Papago Park Center Representatives announced that the new park will soon enter its final stage of development. The 350-acre park center is one of the largest business parks in Arizona and promises to give a fresh breath of life to Tempe’s metropolitan area. 

The promising development project goes under the name “Grand”, and it includes (among others) the land-use planning formation of a 58-acre property within the 350-acre Papago Park Center located at Priest Drive and Washington Street. Salt River Project, the company behind the aspect of the Grand project, plans on transforming vacant land near the Grand Canal, Loop 202 and Valley Metro Light Rail into an urban mix-used territory that includes everything from offices and apartments to a hotel. 

This legacy-type development is said to host 550 apartment units, retail and restaurant areas, two hotels as well as up to six 10-story office buildings. As a result, all of these development ideas are estimated to add to the site’s existing 10.000 employees and residents by 8000 additional workers. The perfect example of this new reality is S. A. P. This German software company is one of the first companies to house its 275 employees on the top floor of a building as soon as the multi-use project breaks ground next year. 

However, a lot of work, time and effort was and still is needed to set this development plan in full motion. The Grand Canal needed to be relocated and, thus create a water feature that runs through the premises along with a multi-use path. That is why Mitch Rosen, the development manager of Papago Park Center Inc., estimates that it might take up to 20 years for the project to be complete. 

Developers are very optimistic about the project’s future. The site’s proximity to the airport along with the increased interest in housing for businesses and families are positive signs of Grand’s future success.