In Chandler, plans for a much-needed affordable housing project have hit a definitive wall, with developers backing away from their proposal. According to ABC15, the developer, Dominium, intended to create hundreds of apartment units for low-income seniors and veterans. However, objections from residents and the city, citing compatibility issues with the area's general plan, have halted progress.
The land, located near Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road, was the subject of a rezoning request to change from rural to light industrial, as part of a county island. Despite support from groups like Valley Interfaith Project and some Chandler residents, opposition firmly took root. "That location was just not the right fit. It didn’t go along with the general plan. It was a risky location. It was a noisy location," Derek Logan, a neighbor, told ABC15. Now, the developer plans to sell off the land.
Amid the controversy, Reverend Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan emphasized the importance of the housing project. "There is no argument against this proposal that outweighs the desperate need for affordable housing in this community," she stated in a previous interview with AZ Family. The project, dubbed Sonoran Landings, would have provided 272 units specifically designed for seniors and veterans in need.
Despite the planned project's cessation, Dominium Senior Vice President Owen Metz expressed the company's commitment to addressing housing security. "It is unfortunate that nearly 300 seniors will not get to call Sonoran Landings in Chandler home and receive much needed housing security and financial relief as well as connections to vital services," Metz told ABC15. This setback hasn't deterred the Valley Interfaith Project, with leader Barbara Quijada indicating an ongoing interest in other potential properties for affordable housing within Chandler.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was to decide on the rezoning request, following a recommendation for rezoning by the County Planning & Zoning Commission, as reported by AZ Family. However, following the cancellation of the housing project, the future of this land and affordable housing development in Chandler hangs in the balance.
