By Richard Smith
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State, county and city of Glendale officials celebrated Oct. 22 the latest milestone in what has been a year of major affordable housing advancements near the city’s downtown.

The Cascalote community opened at 4910 W. Glenn Drive in August. Many residents of this 148-unit apartments for seniors age 62 and older took part in its grand opening festivities.

This $61 million project also marked the return to the Valley of Mercy Housing, which had not developed a community in Arizona in 13 years.

“Seniors are facing unprecedented challenges with rapidly rising housing costs, forcing some to experience homelessness,” said Shelly Marquez, president of Mercy Housing Mountain Plains.

She said Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers and other Glendale leaders helped Mercy Housing learn the facts on the ground. When first announced in December 2023, the city allocated 40 project-based vouchers to this community.

Mercy Housing Mountain Plains board member Julie Rees made connections to the Glendale council and staff.

At 148 units, the complex is one of Mercy Housing’s largest Arizona communities. And 17 units are reserved for people transitioning out of homelessness or living with a disability.

“One of the fastest growing homeless populations in America is female veterans. It’s something I’ve really focused on to make sure that we try to do everything in our power to help the people that signed that dotted line for all of us to say, ‘I’ll do whatever I have to do for our country to protect our freedom.’ We shall never, ever stop thinking about our veterans and doing whatever we can to protect them and help them. You have my commitment on that,” Weiers said.

This March, Centerline on Glendale, Arizona’s first affordable housing community financed using state low-income housing tax credits opened 368 units of mixed-income housing south of Glendale Avenue on 67th Avenue. In May, Family Promise Legacy Village unveiled 22 units in repurposed shipping containers for families who have experienced homelessness on 59th Avenue north of Bethany Home Road.

Glendale’s community service team shepherded Mercy Housing through the process, Weiers said. Veterans receive a priority at Cascalote.

Weiers invited Cascalote residents to enter a float in Glendale’s Hometown Christmas Parade Dec. 13.

“We don’t just come in, build new housing and we’re on to the next one. We met some of our neighbors earlier from St. John Lutheran Church and many others. It’s great to be in this neighborhood,” said Ismael Guerrero, president and CEO of Mercy Housing.

Cascalote is named after trees with yellow flowers that can grow in harsh desert conditions. Murals on each floor are inspired by the cascalote flower and cactus wren, bobcat, jackrabbit and coyote.

Residents have access to financial education, mobility classes and food pantry. A new partnership with La Frontera Empact provides services to help with behavioral health and substance misuse.

“At Mercy Housing, we don’t go into communities without being invited. This community has welcomed us with open arms, and the ability to partner and address the affordable housing need. I really want to say thank you for all the support and commitment to Mercy Housing,” Marquez said.

In 2024, 14 affordable housing projects and 1,472 new units went up in Maricopa County.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors allocated $9.5 million for Cascalote in 2022.

“In my time in public service, I’ve heard so many stories from community members who can’t keep up with skyrocketing rent. Housing costs have gone through the roof, and many have to make incredibly difficult decisions to keep a roof over their head,” said Tamara Birdwell, director of the Maricopa County Human Services Department. “It’s especially heartbreaking to see how many seniors are at risk of homelessness, even after a lifetime of working hard and providing for their families. These folks really deserve to have a place to call home — to live in dignity and stability.”

The Arizona Department of Housing also helped fund the project.

Ruby Dhillon-Williams, director of the department, said Gov. Katie Hobbs’ investment in state housing trust fund helped public-private collaborations like this come together.

“Mercy Housing’s leadership and commitment to excellence have helped bring this vision to life and provide safe, affordable homes for older adults in this community,” Dhillon-Williams said. “Please remember to always celebrate and highlight this work with events like this. Please be vigilant in showcasing and demonstrating to all lawmakers that this program works. It’s our most powerful tool to make the road to home for Arizonans a viable, tangible, real result.”

Tofel Dent Construction was the contractor. Work started after COVID and saw unprecedented inflation, said Jim Tofel, the company’s managing member.

These are really tough projects to put together, he said.

“We do a lot of affordable housing and I can say, some of the stories we hear from tenants that live in places like this are amazing. Things happen to people that are out of their control — there’s a sickness or a death in the family,” Tofel said. “Coming into a project like this kind of gives them a new lease on life.”

Councilmember Lupe Conchas represents the Cactus District and Cascalote is in its boundary. He was homeless at one time in his life and, like Weiers, has long advocated for affordable housing.

Before Wednesday’s ceremony he talked to a resident that moved from Centerline to Cascalote in August.

“That spirit of strength and endurance is exactly what this community represents, what our seniors represent,” Conchas said.

Cascalote resident Ron Gaetl spoke during the grand opening.
He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy Seals. Staff described him as a friendly neighbor and always checking in with neighbors.

“Shelly helped me find my apartment. I have severe PTSD. I took their advice and it’s worked out.” Gaetl said. “I will help anybody and I don’t care what other people think about me. I encourage everybody to help this place out and help the staff out. They’re still learning and we’re still learning.”

Richard Smith
Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.