This yearโs spate of new job announcements has prompted a local developer to move up the construction of a new off-the-freeway rental community.
HSL Properties bought more than 17 acres next to the Arizona Pavilions in Marana a couple of years ago with plans to break ground in late 2018, said Omar Mireles, president of HSL.
โWith all the economic activity, we moved up the timeline,โ he said. โWe will break ground in May and that will put us in a position to start leasing in December 2017 with full completion by October 2018.โ
HSL has several luxury rental communities around town and Mireles said they have been leasing well, which gave the company the confidence to push forward on the new site.
It will be the first freeway-based project for HSL, which plans to promote it as an easy-access community.
โWeโve seen that sort of site succeed throughout the country,โ Mireles said.
It will also be the first freeway rental community in Marana, said Ryan Mahoney, the townโs development services director.
โWe really donโt have any that interface with the freeway the way this project will,โ he said. โBasically, what it does is offer viable access for people who may not be working in the vicinity.โ
The expedited development could also have a positive impact on the Arizona Pavilions, Mahoney said.
โThereโs some undeveloped commercial land just adjacent to it and this may very well convince an investor โ given the captive audience next door โ to build a new restaurant or something,โ he said. โThis should help convince them that this is a good place to land.โ
Because many millennials prefer renting to homeownership, Mahoney said attracting them to Marana is important.
โIt allows them to get acquainted with the way of life weโve worked so hard to build here,โ he said. โIn the next step of living, which would be homeownership, hopefully they consider Marana first.โ
The yet-to-be-named community is at the Interstate 10 frontage road and Arizona Pavilions Drive, next to the Quarry Pines Golf Club.
It will have 304 units, resort-style pool, theater, dog park, gym, coffee house and lounge, Mireles said.
It will consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom units with rents from $1,000 to $1,400 a month.
