Maricopa, Arizona

MAR I COPA , AR I ZONA neighborhood. Maricopa Station is located next to an overpass over the train tracks on State Route 347 that was completed last year. Being on the primary north-south corridor of Maricopa, the same road that goes north to Phoenix, that new overpass has created a boom for development, too. According to Steele, “I like to think of Maricopa as an oasis, not only because it’s located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert but because it has no traditional incorporated cities as adjacent neighborhoods. All the big city amenities are still only a half-hour away, but we’re a full-service city ourselves – without the traffic congestion. We have a strong relationship with the Gila River Indian Community to the north, and the Ak-Chin Indian Community to the west and south, and we’re all on the same page when it comes to the growth of the area and the right way to do it.” Maricopa boasts a high income, high education population, low crime rate, and is an incredibly diverse community. The median age of residents is 33, and part of the attraction for them is that it’s a great place to raise a family. In addition, a very active adult presence makes for a nice social balance in the community. Estrella Gin Business Park is a fabulous project in progress on about 42 acres that will be a huge boon to Maricopa. Infrastructure plans are currently being reviewed and, when it’s done, the full buildout is expected to produce over 300,000 sq. ft. of office, light industrial, and even some warehousing or flex space. That development could have a total annual economic impact of about $94 million for the city. And the tenants could produce, directly and indirectly, 700 jobs for the community. Steele gives a big shout-out to the parties involved, saying, “Developer Joe L. Cook, Realtor Shane Cook with My Home Group Commercial, and Construction Solutions Company – that whole group has been great to work with and a fantastic resource. They know the industry and have proved to be an invaluable partner through all of this. It is a huge partnership we’re doing