Developers seek to beautify downtown Queen Creek

By Janet Perez
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Alex Matheson is a longtime Queen Creek resident, a dentist and a member of the planning and zoning commission.

Now he’s ready to make a mark on the downtown landscape.

Matheson will soon break ground on The Matheson building at the southeast corner of Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo roads. The completed development will bring 20,000 square feet of medical office space to the Downtown Core.

“We’ve completely grown out of the space that we are at. We’re right next door, actually, to that space (where The Matheson will be built). We’re in the Queen Creek Office Park. It’s just a few little medical offices and to the east of (The Matheson) parcel,” Matheson said. “We need a lot more space, and that’s kind of what prompted it in the beginning.”

On Aug. 6, the Queen Creek Town Council gave its approvals for the site plan for The Matheson and rezoning the land from general commercial to Downtown Core. Matheson recused himself when the issue went before his commission for approval.

Downtown Core is exploding
The Matheson is part of the wave of commercial development taking place in Queen Creek’s Downtown Core that will bring retail, restaurants, office space and even a multifamily home development.

Development in the area has jumped from 4,000 square feet in 2024 to 230,000 square feet today.

Downtown Development Manager Jennifer Lindley unveiled the stats during a recent Queen Creek Town Council meeting where she also presented an update on all projects planned, under construction and already opened in the area.

“This (Town Center Plan) has guided our vision for walkability, design, quality and the mix of uses in our downtown. The town has invested in this area over the years, leading up to what we’re seeing today,” Lindley told the council. “From the Downtown Core zoning overlay district to the strategic property acquisition to the design and construction of our new connector roadways, the vision and plan has helped set the stage for the private investment that we’re seeing in this area.”

The increased development has translated into about $200 million in private investment in the Downtown Core.

“This is a clear sign of confidence from our development and business community,” Lindley said. “Economic development is a marathon, not a sprint. It isn’t always about those quick wins. It’s a long-term strategy in order to create the sustainable development investment that we want. The planning, investments, vision and patience is beginning to take shape in Queen Creek.”

The following projects are currently in the works for downtown:

• Homewood Suites — Expected to open in early 2027, the Homewood Suites is on East Maya Road. When completed, the four-story hotel will have 124 rooms. It will be the town’s second hotel.
• QC Accounting — The business at 22237 S. Ellsworth Road was a recipient of the town’s former façade-improvement program. It has since acquired property to the north of its location, and it has expanded to 5,000 square feet of office space. The expansion is expected to open soon.
• The Sacred Pint — Now open, The Sacred Pint is on the site of what was once the town’s first Circle K, which went through several iterations over the years. The 2,587-square-foot taproom is at 22020 S. Ellsworth Road.
• The Perch Development — The 62,093 square feet of commercial development includes a brewery and additional retail/restaurant space. The Perch portion of the development, on Munoz Street between Ellsworth and Ellsworth Loop roads, is scheduled to open in late 2026.
• Circle K — Long seen as an eyesore in the downtown area, the old Circle K building has been torn down and is being replaced with a more modern design at 21895 S. Ellsworth Road. The new store will be about 5,200 square feet.
• The Switchyard — Located on about 8 acres of formerly town-owned land, the first phase of The Switchyard will include a mix of restaurant, retail and office space totaling just under 48,000 square feet. Phase two will include luxury multifamily housing. The first phase is set to open during third-quarter 2026. Postino, Shake Shack and Snooze have announced locations in phase one. The Switchyard is at Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo roads.
• Rusty Buckle Saloon — The 8,930-square-foot bar and restaurant is in the permitting process and set to open in mid-2026 at 21838 S. Ellsworth Road.
• Magma Plaza — The old Magma Engineering at 20955 E. Ocotillo Road will be torn down to make room for an 8,500-square-foot commercial development. The project is still going through the permitting process.

“I know locals that were born and raised here and so I’m sure it’s a little bittersweet sometimes to see some of those old spots change, but we really do appreciate it and we appreciate the investment from these companies and businesses that are willing to come into Queen Creek and just make it a beautiful and wonderful place to continue to raise our families and to live,” Vice Mayor Leah Martineau said during the August council meeting.

Projects also are under development at 22036 S. Ellsworth Road — the former Grand Canyon Title building — and 22225 S. Ellsworth Road.

“We’re not able to announce (the projects) right now,” Lindley said, adding the town is working with the new property owners.

The Matheson
His need for more office space provided Matheson with an opportunity to contribute to the Downtown Core’s transformation.

“We’re longtime Queen Creek residents. I grew up here and we have a vested interest in the beautification of downtown and making it look nice,” Matheson said. “We have a partner that we’re working with, and we decided we wanted to do a nice project here in downtown.”

In approving the site plan and rezoning, council members praised the building’s design, which will blend mid-century modern with the desert landscape.

The project will provide pedestrian connectivity through sidewalks along Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo roads. It will be adjacent to Ocotillo Road with the main entrance on the building’s south side facing its parking lot.

The second floor will include an outdoor deck on the north and south sides, with the southwest corner deck covered. The covered deck will also provide shade to the area below on the first floor.

Along with providing landscaping, the developer will build three decorative screen walls along Ellsworth Loop Road that will have art patterns depicting “fauna native to Queen Creek,” accordin to a staff report.

“We want to do a really nice project to just complement all the other cool things that have gone in and will go in,” Matheson said.

Matheson and his architects have taken inspiration from the design for The Switchyard.

“There have been so many changes to the downtown and the town council has a vision of what they would like to see,” Matheson said. “I think it was really good to be able to work together with town staff and town council to make something that fits into their vision, as well as something that’s going to be just really nice for the town.”

Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.

Janet Perez
News Editor | Queen Creek & San Tan Valley

jperez@iniusa.org

Meet Janet
Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State  University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.

Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science. 

Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.  

Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.