The City of Maricopa is evaluating two bids for a prime piece of land next to the Copper Sky Recreation Complex, where officials hope to see new family-friendly development take shape.
The 7.2-acre parcel sits north and east of the La Quinta hotel site, along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near John Wayne Parkway. The city offered the property for sale through a competitive bidding process that closed June 19.
A city-commissioned appraisal completed in May valued the land at $2.24 million.
Known as Lot 3 of the Copper Sky Commercial Park, the property is fully platted and zoned for mixed use. That allows for commercial or residential development — or a combination of both — without requiring rezoning. Utilities and road access are already in place.
City spokesperson Monica Williams confirmed yesterday that two bids were submitted before the deadline.
“City staff are currently evaluating those bids to see if they are the right fit for bringing to life the vision that was established early in this process,” Williams said. “That vision includes the desire to expand family-friendly entertainment opportunities for our residents.”
The city is only accepting full purchase offers — not lease or lease-to-own proposals — and is selling the property “as is,” with no incentives or tax breaks included. The buyer must begin construction within two years of closing and finish within four. The project must also receive city approval before any building can begin.
Certain types of businesses are prohibited, including adult-oriented uses, marijuana-related operations and storage yards.
The lot, currently owned by the city, includes about 6.4 usable acres. It is not subject to property taxes while publicly owned, but that would change after the sale.
The property lies in a highly visible area next to Copper Sky’s fields and walking paths — a location city officials have long envisioned for retail, hospitality or recreation-based development.
“There is no set timeline for that evaluation process,” added Williams. “The goal is to pick the best option or re-open for additional submissions if needed.”
