What that heavy equipment at prime Phoenix intersection is building

Article originally posted on AZ Central on June 25, 2026

Scottsdale-based Aspirant Development, the development arm of Empire Group, has begun construction on a mixed-use apartment and retail project at Central Avenue and McDowell Road.

The developer bought the site in 2024 and began construction in June. The seller, Donnelley Financial Solutions, had long had an office building on the site, but the building was razed before the sale closed.

Aspirant Development also developed the Stewart at Central and McKinley Street, which is less than a mile south of the site of the new project, called the Whitney.

The company is also the developer of Arro, a mixed-use project that is planned to include the tallest tower in Arizona. That project, located at Second Avenue and Van Buren Street, is expected to receive permits near the end of the year, with three years of construction expected to follow.

How many apartment units and how much commercial space will the Whitney have?

The project will include 328 luxury apartment units and 22,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, designed for restaurants or stores. About 4,500 square feet of retail space will be at the base of the tower, with the rest to the west of the tower along McDowell Road, Geoffrey Jacobs, managing partner of Aspirant Development, said in an April interview.

How tall will the building be?

It is planned to reach 24 stories.

What amenities will it include?

Amenities will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, co-working and lounge spaces throughout the building and a rooftop pickleball court.

How long will construction take?

Construction on the project will take about two years. The developer closed on a $131.2 million financing package with loans from Axos Bank, Lionheart Strategic Management and Schroders Capital.