Affordable apartments planned near ‘Restaurant Row’

A culinary strip at Maricopa Community Center was floated to much fanfare last year. Now, the project has attracted an accompanying apartment complex.

Georgia-based Paces Preservation Partners wants to build an affordable housing development near Maricopa City Hall, according to documents obtained in a public records request yesterday.

The developer submitted pre-application paperwork to city planners last week for a 150-unit affordable multifamily development on 8.35 acres of a 22-acre parcel near the southeast corner of White and Parker and Bowlin Roads.

While details are scant on what the development would look like or where on the parcel it would be built, the developer said it plans to construct one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Prospective tenants would need to make no more than 80% of the average median income. Using the national average in 2022, that means tenants could not make more than $59,600.

According to a project narrative, the development “will be financed with federal and state low-income housing tax credits from Arizona Department of Housing.”

Paces Preservation Partners is a joint venture between Soho Housing Partners, an affordable housing developer, and The Paces Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing for families and seniors.

About Restaurant Row

The ‘Restaurant Row’ concept was pitched in September during a Parks and Recreation committee meeting, which would bring five eateries near Maricopa City Hall.

At the time, the concept included some East Valley favorites like West Alley BBQ, Ghett Yo Taco, Ginger Monkey Gastropub, Over Easy and Puro Lounge.

“These are tentative — emphasis on tentative,” said then-City Manager Rick Horst.

Conceptual drawings also showed a multifamily residential development in the area, but details were not provided at the time.

Plans and details about the development have not moved forward since the announcement.