NW Valley Times

The West Valley has a population of more than 1.7 million people, and the average household income is more than $70,000 per year. 

Of those people, just over 1 million are of working age. But nearly 70% of the West Valley's working population commutes outside of the area for work. These other industries –healthcare, finance, insurance, technology and government – have offices in other parts of the Valley.

West Valley has grown to be profitable at land sales and a state leader in the development of large industrial and data-center facilities. West Valley is home to many remarkable master-planned communities and has entertainment options, access to outdoor recreation, quality schools and growing higher education options. 

“We’ve been killing it in industrial, you all know that, and that’s great. It’s great to get some of those national companies like Nike, Microsoft, Andersen Windows and more coming into the West Valley," Sintra Hoffman, president and CEO of WESTMARC told AZ Big Media. “But how do we answer the questions for the other 69% of the professional workforce that’s leaving every day.”

Recently the cities of the West Valley, in partnership with WESTMARC, have been attempting to get developers to build Class A office space in the area.

Three sites were highlighted in Avondale, one on the Avondale City Hall campus, another near the city's mixed-use entertainment district, and a third in the Park 10 Medical Center campus. 

Glendale, a "sold out community" according to economic developer Brian Friedman, is hoping to attract Class A office space to the Westgate Entertainment Center district. Another proposed site is the Glendale Center owned by VanTrust. The space is designated for office or multi-family use.

Goodyear has a Class A office project in the works. 

“This has been a long dreamed of project for our city,” Goodyear city manager Julie Arendall told AZ Big Media. “In fact, 36 years we’ve been talking about creating a site like this. We believe it will be a catalyst for the entire West Valley. We believe if we build it, they will come.” 

The site will include a new city hall, library, park and event space as well as a 100,000-square-foot Class A office. There are two additional sites the city is looking to attract office developments to.

Peoria is hoping to attract advanced business service companies, corporate headquarters, high-tech firms or other users to build Class A offices in the Vistancia Commercial Core. There is also interest in a mixed-use development at Stadium Point P83 that will include Class A office space, a hotel, residences, entertainment and dining.

There are two sites in Phoenix – one along the new Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, tagging it the South Mountain Technology Corridor, and the Algodon Center which is located in both Phoenix and Avondale.

The city is hoping to attract some office development in Sterling Grove.