Townhouses planned in downtown Goodyear approved by planning commission

By Madeline Ackley Salazar
Twitter: @Mkayackley

A townhouse development planned near downtown Goodyear cleared the city’s Planning and  Zoning Commission on Wednesday without controversy. 

The proposed medium-density development, marketed as Thrive at Avision Goodyear, is planned on a 4.6-acre L-shaped parcel on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Van Buren Street on the border with Avondale. 

The developer requested the commission recommend to City Council that the development be rezoned from commercial use to single-family residential. The request was granted, paving the way for about 50 units to be built at the site. 

The area is partially surrounded by commercial centers, which include a Wells Fargo, Central Square shopping center and Bowlero Avondale. 

The proposed development has been billed as a buffer between the majority commercial areas surrounding the site, and the residential neighborhood called Arnold Manor located north of the proposed townhomes. 

The parcel has not been developed since it was zoned commercial in the 1960s. 

Amy Malloy with Evolve Ventures represented the developer and explained that the parcels awkward shape makes it difficult to develop the area, but that the company is “sensitive to the single-family residential to the north” and argued it would be a good fit for the area. 

Malloy told the commission that she had heard no complaints from residents regarding the planned development, and no one spoke at the commission meeting during the public comment period. 

The proposed development will now make its way to City Council which will vote on whether the project can move forward.

Madeline Ackley Salazar can be reached at mackley@iniusa.org or found on Twitter @Mkayackley.