Gilbert Heritage District's apartment era is coming soon
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Heritage Park's ambitious plan. Rendering: Courtesy of Creation
The Heritage District is months away from opening the first phase of a massive development project that's expected to change the landscape of downtown Gilbert.
Why it matters: The district exploded onto the Valley's entertainment and dining scene about a decade ago and now the town is ready for the next chapter: adding office workers and full-time residents to the mix.
The big picture: Luxury apartments and high-end offices are the centerpiece of Heritage Park, a massive development that'll encompass an entire city block at Gilbert Road and Juniper Avenue.
- The project will also include a hotel, restaurants and retail.
- At more than 800,000 square feet, it'll double the Heritage District's existing footprint, Gilbert economic development director Dan Henderson told Axios.
Zoom in: The first phase includes:
- A five-story, 288-unit luxury apartment complex
- Restaurants, including Ghost Donkey, Palma and Blue Sushi Sake Grill
- More than 300 parking spaces
- A public square with a water feature
Much of the first phase will open in September, with the apartments scheduled to begin leasing next spring.
What they're saying: "It will be an iconic destination," Henderson told us.
- Heritage Park will have taller buildings than the rest of downtown, and the addition of housing and offices will transform the area into an "18-hour district" that's busy beyond dining hours, Henderson said.
The intrigue: Gilbert, a once-sleepy agrarian community that's become one of the Valley's most popular and affluent 'burbs, has been strategically purchasing downtown land for years, allowing it to carefully curate the area's redevelopment, Henderson said.
- The town purchased the 10 acres where Heritage Park will soon sit more than a decade ago and in 2019 selected a developer to purchase and transform the site into the northern gateway to the Heritage District, he said.
- It was the largest downtown land sale to date.
What's next: The town sold a nearly 3-acre property at the southern end of the district late last year and the new owner plans to develop an apartment complex, the Gilbert Independent reported.
- Meanwhile, the Brundrett family is moving forward with a four-story project on an empty lot next to Norwood Furniture, which it's operated downtown for 50 years.
- Plans call for restaurants, a new Norwood showroom and rented office space, per the Phoenix Business Journal.
- And in December, the town council voted to increase the district's height limit to 75 feet, opening the door for even taller projects.
The bottom line: Downtown Gilbert isn't just growing — it's going vertical.