Neighborhood Meeting Planned to Solicit Feedback
In order to see significant road connections completed in the area, such as the highly anticipated connection of North Valley Parkway to Carefree Highway to alleviate traffic along 27th Drive—it’s going to require a $40-million bridge and a large-scale developer to fund a project of that magnitude, as the City of Phoenix lacks funding to perform the work.
Phoenix-based commercial developer, Vestar, is proposing to tackle that task with a proposal to bring more than 800,000 square feet of commercial development, including retail and restaurants, alongside a plan for major roadway extensions and improvements on arterial roads between Carefree Highway and Sonoran Desert Drive.
Vestar has an application pending with the Arizona State Land Department for two parcels along the east side of I-17; one just south of Dove Valley Road, and the other just south of Carefree Highway. Rezoning is required on a portion of the parcel near Dove Valley Road to allow for the commercial development to take place. The state land department will set the auction timing after zoning is approved by the City. Vestar hopes to have zoning in place by September.
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 $80 million, said Kean Thomas, Vice President of Finance & Development for Vestar.
A meeting with neighbors hosted by Vestar is planned May 6 to present the conceptual plans and receive public feedback on the proposed zoning.
“Vestar is thrilled to be in the planning phases of this project, and we look forward to delivering much needed shopping, services, entertainment, dining options, and gathering areas to the community. Included in our plans are critical roadways that have been long undeveloped or incomplete. Our tenants and these infrastructure improvements will further establish the community as the gateway to the City of Phoenix and will be highly complementary to the exciting development associated with TSMC,” Thomas told Valley Vibe in an email.
Once the zoning is complete and assuming Vestar is the successful bidder in the auction, Thomas said Vestar is aiming to submit its site plan approval in early 2026 and if all goes as planned, groundbreaking could begin in late 2026 or early 2027.
A ‘Restaurant Row’ & Retailers
The marketing process for tenants is projected to begin sometime in 2026, once the zoning process is complete and approved with the City. Vestar has outlined its vision for the conceptual plans through very preliminary site plans that are subject to change.
Dove Valley Towne Center (at I-17 & Dove Valley Road) The 158-acre site that borders I-17 between Dove Valley Road and Sonoran Desert Drive is partly zoned for commercial use, and partly zoned S-1, requiring rezoning approval by the City to allow for the development, which would include larger department stores providing grocery, home goods, and general merchandise, as well as smaller shops and restaurant users. In addition, potential fitness and hospitality components are being contemplated on the southern end of the site. A mixed-use trail would run north-south along the entire site for more than a mile, immediately adjacent to Skunk Creek Wash.
Black Canyon Towne Center (at I-17 & Carefree Highway)
A 127-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the I-17 and Carefree Highway interchange is proposed to be developed into a large open-air retail center with a variety of mixed uses. This parcel already contains the necessary zoning required for commercial use. Vestar told Valley Vibe the preliminary plans for the site include “A ‘Restaurant Row’ flanking the main entrance, and specialty shop buildings clustered to create an appealing atmosphere. Larger tenants that place a high priority on freeway frontage will be positioned to the south and west of the site, where they will provide a range of in-demand goods and services.”
The developments are expected to contain a lot of the same characteristics as Vestar’s most recent retail project, Verrado Marketplace, which is home to restaurants and softgoods stores like Marshalls, Target, etc.
New Arterial Roads & Connections
In addition to developing all streets and streetlights within the centers, Vestar is agreeing to complete new arterial roads and connections in the North Gateway area. Vestar says construction work on the roads would commence simultaneously alongside construction on the retail buildings.
North Valley Parkway The roadway would be expanded at its full width, extending over Skunk Creek Wash with the construction of a bridge spanning over the wash at an estimated cost of $40 million, and the road would connect to meet Carefree Highway to align with the existing North Valley Parkway to the north.
32nd Avenue The existing roadway would be extended to the north to connect with North Valley Parkway, and to the south of Dove Valley Road, it would be extended along the wash to connect with Sonoran Desert Drive, creating another connection as an alternative route to North Valley Parkway to get south.
Carefree Highway would be widened east of I-17 to full width of the existing roadway just east of the intersection of North Valley Parkway.
Dove Valley Road & Sonoran Desert Drive would each be widened to full width from I-17 to just east of 32nd Avenue. Other commercial developers with projects under construction near Dove Valley Road and 29th Avenue, such as Thompson Thrift are responsible for funding the widening of Dove Valley
Road to the intersection of North Valley Parkway.
Be Heard
Vestar Neighborhood Meeting
6 p.m., Tuesday, May 6
Goelet A. C. Beuf Community Center
3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Phoenix
By Karen Goveia
[email protected]