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.

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.

Tell an East Valley neighbor

UofA finally met its match — Michigan dominated the Wildcats from the opening tipoff and never let up, notching a 91-73 win Saturday to earn a spot in tonight's national championship game against UConn.

The big picture: It wasn't the ending the Cats hoped to see, but UofA men's basketball had its best season in a quarter century and has a bright future ahead.

Zoom in: The Cats' greatest strength this season has been their ability to overpower opponents in the paint, and the Wolverines took it away, limiting UofA to 37% shooting from 2-point range.

Yes, but: Wildcat fans got some good news over Final Four weekend — head coach Tommy Lloyd, who was reportedly a top candidate to take over the North Carolina Tar Heels, announced Friday that he's staying at UofA.

The intrigue: Lloyd's team will look a lot different next season.

• Freshman stars Brayden Burries and Koa Peat are almost certainly going to the NBA Draft, and seniors Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell'Orso won't be back.

What we're watching: Shooting guard Caleb Holt, a top-five recruit in the class of 2026, committed to UofA.

• And Lloyd predicted during a pre-Final Four press conference that Bryce James — NBA superstar Lebron James' son, who redshirted this season — is "going to develop into a good enough player to play at Arizona."

The bottom line: What Cats fans will remember most about this season is the team reaching the Final Four for the first time in 25 years, not the drubbing Michigan handed them.

Console a Wildcat

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Thursday sued three states — Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois — for what it calls "unconstitutional and invalid" applications of state anti-gambling laws to prediction markets.

Why it matters: These cases could determine who really regulates companies like Kalshi and Polymarket.

• Sportsbooks also are paying close attention, including those that've already launched prediction markets in states where their traditional betting apps are banned.

Catch up quick: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes last month filed 20 criminal charges against Kalshi, accusing it of running an illegal gambling business and violating state laws against election wagering.

Zoom in: The CFTC argued in its lawsuit that federal law gives it exclusive jurisdiction to regulate prediction markets like Kalshi, and that Mayes should be blocked from attempting to enforce state laws against them.

• A spokesperson for Mayes declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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⚖️ Arizona joined more than 20 other states in filing a federal lawsuit seeking to block President Trump's executive order on mail-in voting. (KTAR)

🏥 A hiker was airlifted from Lookout Mountain Preserve in critical condition after being stung by bees more than 100 times. (NBC News)

🫏 Eloy firefighters rescued a donkey from a Central Arizona Project canal on Saturday. (Arizona's Family)

🌳 Tempe Leadership raised $25,000 to replant trees downed at parks during a microburst last October. (KJZZ)

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Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shoutout in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find this metal saguaro?

🎉 Congratulations to Ali Keeslar, the first reader to give us the correct location for our last "Where in the Valley?" photo.

• The familial statue is at the Phoenix Zoo.