desert Studios Complex is envisioned as a production hub to include services for all aspects of movie and TV production. Although a site plan for the Property has yet to be fully developed, it is envisioned to contain numerous studios/sound stages and theaters with support uses. Key facilities may include but are not limited to sound stages, administrative offices, craft services, theaters, post-production, wardrobe/costume, warehouse, props, motor pool, medical, security, mill, laundry, print shop, maintenance, fitness center, cafeteria, restaurant, and parking facilities, hospitality uses such as hotels, resorts and temporary rental housing facilities, and a retail, restaurant and entertainment district. The studio complex is expected to create thousands of on-site and film industry related jobs. It is also anticipated to be a major driver for the larger Belmont development, along with advancing the growth of regional tourism and transportation infrastructure.”

    The first phase of development would include 12 sound stages of approximately 40KSF each, along with supporting structures, including offices and services. The full build-out would have up to 48 sound stages.

    To allow for the development, the company is requesting a zoning change “from Rural-43 One Acre Per Dwelling Unit (RU-43) and Planned Shopping Center (C-S) to Light Industrial (IND-2) Industrial Plan of Development (IUPD).”

    The request also asks for three variances to normal standards in the proposed overlay. The project will require building heights of up to 80 feet. The applicant also wants reduced site screening for a minimum 6-foot chain link fence and a reduction to the required parking ratio, given the large amount of floor area the project requires.

    Belmont Plan Amendment

    Along with the rezoning for the Desert Studios site, the developers are also requesting a major comprehensive plan amendment for 1,402 acres in the Belmont Development Master Plan area. The Desert Studios site is located within Belmont, and the developers want to allow for potential growth and buildout of the entire area.

    According to the staff report, the full request reads: “Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) to change land use designation from large lot residential, small lot residential, medium density residential, high density residential, regional retail center, community retail center, neighborhood retail center, recreational open space, dedicated open space, public facility, and educational to mixed use.”

    The site is made up of 13 contiguous lots. The owners want to allow for a variety of potential uses as the site develops beyond just the film studio, including a possible resort and theme park. Individual zoning entitlement requests will be submitted as the site is developed.

    The 24,800-acre Belmont DMP was initially approved in 1991 and revised most recently in 2008. Belmont was originally imagined as a community built around a town center with smaller villages of mostly residential uses. Mixed-use and retail designations were included around I-10 interchanges.

    The Belmont request narrative says, “Since the approval of the latest Belmont DMP land plan, markets have shifted, demanding more mixed uses and employment opportunities, especially near major freeway intersections. Additionally, in 2022 the State of Arizona passed the Arizona Motion Picture Production Program, making Arizona a prime location to produce film and television programming. Belmont Infraco (the “Applicant”) is proposing a Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment in order to respond to these shifting market demands and allow for a mixed-use development within the southern portion of the Belmont DMP. In order to accommodate the proposed mixed-use development, the Applicant is requesting to remove the 1,140 acres from the Belmont DMP and amend the land use designation for the entire 1,400-acre Site to Mixed-Use.”

    Film Studios Slow to Launch

    Another major production studio plan was announced following the enactment last year of The Arizona Motion Picture Production Program, which will ultimately provide tax incentives of up to $125M per year for movies filmed or produced in the state.

    According to an industry publication write-up after the law was passed, “To qualify, producers must use an Arizona production facility or, if the project is primarily filmed on location, must mostly shoot and conduct pre- and postproduction in the state. The program features a tiered credit system: productions that spend less than $10M will get a base tax credit of 15%, while those that spend more than $35M will get 20%. Projects with budgets from $10M to $35M are eligible for 17.5% of their spending to be offset by the incentives.”

    The program has a 2023 cap of $75M and will grow to $125M by 2025.

    Desert Studios was heavily involved in lobbying for the program, as was Acacia Filmed Entertainment. Acacia President Matthew George, who also heads Castle Rock Entertainment, planned to build 14 sound stages on 70 acres at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

    Despite repeated inquiries, no new information has been released since the original announcement last July. The status in the DATABEX project database has been listed as On Hold since January of this year.

    Another studio project was announced in Peoria in 2018. The Desert Sky Studio Complex would have been a $200M development spread across three phases with 24 sound stages and an entertainment and retail district on 130 acres at Loop 303 and Lone Mountain.

    A 2019 article reported the developer was working with City of Peoria officials on the project and with then-Gov. Doug Ducey on what would eventually become the Production Program incentives package. No additional plans were ever submitted to the City beyond the initial pre-application. In the intervening time, the project webpage has been taken down and the project has been listed as Canceled.

    With the incentives program now in place and two land use requests filed with Maricopa County, Desert Studios appears ready to move forward. County planning staff has recommended approval for both requests, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a hearing on the matters Nov. 2.

    Belmont Infraco LLC is the property owner. HILGARTWILSON is the Belmont Mixed-use planner and engineer. RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture is the planner for the Desert Studios Complex. Both projects are represented by Gammage & Burnham.

    Acacia Filmed Entertainment Belmont Development Master Plan Belmont Infraco LLC Castle Rock Entertainment DATABEX Desert Sky Studio Complex Desert Studios Desert Studios Complex HilgartWilson major comprehensive plan amendment Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission master plan Mixed-Use other industrial Private rezoning RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture The Arizona Motion Picture Production Program theme parks
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Retail Center & Senior Residential Development Planned in Casa Grande

    July 1, 2025

    New 108-Room Hotel, Conference Center Planned in S. Phoenix

    July 1, 2025

    Phoenix-to-Tucson Rail Study Advances

    June 27, 2025

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Our Picks

    Industry Professionals 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

    July 2, 2025

    Mesa P&Z Recommends Data Center Zoning Restrictions

    July 2, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    Don't Miss
    People on the Move

    Industry Professionals 07-08-25

    July 8, 20250

    Giving Back 1. Wespac Construction joined Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona to dedicate the…

    Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

    July 2, 2025

    Mesa P&Z Recommends Data Center Zoning Restrictions

    July 2, 2025

    BEX serves architecture, engineering and construction firms as well as all the ancillary product and service categories that market to them. These include manufacturing representatives, public agencies and private real estate organizations, specialty subcontractors and services providers related to our industry.

    Our Picks

    Industry Professionals 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

    July 8, 2025

    Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

    July 2, 2025
    Contact Us

    Phone: 480-709-4190
    Address: P.O. Box 12196 Tempe, AZ 85284
    Email: sales@azbex.com

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.