By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Developer Vestar has submitted an application for a second north Phoenix auction site through the Arizona State Land Department.
According to the “Coming Soon” page on ASLD’s website, the property covers slightly fewer than 159 acres at the SEC of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway. North Valley Parkway will run north-south through the site, roughly at the edge of the eastern third of the property.
The first auction site, reported on in September when Vestar submitted its rezoning request for its planned Dove Valley Towne Center project, covers 186.8 acres along the east side of I-17 between Sonoran Parkway and Dove Valley Road. (AZBEX; Sept. 16)
Minimum bid prices have not yet been released for either property. The auctions are tentatively scheduled to take place in Q2 2026.
Auctions Part of a Massive Development Vision
Earlier this year, north Phoenix regional news and lifestyle outlet Valley Vibe reported in detail about Vestar’s plans for the area. Credit where it’s due, neither we nor any other outlet saw their story, and none of us reported on the project until the Dove Valley rezoning request and site plans were filed late this summer.
Valley Vibe reported Dove Valley Towne Center is planned for larger-footprint stores, as well as possible fitness and hospitality outlets, on 158 acres between Dove Valley Road and Sonoran Desert Drive. Plans also included a mixed-use trail running north-south across the site.
It also reported Black Canyon Towne Center was planned for 127 acres at the SEC of I-17 and Carefree Highway as a mixed-use open-air retail center. Valley Vibe cited Vestar officials as saying the preliminary plans include a “restaurant row” and specialty shops, with larger/more prominent tenants positioned on the site’s southern and western sides.
Confusingly, the submitted plans for Dove Valley Towne Center note the development site at 126.6 acres, with a total site area of 130.14 acres.
Phoenix City Council approved Vestar’s rezoning request for the Dove Valley site in November. According to Valley Vibe, the Black Canyon Towne Center site on Carefree Highway already has commercial zoning in place.
The total planned commercial development is more than 800KSF.
Infrastructure Plan
The article also noted Vestar plans to fund major roadway projects in the area, including connecting North Valley Parkway to Carefree Highway and construction of a $40M bridge. The City of Phoenix reportedly lacks the funding to perform the work, so Vestar will foot the bill.
The article says, “The developer would be responsible for funding and constructing the infrastructure improvements required by the City. The roadway system improvements, including the bridge, are estimated at $80M, said Kean Thomas, Vice President of Finance & Development for Vestar.”
Planned roadwork in the area includes all the streets and streetlights in the new commercial centers, along with new arterial and connector roads in the North Gateway area. Major components include:
- Expanding North Valley Parkway, including a bridge over Skunk Creek Wash, and connecting the road to Carefree Highway;
- Extending 32nd Avenue to connect to North Valley Parkway and Dove Valley Road, including extending the road along the wash to a connection with Sonoran Desert Drive, and
- Widening Carefree Highway, Dove Valley Road and Sonoran Desert Drive.
Representatives of Vestar reportedly told Valley Vibe road construction would begin at the same time as the retail components, which could break ground in late 2026 or early 2027.
