Business View Civil & Municipal | July 2022

29 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 TOWN OF WI CKENBURG, AR I ZONA but we’re growing. Not tremendously, but our population has increased from 6,400 in 2010 to 8,000 in 2020. We’re a great community to raise kids, only 35 minutes away from the valley shopping areas but, really, everything I need is right here.” Tim Suan, Deputy Town Manager and Economic Development Director, has a newer perspective, having moved to the area in the last year. “It’s a genuine western hometown with a neighborly feel – the best of both worlds. We’re rural, but also urban. We’re modern cowboys. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a major hub for international travel is only an hour away. We’re in that fringe area where you can live a rural lifestyle but have access to whatever you’d like.” Wickenburg residents benefit from a variety of available housing options. Most community developments are already built out, but an exception is Wickenburg Ranch, a master- planned project halfway through completion. Developed by Van Tuyl Companies, it features resort-style living for active adults. “Van Tuyl is our largest home developer with over 140 homes in the pipeline,” reports Suan. “They can’t build fast enough; a good problem to have.” Even though housing inventory isn’t a concern right now, there is only so much land available. Then there’s affordability. As of 2020, the average Wickenburg home sold for approximately $289,750. A price that may not be feasible for everyone. “The cost of housing is one of our hardest issues,” adds Suan. “People want to live and retire here; it’s just finding available and affordable property for them. We only have so much land from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Arizona State Land Department. Our topography with rolling hills makes it difficult too. Building on that terrain is expensive.” Only a few years ago, the historic downtown mining homes were affordable, but now their values are increasing, as well.