Restaurants, affordable housing development planned in West Phoenix

Restaurants, affordable housing development planned in West Phoenix

By Corina Vanek

A West Phoenix project that will include 334 affordable apartment units, restaurants and shopping could begin construction next year if the Phoenix City Council approves it.

“This is a true affordable, mixed-use retail development,” said Walter Crutchfield, partner at Vintage Partners, one of the project's developers. The development, called Hurley Station, is planned for roughly 19 acres. About 14 acres will be the apartment complex, and five will be the retail development. The site is at 91st Avenue and Broadway Road.

Vintage brought on St. Charles Town Company from Denver to develop the apartment portion of the project.

Vintage Partners is the developer of many prominent Valley commercial projects, including leading the redevelopment of Uptown Plaza on Central Avenue and Camelback Road and the Rise Uptown Hotel on Fourth Avenue and Camelback Road.

In Flagstaff, Vintage is the developer of Timber Sky, a residential master-planned community that includes market-rate apartments, affordable apartments, high-end single-family homes and an affordable for-sale home program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

The apartments at Hurley Station are planned to be designated affordable for people earning 60% of the area median income but could have some flexibility to rent to people earning slightly more, Crutchfield said. According to data from Phoenix, in 2023, a family of four earning 60% of the area median income earned $56,100. Housing is generally considered affordable if people spend one-third of their income on it.

“Building affordable housing isn’t easy, and it isn’t the most profitable, but as developers, we have the responsibility to deliver housing to the entire economic strata, and if we don’t do that, we don’t have communities,” he said.

Crutchfield said the site, near the proposed route for the future State Route 30, is a good location for retail and affordable housing because of its future freeway access and a shortage of high-quality retail and restaurants in the area.

The housing portion of the project will be developed first. Vintage will develop the retail portion, but Crutchfield said he wants to be patient and make sure they secure the best quality tenants for the retail spaces. He said residents in the area expressed interest in more sit-down restaurants, shopping and neighborhood services.

The Estrella Village Planning Committee recommended approval for the development at its Aug. 20 meeting. The proposal is scheduled to be heard by the Phoenix Planning Commission on Sept. 5 and will then be heard and voted on by the Phoenix City Council.

If approved, construction could start next year, with completion expected in 2027.

Final Thoughts: 

The Hurley Station development in West Phoenix isn't just another project—it's a step toward building a community that serves everyone. With affordable housing at its core and plans for quality retail and restaurants, this mixed-use development aims to uplift the area. As Phoenix continues to grow, projects like this ensure that all residents, regardless of income, have access to both housing and amenities that enhance their quality of life. If approved, Hurley Station could be a game-changer for West Phoenix, setting a new standard for thoughtful urban development.