Empire Group enters Peoria's build-to-rent market

By Philip Haldiman
Mail | Twitter: @PhilipHaldiman

Yet another new build-to-rent community has opened in Peoria, adding to the explosive growth of the model across the city.

The Empire Group of Companies is now leasing single-family homes in its Peoria community, Village at Pioneer Park. It is located at the southwest corner of 83rd and Olive avenues and includes 322 homes, plus community amenities.

The 30-acre community is across from Pioneer Community Park and Pioneer Lake. Rent starts at $1,545 with a 12-month lease.

Village at Pioneer Park is a gated neighborhood of one-, two-, and three-bedroom single-story homes, ranging from 671 to 1,282 square feet. Each home includes fully equipped kitchen and laundry, dining area, doggy door leading to a private landscaped backyard, smart home technology and covered parking, garages, and storage spaces.

Additional amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, fitness center, resident’s clubhouse, barbecue area and firepit, pocket parks and electric vehicle charging stations.

“We worked closely with the city of Peoria to develop a community that complements the landscape of the surrounding area,” Empire Group Founder and Managing Partner Richard Felker said in a news release. “It’s a highly desirable location and a great option for new and existing residents of the area.”

Scottsdale-based Empire Group of Companies is a real estate development company that has been in business for more than 40 years. The company focuses on the development of build-to-rent, mixed use and high-rise projects.

Village at Pioneer Park is one of seven Empire build-to-rent communities at various stages of development in the Valley.

Village at Harvard Crossing in Goodyear was the first and it is now 95% leased. Village at Olive Marketplace in Glendale began leasing in late 2021.

The build-to-rent model has seen explosive growth in Peoria.

In 2019, the first build-to-rent project in Peoria opened at the southeast corner of 83rd and Olive avenues. With this new community, Peoria now has a total of at least 10 projects that have been either built, are under construction or in review with the planning and zoning department. One is in Maricopa County near the city, and all are either located near Olive Avenue or in the northern part of the city.

The model consists of single-family rental communities under one professionally managed community with lots of amenities. Like an apartment complex, but instead of apartments, homes are built specifically to be rented for renters by choice, without the obligation of a mortgage.

“It’s no surprise that demand for homes in the area is strong,” Stellar Residential President Dale Phillips said in the release. “The Villages at Pioneer Park gives residents the privacy and security of a home in a beautiful neighborhood with an abundance of amenities without the responsibility of maintenance.”

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria
@PhilipHaldiman

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.