Apache Junction paying $3M for land near old Grand Hotel property

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

The city of Apache Junction is purchasing 10 acres for nearly $3 million to help develop the property near the site of the old Grand Hotel.

The council on Feb. 20 voted 6-0 to approve the purchase and sale agreement with Golden Triangle QOZB LLC for approximately 10.64 gross acres of land north of the previous site of the Grand Hotel. Vice Mayor Robert Schroeder was absent.

City staff negotiated the $2,940,300 purchase and sale agreement between the city and Golden Triangle QOZB LLC, Economic Development Director Patrick Ainsworth wrote in a memo to the council.

“The property that formerly contained the Grand Hotel at the northeast corner of West Apache Trail and North Apache Trail has been vacant for over 20 years,” he said. “To further promote development and investment in the downtown area, the Apache Junction economic development strategic plan consists of a strategy to identify land sites to purchase and help prepare for desired development. The subject site recently became available for purchase.”

Any septic system improvements on the property will be removed by the current owner and a reimbursement not to exceed $100,000 will be paid for by the city of Apache Junction, Ainsworth said.

“Once the city takes ownership, city representatives will embark on a process to actively bring various businesses to the site, which may include restaurants, retail, hospitality and entertainment uses. Staff will provide periodic updates to the city council on these recruitment activities. Ultimately, the city of Apache Junction will serve as an agent to bring catalyst projects to the downtown Apache Junction area and not serve as a primary developer,” he said.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.