By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Even though a proposal to allow churches to build housing on their property died in the State Legislature in the most recent session, affordable housing developer Gorman & Company and Scottsdale United Methodist Church have presented a proposal to do exactly that on SUMC’s property at 4140 N. Miller Road in Scottsdale, just inside the eastern edge of Old Town.
Gorman has a highly successful track record with workforce and affordable housing development in Arizona. DATABEX shows the company has completed 14 developments around the state since the project database was launched in mid-2016. Another four communities are currently shown as under construction. Two are in design/plan review, and one is in the planning stage. Of the 22 developments Gorman has proposed, only one has been cancelled.
This is, however, the company’s first apparent foray into Scottsdale. The previous City Council earned a reputation as exceptionally difficult for multifamily development, and the current Mayor and most of the Council have an even more absolute opposition stance. In fact, the most cited reason for the defeat of former Mayor David Ortega and several incumbent Councilmembers in the November 2024 election was they were not sufficiently anti-apartment.
The current Mayor and Council, except for one member who was not up for reelection last year, are all considered staunchly anti-multifamily. Their options, however, may be limited, given the existing zoning and the proposed design elements and considerations.
The Scottsdale UMC Multifamily Proposal
SUMC has been at its Miller Road location since 1964 and operates a church and a daycare on the site. According to the narrative submitted late last month, the church, like many other congregations, has seen a decrease in attendance in recent years.
To maximize utilization of its property, SUMC is partnering with Gorman to propose an 82-unit workforce housing development, currently referred to as Scottsdale UMC Multifamily, on the east side of its campus north of Indian School Road between Miller Road and 75th Street. “The proposed development offers a direct response to Scottsdale’s workforce housing needs and will allow residents to live near employment, childcare, transit, and daily services. This well-designed and amenity-rich project will benefit the Old-Town Scottsdale community by reducing commute times and improving overall quality of life,” the narrative says.
The site is zoned Highway Commercial, Downtown Overlay, which the narrative says permits multifamily residential and allows the use proposed for the 4.4-net-acre lot. Importantly, the planned density is 18 units/acre, which is fewer than the 23-unit maximum under the zoning and the 25-unit maximum established as the lower limit of “highest density” in the voter-approved Scottsdale General Plan 2035.
Surrounding uses include residential, commercial and public spaces. According to the narrative, “The area is well-connected to daily amenities and community resources. Residents will be located within walking distance of Sprouts Farmers Market, the planned Whole Foods, CVS Pharmacy, and Chaparral Park. Valley Metro transit service is available along both Miller Road and Indian School Road, providing accessible public transportation options. The site’s location allows residents to complete daily errands and access essential services without a car, supporting a more affordable and sustainable lifestyle.”
It goes on to say, “The surrounding infrastructure and land use pattern support higher density residential development. The project’s placement within an established neighborhood core allows it to integrate seamlessly with existing development while activating underutilized land in a walkable, transit-oriented setting.”
The plan calls for two three-story buildings with a mix of 48 one-, 16 two- and 18 three-bedroom apartments. A total of 166 parking spaces will be provided through a combination of ground-level spaces beneath the buildings, canopy-covered stalls and standard parking spaces. Only 121 spaces are required. There will also be 14 bicycle parking spaces, while only 13 are required under City regulations.
Scottsdale UMC Multifamily will feature both indoor and outdoor amenities, including a playground and playscape areas, courtyards, informal gathering areas, an activity room, a co-working lounge and an indoor community area. The spaces “are designed to be flexible and adaptable, supporting both day-to-day activities and small-scale community events.”
The narrative says the design was developed to adhere closely with the Old Town Scottsdale Character Area Plan and focuses “on enhancing the area’s identity as a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented, and context-sensitive urban district. Informed by the Plan’s emphasis on high-quality urban design, scale transitions, and climate-responsive architecture.”
The narrative also says the planned development is situated between a four-story apartment community to the north and the SUMC church buildings to the immediate west, which “reduces the perceived scale and satisfies the step-back intent of… massing guidelines.” It also says Scottsdale UMC Multifamily “has been deliberately scaled to bridge the height differential across the adjacent properties.”
The project will be financed with federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, which were recently expanded with the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” federal spending measure.
Scottsdale United Methodist Church is the owner. Gorman & Company, LLC is the developer. The architect is Nelsen Partners. Harrington Planning + Design is the landscape architect, and the project’s land use representative is Gammage & Burnham, PLC.
No reviews or meetings have been scheduled for the proposal as of press time.
