There are plenty of places in and around Phoenix where residential and commercial developers are looking to build, but Peoria is doing everything it can to remind them to look in their direction. With a commitment to remaining a thriving suburb, Peoria is attracting new developments to help grow the city. Here are a few of these projects. 

Capital Improvement Projects

Rendering courtesy of Peoria Economic Development Services

As noted in the mayor’s recent message to the city, capital improvement projects will include major investments in economic development, parks, roadways, public safety facilities, and water and sewer infrastructure. Funding will also support the Innovation Center in the P83 Entertainment District, which will redevelop a 17-acre parking area into 275,000 square feet of office space with walkable amenities to promote a live/work/play environment.

Old Town Peoria Identity Plan

Edwards Hotel photo courtesy of Tony the Marine

Along with the Innovation Center, funding will continue for the Old Town Peoria identity plan, which provides a vision for the redevelopment and revitalization of the four-square-mile area located in and around Old Town Peoria. Investment in businesses, including the restoration of the Edwards Hotel earlier this year, has helped the area move closer to becoming a vacation destination.

Neighborhood-Focused Initiatives

Photo courtesy of Kiwanis Park playground

Several neighborhood-focused initiatives are also in the works. The city continues to support the Community Works Program, which provides funding for projects that have a local benefit. Past improvements have included new playground equipment in Braewood Park near the Grand Manor neighborhood, Monroe Street enhancements at 83rd Avenue to Cotton Crossing near the  Pinecrest neighborhood, and Kiwanis Park playground replacement near the Dave Brown West neighborhood. 

A New Neighborhood

Rendering courtesy of Pederson Group

While the town looks ahead for future development, residential growth hasn’t slowed in the meantime. Per the Phoenix Business Journal, the Pederson Group is developing a 25-acre upscale neighborhood located at the northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road, near the Sunrise Vista Summit Collection community. Total costs are expected to be between $35 million and $40 million. The new neighborhood will include a church, Safeway, and 15 retail and restaurant storefronts.

North Peoria’s 120-Acre Park

Typical splash park

The biggest project coming soon to Peoria, at least in terms of size, has to be the yet-to-be-named 120-acre park at the base of West Wing Mountain on Lake Pleasant Parkway and Loop 303. The long-awaited project is expected to begin construction in the fall and the park should open around May 2020. Striving to “meet the needs of the community for active and passive recreation,” according to John Sefton, director of the Community Services Department, the park will incorporate a trailhead, fishing pond, dog park, lighted ball fields, open space with ramadas, playground, and splash pad.

Though the final plan, including amenities and the park’s name selection, is slated for council approval in June, the project is facing some controversy due to its location on a Hohokam historic site. The final plan will need approval from the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office to proceed. The land is owned by the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, who will also have a say.

With projects like these and investments set up for the 2019 fiscal year, Peoria continues to be a hotbed for development. The sixth-largest city in Arizona should expect their population to keep growing.