Work on $500M ‘Gateway to Gilbert’ Heritage Park project gets underway

Article originally posted on AZ Central on May 23, 2025

After years of delays and questions about the future of a 10-acre lot in downtown Gilbert, developers celebrated the start of construction on a $500 million project on May 22.

Developers of the empty and gated patch of dirt at the north entrance of Gilbert’s Heritage District promise a “dynamic” mix of restaurants, retail and residential products at the project dubbed Heritage Park.

It’s one of the last largest parcels left in downtown Gilbert to develop. The town’s downtown has been a dining destination for the East Valley, but it has lacked rental housing.

This new project is set to change that.

Creation is the master developer of the project and has partnered with Crescent Communities to build NOVEL Heritage Park, a 288-luxury five-story apartment complex with some retail on the first floor.

Construction in the first phase of the project starts right away, with the second phase starting later.

David Sellers, the co-founder of Creation, told The Arizona Republic the first phase is expected to be a $200 million capital investment.

The majority of the land was originally owned by Gilbert. In 2018, Gilbert released a request for proposals for the 9-acre property of town-owned land. The town sought a mixed-use project that would bring retail, dining and residential development.

LGE Design Build bought the site, which was mostly a vacant dirt lot and later made Creation the master developer.

This project is Creation’s second prominent downtown development. Earlier this month, it broke ground on Queen Creek’s The Switchyard development.

The long-awaited project faced several challenges, including setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty it left for retail and office development. The company also had to acquire an additional private parcel where a Burger King previously sat.

In phase one of Heritage Park, about 47,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space to Gilbert’s downtown.

Creations secured a partnership with Flagship Restaurant Group will anchor its culinary lineup, bringing three popular dining concepts. Those include Ghost Donkey and Palma, popular bars that already have a presence in downtown Phoenix, as well as Blue Sushi Sake Grill.

Sellers said it was important to bring in new restaurants that are a good “blend” that don’t compete with what is already open in the Heritage District.

He said Creation is close to finalizing negotiations with additional tenants for the remaining space in phase one and that could be announced in the next six months.

On the retail aspect, he stated they’re looking at tenants that are in the health and wellness business, such as yoga studios.

A public square with water features, public art and walking and biking paths will also be opened within the first phase.

Phase one is expected to open in mid-2026 and followed by NOVEL Heritage Park opening in March 2027.

Future phases of Heritage Park will include a 125-room hotel and 150,000 square feet of office and retail with additional parking.

Mayor Scott Anderson told the Arizona Republic this “huge investment” in downtown will continue to bring “vibrancy” to the area.

Anderson looks forward to the retail that will land at Heritage Park and said it’s a concept that is “missing” and a “big hole in downtown.”