After groundbreaking, Edison Pointe aims for early 2018 openings (GALLERY)

A project 10 years in the making hit another milestone Monday morning with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Edison Pointe, a commercial development south of Fry’s Marketplace, is scheduled to include Ross, Planet Fitness, Brakes Plus, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts. The mayor, councilmembers, Vintage Partners Leasing Director Casey Treadwell and Economic Development Director Denyse Airheart participated in turning earth at the site where areas have already been prepped for foundations.

“We’ll be done with all of the main construction in February,” Treadwell said. “There will be some stuff that could actually open earlier.”

That includes Burger King, which is planned for the northwest corner of the property near Fry’s gas station.

“They’re way ahead of everybody else,” he said. “They’ve been chomping at the bit, but they’ve been very patient. They’ve spent a lot of money in order to go forward.”

Ross and other anchor establishments are expected to open in February and March. With a shared boundary, Vintage Partners has been coordinating with Fry’s during development.

“All of these properties are tied together in their agreements, so we had to maintain certain things for Fry’s,” Treadwell said. “In exchange for the help they’ve given us, we’re going to give them a little land so they can add another gas [island] at the end. It’s just a tiny piece.

“We had to get the property subdivided, which will happen next month.”

The property was planned for development in 2007 but became a victim of the recession. Vintage took over the project four years ago.

“We’ve all been waiting for this project for a very long time,” Mayor Christian Price said. “One of the things I think it’s important that everybody understands is how much work goes into a project like this… Just because you see this land sitting here, it doesn’t make it so easy to suddenly pop something out of the ground.”

Price said Vintage understands the community and what it wants.

“I’m excited to welcome these new retail amenities to the community because this is what keeps the residents here local and supporting these businesses,” Airheart said.

Councilmember Henry Wade praised Vintage for being “smooth and comfortable but impactful and effective.”

“I’m happy as a former Planning & Zoning commissioner to know that things actually do get done,” Wade said.

“When people ask us what cities we like to work with, Maricopa’s at the top of the list,” Treadwell said.

Edison Pointe Groundbreaking

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