By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Plans are underway for a major residential addition to John F. Long Properties’ Algodón Center in the West Valley.
Western Garden is planned as a two-phase development that will ultimately feature 1,191 traditional single-family, 185 townhomes and 314 Build-to-Rent homes on more than 290 gross acres in the mixed-use development/master-planned commerce park.
Algodón Center lies primarily between Indian School and Thomas roads between 91st and 99th avenues, bisected north and south by Loop 101. A commercial and residential component on the west side of the center extends north to Campbell Avenue.
What’s Being Planned?
Materials prepared by land use law firm Gammage & Burnham, PLC show Phase I consisting of 623 traditional single-family homes on the southern portion of the proposed area. Phase II will add 383 traditional homes, 185 owner-occupied townhomes and 314 Build-to-Rent single-family units. A five-acre amenity area is planned near the center of the proposed development.
Presentation materials included with the plan show Lennar Homes as the builder.
Two additional parcels around the Pendergast Elementary campus at 91st Avenue will also be set aside for possible future midrange housing development.
The plan requires amendments to the existing planned area development and planned community district already in place, along with a minor general plan amendment.
The project narrative cites the City of Phoenix’s Housing Plan, adopted in 2020, and its goal of providing 50,000 new housing units to meet growth demand. With the 850 units already in development in and around Algodón Center, and the approximately 2,000 units proposed, the narrative estimates this one area could provide up to 4% of the total housing goal under the Plan.
Algodón Center Evolution
The Long Family has owned the Algodón Center site for decades, originally intending to create a master-planned home and golf course community there. The family requested and received Planned Community District zoning in 2000.
When Loop 101 was developed, Long Family kept the PCD designation but rezoned the site to commerce park and commercial, eventually including a Planned Unit Development within the PCD. Much of the site has remained vacant, although the Algodón Medical Office Park was developed at the NWC of Thomas Road and 91st Avenue.
The surrounding area has seen extensive development over the last decade. Two major residential projects planned or in development are the 458-unit Acero at Algodón Center (Acero Algodón) from Investment Development Management under construction at 91st Avenue and Osborn Road and Wood Partners’ 402-unit Alta 99th Avenue (Alta 99) at 99th and Campbell Avenues.
Team and Status
The Gammage & Burnham materials show two neighborhood meetings have already been held to discuss the Western Garden plan. An informational meeting with the City of Phoenix’s Maryvale Village Planning Committee was held in July, and a meeting for action is planned for January 12th. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the project on February 3rd, with the City Council scheduled to hear it on March 2nd.
John F. Long Properties LLLP is the named owner and developer. Project planning is through Orcutt | Winslow. Clouse Engineering is the civil engineer, and legal representation is provided by Gammage & Burnham, PLC. According to the narrative, full build-out is expected to take place over approximately 10 years.
