We didn’t know what we were waiting for.
We just knew we were in a state of impermanance.
Every time we thought the plans were made,
it seems the taste was not so sweet.
But those days are behind us now,
Ch ch ch changes are on the way.
In January of 2019 the bankruptcy court awarded the 96-acre property running north of the 101 to High Street, and west from 56th Street to 52nd Street known as City North along with the Desert Ridge master developer rights to Crown Realty and Development of California.
Crown is a highly respected and successful real estate developer specializing in multi-use properties. Several of their crown jewels include The Omni Montelucia Resort and the redevelopment of Mountain Shadows. They intend to make City North their latest Crown development.
At the April Desert Ridge Community Association Annual meeting they revealed their plans to build a vibrant and modern epicenter at Desert Ridge. Plans include apartments, multiple office buildings, specialty retail, hotels, and modern restaurant concepts, along with a cutting–edge people mover to efficiently move visitors and residents around easing the street congestion. By the beginning of May, construction began with trees marked and saved, streets staked and permits obtained. When complete, which should be within two years, High Street will serve as the epicenter of Desert Ridge. As one drives, west of Scottsdale Road or east from Cave Creek Road, High Street will appear as a Phoenix rising from the desert floor inviting visitors to enjoy a state–of–the–art metroplex like no other.
But as they say on late night TV infomercials, wait, there is more!
When Desert Ridge was conceptualized in the early 1990s the area was divided into “superblocks”. Developers bid on the superblocks to buy the land and build
sub-communities in Desert Ridge. Still today several superblocks remain undeveloped and remain in the control of the state land trust. One such superblock, #2, was purchased March 2018 by DR Horton. This land runs east of 56th Street and north of Deer Valley Road. DR Horton is currently clearing the land to build 666 single family homes and 237 apartments.
Progress is contagious
And the infamous superblock 8 – Deer Valley south to Irma Lane from Shades apartments to 40th Street has drawn the attention of multiple developers.
As a Desert Ridge resident, I have a strange fascination with the changes we are going through. And the pace of the changes we will be going through.
For updates about the changes, go to the Desert Ridge Lifestyles website often. We will keep you updated.
(A special thanks to David Bowie for the inspiration.)
Rob Reichstein
Communications Chair
Desert Ridge Community Association
