$120M project kick-starts Queen Creek downtown development, adds Postino, Snooze and more Article originally posted on AZ Central on May 9, 2025 Developers broke ground on the highly anticipated project dubbed The Switchyard in the heart of Queen Creek’s Ellsworth Loop corridor on May 7. The $120 million mixed-use project developed by Creation and in partnership with Horizon Real Estate Ltd. will transform the fast-growing town’s downtown area and bring in 54,000 square feet of commercial space and a 215-unit luxury apartment complex. About 8 acres of the 10-acre site were formerly town-owned land that Queen Creek sold for $8.7 million to Creation. The company was selected to develop the land along the northeast corner of Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo Road through a request for proposal process in 2022. The company closed on the sale of the remaining privately owned land for $1.5 million, according to documents filed with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. The project will be built in two phases. Phase 1 of The Switchyard, which includes the dining and retail components, is expected to be completed in mid-2026 and Phase 2 will be six months behind that, Alex Bez with Creation told The Arizona Republic. Joining the already announced Postino restaurant, the developer additionally announced the breakfast and brunch restaurant Snooze, an A.M. Eatery and the burger chain Shake Shack as the first three tenants at The Switchyard. More announcements for additional tenants are expected to be made in the coming months. Bez said the development is 35% leased out, with the rest under negotiations with potential tenants. He said the project will be “walkable,” “urban” and “authentic.” Why Creation chose to build in Queen Creek Bez told The Republic that the town “checks a lot of boxes for places that we like to invest and build.” Bez attributed that to the population and job growth in the area as an attraction, as well as young and educated residents. The ability to blend the “agrarian ideals” while putting a more modern spin on the design of The Switchyard gave the company an opportunity to “create something a little bit more differentiated,” he said. The project’s visibility along Ellsworth Loop, which sees about 35,000 daily trips, was another strong reason Creation chose to develop in Queen Creek. The Switchyard will not only serve Queen Creek residents, but also will attract the retail-starved San Tan Valley residents south of the town, who will vote to become a town in August. Kick-starting Queen Creek’s downtown core development In 2024, the Town Council updated its downtown core plan for future development, which aims to integrate its historic business district with new development. The plan identifies Queen Creek’s downtown core as the area on Ellsworth Loop between Victoria Lane and the Queen Creek wash. The Switchyard is set to kick-start that development. The town has seen explosive growth and development along Ellsworth Road north of Ocotillo Road and in other parts of town, but the downtown area has been somewhat dormant. Mayor Julia Wheatley called the May 7 event a milestone in the growth of Queen Creek that would lay the foundation for future development of the area. Wheatley said Creation was chosen because of its track record and for the way its vision aligned with the town’s downtown development plan. She said the project “thoughtfully blends” the retail, dining and residential components, while also making it a walkable district. The project also plans to add new office space for the first time in 15 years, Wheatley said. The Switchyard will also bring the third multifamily product to the town’s downtown center. Wheatley said having residential within its downtown district is important for businesses to thrive. “One thing that we’ve heard loud and clear from our residents is that they want more restaurant space and they want certain kinds of restaurants … and in order for those types of restaurants to be successful, they do need residential close to it,” she said. The project sits within the same plaza as the town’s library and is within walking distance of Town Hall. Town staff estimated the project will create nearly $1 million in annual revenue from sales and property taxes. Staff also estimated the project would add nearly $4 million in one-time revenues. The town confirmed the project received no reimbursements or incentives to develop.