Santa Rosa Crossing Vandalism
In 2012, the abandoned and vandalized Santa Rosa Crossing development was sold to an investment group, which later sold most of the lots to Pulte Homes. Photo by Brian Petersheim

Maricopa’s “ghost subdivision” is coming back to life. Dormant for a decade, the Santa Rosa Crossing development with a long history and no homes is ready for a rebirth.

Construction of 230 homes is starting on the empty tract, located east of Desert Cedars and northeast of Copper Sky, with infrastructure work already conducted in more than half of the community. (The development is not to be confused with the Santa Rosa Springs community across Maricopa Casa Grande Highway from Walmart, though the Crossing does take it same from the Santa Ross Wash that crosses over the property.)

Santa Rosa Crossing Aerial
Google Earth

Streets and utilities were initially installed in Santa Rosa Crossing in 2006. Hallcraft Homes, a significant builder in the Phoenix area and a majority developer in Santa Rosa Crossing, started building about 30 homes and models. Hallcraft also had a construction trailer and sales office on the property.

The sales office would provide construction updates along with price sheets and floorplans. One day in 2007, it was suddenly locked up during business hours. The Hallcraft corporate office couldn’t – or wouldn’t – explain why the office was closed.

Santa Rosa Crossing Homes
This Google Earth image show two clusters of homes under construction at Santa Rosa Crossing when the project halted in 2007. Image / Google Earth

Several of the homes were very close to completion, with finishes being finalized in 2007. But soon after, fences and gates went up around the entire subdivision and the only movement in the area was by vandals breaking every window and door in the development.

Not a single home was ever sold to buyers because the developer never completed necessary improvements to the property. The mostly-completed homes were taken back by the bank in a foreclosure proceeding against the builder as the project went belly-up in the financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Santa Rosa Crossing Unfinished
These homes were among those bulldozed in 2015 at Santa Rosa Crossing. Some of the homes were nearly completed before construction stopped in 2007. Photo by Brian Petersheim

In July 2012, Santa Rosa Crossing was sold to an investment group, G4 RRJK International L.L.L.P., for $4.6 million, according to Pinal County Assessor’s records.

In 2015, the City of Maricopa razed all the structures, even removing the slabs.

Earlier this year, G4 RRJK received re-approval for Phases I and II to restart development of the site and Pulte Homes purchased 230 of the 351 lots for $7.1 million.

Pulte subsidiary Centex Homes is now building model homes on the site. According to Centex’s website, eight single-story floorplans from 1,243 square feet to 2,389 square feet will be built. Home prices and features have not been announced.

The Santa Rosa Crossing and Desert Cedars communities will be linked via Juniper Avenue.

Brian Petersheim is a local Realtor with Homesmart Success.

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