While much commercial construction has continued throughout Maricopa this spring, Sonoran Creek Marketplace remains an empty field.
The planned shopping plaza, anchored by a “specialty grocer” and a “major retailer,” is planned for the large lot on the southwest corner of John Wayne Parkway and Edison Road just west of Culver’s and Dutch Bros. Though those anchors are still not officially named, the complex is to be 85,000 square feet of retail space.
In his presentation to city council last week, City Manager Rick Horst said the expectation is 282 new jobs and a payroll over $10.4 million. The development is completing paperwork for engineering and building permits.
Advancement of the project had been expected to happen more rapidly, but a corporate management change for one of the anchors occurred in the middle of planning.
“They did ask for a 90-day extension, which was granted,” Horst said, “but they are moving forward. The extension was less about COVID and more about changes with the major retailer who’s coming on site with a new CEO.”
Sonoran Creek has an expected opening date in 2021.
As part of the development process, the City requests “will service” notifications from local utilities for new construction or remodels to guarantee water and electricity.
Maricopa Consolidated Domestic Water Improvement District completed flow tests for the property to prove fire protection ability. In Maricopa development, water utility responsibilities are split between Global Water, which supplies most of the city, and MCDWID, which serves many homes and businesses in the Heritage District.
Global Water supplies sewer service but not water to several Heritage District properties, like Culver’s, Fast & Friendly Car Wash and Dutch Bros., according to General Manager Jon Corwin.
Engineer William Collings of DNA Inc., which does civil engineering for MCDWID, said the small water district had “good to excellent water pressure” and sufficient capacity for the planned pads on the site as well as a multi-story building that could go in west of Sonoran Creek along Wilson Avenue.
“We’ve had no issue with water quality in 20 years,” Collings said.
MCDWID is also supplying the water for Maricopa Town Plaza, where Iconic Tires, Riliberto’s and an animal hospital are being constructed southeast of John Wayne Parkway and Hathaway Avenue. Global Water, on the other hand, provides water and sewer to Edison Place (the southeast corner of John Wayne Parkway and Edison Road) and Madison Pointe (between Edison Pointe and Maricopa Self Storage).
“This is a confusing area,” Corwin said.
