More public, other housing plans in motion in Chandler

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler’s City Council provided direction to two managers on two topics during a June 11 work session.

Council told staff what it wants to see happen with “Site 2,” as well as on the “Missing Middle” project that helps create more townhomes, condominiums or other housing that isn’t either single-family houses or apartments.

City Manager John Pombier praised Chandler Development senior manager Amy Jacobson for her hard work over the past few years in helping make The Villas on McQueen happen. That’s Chandler’s first newly created public housing in 54 years; a ribbon-cutting for the 157-unit apartment complex was held June 9.

Next up in terms of new construction will be The Haven on Hamilton. That’s a complex of as many as 250 apartments to be built at 73 S. Hamilton St., along the eastern edge of downtown Chandler, at what Jacobson and staff call “Site 3.”

The residents of 40 units in the bungalow-type units currently at that site, once called Casa Bonita, will be relocated by August, Jacobson said, followed by demolition. Completion of The Haven on Hamilton is slated for winter 2028.

Deputy City Manager Leah Powell said a financial packet for the $88 million Haven project is due to be completed by July 29. Council approved a development agreement with Brinshore Development LLC in December 2025 for the project.

The Haven on Hamilton will give priority to seniors and families, Jacobson said.

“Site 1,” or the Casa de Esperanza apartments at 130 N. Hamilton St., will be where residents of the later-vacated properties are relocated to.
“Site 2,” or the 38 units at 210 N. McQueen Road, are located just north of Chandler Boulevard. The complex is somewhat within sight of The Villas on McQueen, which is where many residents are moving by August, as Site 2 is due for demolition beginning in September.

Jacobson said Chandler Development wants to start taking bids in early 2027 for Site 2; the council didn't object.

“Site 4” is 32 units located at 660 S. Palm Lane, near San Marcos Park, southwest of downtown. That’s set to be addressed last in the sequence, with a plan to move residents out and “significantly rehab” the units, but not until at least 2030.

Council directed staff to proceed with the early 2027 request for information from developers and financiers to see what the market will support in terms of building on Site 2.

The “Kingston Site” is 37 apartments at 127 N. Kingston St., just southwest of McQueen and Chandler Boulevard, not far from The Villas and Site 2. The plan is to move residents out by 2029 and go in a new direction.

Regarding the city’s comprehensive housing plan, Powell said, one of the goals is to create 2,000 “attainable” units, through private partnerships or other means.

“Attainable housing means more than simply affordable,” Powell clarified. “It’s being able to get housing that meets one’s needs, without having to spend more than 30% of monthly income on it.”

Powell said part of planning involves determining “what can be built where,” and Council members had varying views as to whether to spend money on consultants to help complete such a plan.

Jacobson, who has one assistant, did say that once her department is managing both an active Haven on Hamilton construction and permitting and all the other mentioned projects in flux, that could become a staffing challenge.

Regarding “missing middle” housing, Powell presented a map of 44 city-owned properties, saying four vacant downtown parcels — one on California Street and three on Dakota Street — in the Pueblo Viejo neighborhood would be ideal for prototypes of new types of housing, using different developers, for sale using a community trust model.

Two of the parcels are connected and could be built as one, with Powell mentioning an “urban cottage courtyard.”

“We’d like one to have a live-work option for at least one of the sites,” Powell said. “This is our chance to be really creative.”

Powell asked council if staff could commit those four parcels in upcoming community land trust discussions with a Tempe-based nonprofit called the Newtown Community Development Corporation. Council agreed, and wants Powell to return soon with more information.

Powell also said the Washington Street realignment plan is currently still in the design and feasibility study stage, awaiting decisions from the Salvation Army, as the parking area of its center would be affected by extending Washington between Saragosa and Morelos streets.

Powell also plugged a “legacy owner academy.” That’s a budding city education and mentorship program that helps owners of family-held land unlock its development potential, she said.

“Multiple families we’ve spoken with are already excited about this academy,” Powell said.

Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.