Glendale/West Valley Development Thread

[Obadno]

The company was speculative based on continued federal pushes for mass EV adoption.

Without that it apparently cant exist. Id rather the plan evaporate than have them build a massive factory that gets its funding pulled once completed and end up like Phoenix Mart.

[combusean]

https://azbex.com/planning-development/new-46-acre-master-plan-proposed-in-verrado/

Verrado of all places urbanizing.

This week, the Buckeye Planning and Zoning Commission will hear a request from developer Greenlight Communities to rezone 46.06 acres at the NEC of Verrado Way and the Van Buren Street alignment from planned residential to planned area development for a five-parcel plan that will bring up to 954 units of assorted multifamily residential and 5.7 acres of commercial development to the burgeoning area.

[ASU Diablo]

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...rtainment-envision-encore-mixed-use.html

Another big mixed-use development is in the works near Glendale's bustling sports and entertainment district.

Dubbed Envision Encore, the proposed development would include apartments, retail and potentially hotels at the southwest corner of 99th Avenue and Ballpark Boulevard, just across the 101 freeway from State Farm Stadium.

The development, which was recommended for approval by the city’s planning and zoning commission on March 27, would mark the latest high-profile project in and around Glendale's sprawling Westgate Entertainment District. Attractions in the district include the Tanger Outlets, Desert Diamond Arena and popular hangout spots such as a new two-story Thirsty Lion location and the Tiger Woods-backed golf entertainment concept PopStroke.

The city sees Envision Encore as a project “that will complement and enhance the sports and entertainment district,” Senior Planner Alex Lerma told the planning commission March 27. Commissioners recommended approval to rezone the 39-acre site from agriculture to planned area development, along with a minor plan amendment from land zoned for a business park to entertainment mixed-use, which will now go to City Council for approval.

Envision Encore would be a high-density residential development with a mixed-use component and is intended to be pedestrian-friendly. Developers will have to include commercial retail like mini-marts, childcare centers, dry cleaners, cafes or hotels on the property, Lerma said. There is "no associated development plan or end users to accompany these applications," according to a city narrative, though the rezoning is expected to help the city "aid in locating prospective end users for economic growth and prosperity."

The site is surrounded by several other planned developments. A business park is currently under development to the north. A Top Golf location is directly to the east, along with the new Andretti Indoor Carting and Games facility set to open this year. Dick’s Sporting Goods is also expected to develop its new concept, Dick’s House of Sports, to the northeast of the planned project site.

Other mega entertainment projects nearby include the VAI Resort, which has faced several delays, though it is expected to include Arizona’s largest hotel upon completion. Next door, the Mattel Adventure Park is set to include roller coasters and a Barbie Dream House upon completion, which is scheduled for the end of 2025.

And next to State Farm Stadium, another 62-acre entertainment mixed-use development from Peoria-based Plaza Cos. is underway.

[Obadno]

Phoenix Metro is not wealthy enough to be developing this level of NIMBYism

First Axon now this:

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/08/27/amkor-peoria-plant-relocate-state-auction.html

[combusean]

This is exactly what I raised an issue about--cities should not be taking roles of "master developer" for these kinds of expansive greenfield sites. It is anathema to the free market and is *already* proving harmful to their own stated purposes of economic development.

[TllrSkyline-01]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Phoenix Metro is not wealthy enough to be developing this level of NIMBYism

First Axon now this:

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/08/27/amkor-peoria-plant-relocate-state-auction.html

I agree! But it looks like it will work out in the end for now. The facility still remains in the community, and the neighbors have nothing more to complain about. NIMBYism is doing more damage to communities than people realize!

[ChaseM]

Originally Posted by TllrSkyline-01

I agree! But it looks like it will work out in the end for now. The facility still remains in the community, and the neighbors have nothing more to complain about. NIMBYism is doing more damage to communities than people realize!

The irony of NIMBYism is that it’s built on contradiction. The same people who fight density and urban development, arguing that tall buildings, apartments, or mixed use projects will “ruin the neighborhood,” are the first to complain about clogged highways, endless sprawl, and crumbling infrastructure. But you can’t have it both ways. If you block density, you push growth outward, which means longer commutes, more traffic, higher infrastructure costs, and the very sprawl they claim to hate. If you block transit and infrastructure, you leave communities car dependent and gridlocked, then gripe about congestion.

At its core, NIMBYism isn’t about problem solving, it’s about protecting comfort zones, even when those protections create the very problems being complained about. It’s basically a masterclass in wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Cities can’t freeze in time, people are moving in whether we like it or not. The real choice is simple, build upward and invest in infrastructure, or let sprawl and gridlock eat us alive, pick one.

[Obadno]

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/09/02/amkor-peoria-innovation-core-deal.html

I totally spoke too soon.



They moved because they are making their operation too large for the old site.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Obadno

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/09/02/amkor-peoria-innovation-core-deal.html

I totally spoke too soon.



They moved because they are making their operation too large for the old site.

Unexpected and pretty nice turn of events.

[xymox]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Phoenix Metro is not wealthy enough to be developing this level of NIMBYism

First Axon now this:

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/08/27/amkor-peoria-plant-relocate-state-auction.html

Eh - they just moved it up into the area Peoria is prepping for developments of that size and nature (related to TSMC, data centers, etc). It's virgin land - no one around for miles to go NIMBY on it. And arguably a better location for them anyhow since they will now just be 3 miles down the loop 303 from TSMC.

I would argue that the location in Vistancia wasn't ideal for a number of reasons. Over the years it's gone from proposed Spring Training site, to studios for streaming & movies, to what they cobbled together for Amkor. I think the residents arguments were weak, but the location was more about convenience and ability to move quickly (ironically) than it was about anything else. This new site they can move fast and not worry about any of this. And it's still in the City of Peoria - so they ultimately didn't lose anything. Had this happened in Scottsdale, yes, they would have lost the project completely due to lack of land available. But then again, that's why TSMC chose the site they did - the brought they ability to help city of Phoenix and Peoria develop the northern parts of their cities.

[Obadno]

What am I going to do when the west valley stops being poor??? Who will I look down on?

https://azbigmedia.com/real-estate/big-d...eaks-ground-on-7-billion-peoria-project/

Amkor breaks ground on $7 billion Peoria project
Amkor Technology, a leading provider of semiconductor packaging and test services, today announced the groundbreaking and expanded planned investment of its new state-of-the-art outsourced semiconductor advanced packaging and test campus in Arizona.

Upon completion of both phases, the campus will offer over 750,000 square feet of cleanroom space and as many as 3,000 high-quality jobs. Construction of the first manufacturing facility on the campus is expected to be completed in mid-2027, with production beginning in early 2028. The new greenfield facilities will serve as a cornerstone of America’s advanced packaging capabilities, supporting key customers including Apple and NVIDIA. Amkor’s expanded investment is supported by the Trump Administration’s CHIPS for America Program, the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, and state and local governments.

“Arizona stands at the forefront of America’s semiconductor industry and Amkor is a vital part of that leadership. Amkor’s new facility represents a transformative investment that will create thousands of good-paying jobs, help build a more resilient supply chain, and solidify Arizona’s semiconductor leadership,” said Governor Katie Hobbs

The expanded investment includes additional cleanroom space and a second greenfield packaging and test facility, increasing total project investment by more than $5 billion, to a total of $7 billion across two phases. The investment from Amkor supports the broader strategy to strengthen U.S. semiconductor leadership and will be the first U.S. based high volume advanced packaging facility.

“This groundbreaking represents a bold step in Amkor’s long-term strategy for growth and innovation,” said Giel Rutten, Amkor’s president and chief executive officer. “We’re building a facility to meet our customers’ most advanced needs that will help shape the future of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. Arizona offers the right mix of talent, infrastructure, and industry presence, and we’re proud to deepen our roots here.”

Strategically located in Arizona’s growing high-tech corridor, the campus will house the most sophisticated outsourced semiconductor packaging and test facilities in the country. It will feature smart factory technologies and scalable production lines to meet evolving market demands for AI, high performance computing, mobile communications, and automotive applications. The campus will focus on advanced packaging and testing technologies and will complement TSMC’s front-end wafer fabrication for full end-to-end semiconductor manufacturing.

[azliam]

It appears Prasada in Surprise will continue to grow with the addition of the next phase called Prasada East targeted to break ground starting in Spring 2026.

https://buildout-production.s3.amazonaws...ff919bfd6edac7df1f3cd1d8ab4e98fa466bf487

https://www.commercialsearch.com/commercial-property/us/az/surprise/sec-sarival-ave-waddell-rd/

[azliam]

Originally Posted by azliam

It appears Prasada in Surprise will continue to grow with the addition of the next phase called Prasada East targeted to break ground starting in Spring 2026.

https://buildout-production.s3.amazonaws...ff919bfd6edac7df1f3cd1d8ab4e98fa466bf487

https://www.commercialsearch.com/commercial-property/us/az/surprise/sec-sarival-ave-waddell-rd/

It looks like the new Whole Foods will in fact be a part of the next phase of Prasada:

The grocer filed a building permit for a new 35,000-square-foot store, marking the second West Valley location for the company, which recently filed similar paperwork in Glendale.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2026/03/03/surprise-prasada-whole-foods-store.html

[HX_Guy]

Whole Foods is also opening a new store on 75th Ave north of Bell Rd, the first Whole Foods on this side of town. It's going into an old Big Lots store that closed years ago.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DD5rk7HQy/

[azliam]

I came across this video on YT that gives a little more insight as to where VAI Resort is right now. Starting around 37:30:

• Video Link