Tempe Unveils Plans to Transform Food City Plaza into Affordable Housing and Community Center

Tempe Unveils Plans to Transform Food City Plaza into Affordable Housing and Community Center

Multi-Million Dollar Project to Bring Mixed-Income Housing, Community Hub, and Potential Police Station to North Tempe

The city of Tempe has announced a major development project to transform the long-vacant Food City plaza into a mixed-use hub that will address affordable housing and community needs. The project, part of Tempe’s Affordable Housing Strategy, will convert the seven-acre Pollack Apache Center into a site for mixed-income housing, a community center, and possibly a new police station and training facility.

The plaza, located in north Tempe near Apache Boulevard, has been empty since September 2021. The $20 million acquisition was made possible through combined funding from the city, Maricopa County, and federal sources, including $10.8 million awarded by the county under the American Rescue Plan Act.

“This development marks the third affordable housing project I’ve partnered on with Mayor Corey Woods and the city in just three years,” said Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, who helped secure $1.7 million in federal funding for the project. “This will open up more opportunities and investment in north Tempe while keeping residents in the community they love.”


The project includes plans for mixed-income housing, with at least 50% of the future units reserved for residents earning 80% or less of the area median income. The total number of housing units will be finalized once the site design is completed. In addition, a new grocery store and a police station, contingent upon the approval of a bond election in November, are also part of the proposed development.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods called the investment a vital step in addressing the city’s growing need for affordable housing. “This project will be transformative for north Tempe and demonstrates our commitment to creating more housing opportunities for everyone in our community,” Woods said.

The city plans to respect the leases of existing businesses, meaning construction won’t begin for at least two years. Meanwhile, longtime north Tempe resident Kim Gaffney highlighted the importance of new affordable housing options in the area, noting that much of the current affordable housing is aging.

Additional Affordable Housing Projects in Tempe

The Food City plaza transformation is one of six housing-related projects included in Tempe’s Affordable Housing Strategy:

  • Apache Central: A project with up to 400 housing units for low and moderate incomes, along with retail and other land uses.
  • LaVictoria Commons: A revival of a 2.6-acre site near Apache Boulevard and Price Road, offering 104 apartments, 19 townhomes, and a health clinic.
  • Tempe Performing Arts Center: The site will be repurposed into a high-density zone for housing and urban development.
  • Hackett House Redevelopment: Plans include a mid-rise housing project with workforce housing and an event space for Tempe Sister Cities.
  • Tempe Coalition for Affordable Housing Parcel: A vacant plot on Apache Boulevard and McClintock Drive will be developed into 40-50 affordable housing units.

The transformation of the Food City plaza is part of Tempe’s broader strategy to address the affordable housing shortage and bring new opportunities to residents in north Tempe.