Consistently ranked one of the fastest growing communities in the state and nation, there is lots of exciting development happening in downtown Queen Creek. Incorporated in 1989, the town is uniquely positioned to create a vibrant and walkable downtown core from scratch.
“Queen Creek’s strong population growth and strategic planning have created the demand for significant development, particularly in the Town Center,” said Queen Creek Economic Development Director Doreen Cott. “We are excited to see the growing interest in our downtown core that will complement our existing businesses and enhance the area that has historically served as the hub of the community.”
Queen Creek’s downtown core extends from south of Victoria Lane along Ellsworth Road to the Queen Creek Wash and is bound on the west side by Ellsworth Loop Road. The heart of the downtown core, Ocotillo and Ellsworth roads, was the town’s first major intersection – including the town’s first traffic signal.
One of the key attributes to developing a walkable downtown is to create urban blocks that create shorter walks from one place to another with areas of interest along the way. The town is investing in this critical infrastructure through the construction of three downtown core connectors – Aldecoa Drive, Munoz Street and Summers Place. In addition to providing connectivity between Ellsworth Loop and Ellsworth Road, the new roadways will include traffic calming mechanisms and public angled parking, in addition to amenities adjacent to the roadways like shade structures and seating.
Investment in infrastructure spurs private development, with several new local venues underway in the downtown core. The Perch Brewery is developing a 20,000-square-foot brewery with additional restaurant/retail venues in the future. Badlands Bar and Grill is also underway, slated to open in 2023 at the southwest corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads. Additional projects include the Barn Bar Courtyards, which will feature locally-owned restaurants and shops inside repurposed shipping containers, and the Sacred Pint Taproom, which will serve craft beer and wine with shuffleboard and darts.
To support revitalization of existing buildings in the downtown core, the town has a façade improvement program that will match up to $40,000 in street-facing investments (up to $20,000 per application).
To help the community stay updated on the various developments in the downtown, a new interactive map is available that highlights the various amenities, new developments and development opportunities.
For more information about economic development in Queen Creek, including new businesses coming to town beyond the downtown core, visit InvestTheQC.com.
