Apartments Forge Ahead Despite Setbacks in Luxury Developments

In a significant shift from its original vision, the City of Maricopa is poised to reconsider plans for a large medical campus. Initially pitched in 2021, the project envisioned a hospital complex complete with a luxury hotel and condominium tower. However, the new proposal may lead to the development of merely an office building and additional apartments.

The city is set to enter into a third contract with California-based developer BR Red Copper Sky to sell land near Copper Sky for a considerably downsized medical facility. Unlike prior agreements that aimed for a comprehensive hospital setup, this new deal focuses on more modest developments.

During an upcoming discussion scheduled for Friday, the city council will evaluate the proposed contracts, which were moved from the consent agenda to allow for thorough deliberation. This evaluation comes after a previous contract with Phoenix hospital developer S3 Biotech fell through due to unmet obligations, prompting the city to terminate the agreement in April.

Changes to the initial plan are significant. The revised proposal suggests a rezoning of the 9½ acres at the southeast corner of John Wayne Parkway and Bowlin Road to enable greater flexibility in design. The potential for a large-scale hospital, as initially suggested, appears diminished. Instead, options include either a medical office building or a smaller hospital offering basic services.

The new medical office building, if pursued, would span 40,000 square feet, with later phases expanding from 20,000 to 40,000 square feet. Any hospital constructed would be limited to a two- or three-story building of around 60,000 square feet—significantly smaller than standard suburban hospitals, which average around 200,000 square feet. Provisions for a once-expected hotel and luxury condominiums have been entirely removed.

Under the new contracts, BR Red Copper Sky has more flexible deadlines. Rezoning is now expected to be finalized by August 1, with a medical office building’s construction required to start within 18 months, while the timeline for a hospital would extend to three years from the rezoning approval.