Estrella Falls

Estrella Falls is a planned regional shopping mall and mixed-use complex in Goodyear, Arizona, about 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix. Two segments of the planned development, first proposed in 2005, have opened: a retail power centre called The Market at Estrella Falls, and a multiplex theater, Harkins Estrella Falls 16. Other parts of the site have been replanned and construction of the Goodyear Civic Square at Estrella Falls, to include a new civic center for the city, is expected to begin in 2021.

Original proposal

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Estrella Falls was first proposed to the city of Goodyear in 2005 by Westcor, a subsidiary of Macerich specializing in shopping malls,[1] and the development agreement was signed the following year.[2] Original plans were for a mixed-use development on a site north of McDowell Road between Bullard Avenue and Pebble Creek Parkway, consisting of two parts: The Market at Estrella Falls shopping center, to open in 2008, and a regional center including residential, hotel, and office space in addition to an open-air mall covering as much as 950,000 square feet, to open in fall 2009.[2][3] In addition to Harkins Theatres, the mall had commitments from Dillard's and Macy's department stores;[4] the development agreement with Goodyear required it to be completed by the end of 2012.[5]

The recession of the late 2000s caused ground-breaking for the mall to be deferred, and its projected opening was delayed several times: in early 2008, until fall 2010;[6][7] in early 2009, until 2011;[4] and finally in late 2009, until 2016,[5] with the city agreeing to extend the development deadline to the end of that year and Westcor also securing an extension on another planned mall in Surprise, Prasada.[2]

The Market at Estrella Falls

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The Market at Estrella Falls, the first planned segment of the development, on 40 acres, opened in 2008.[8] Robert L. Stark's Stark Enterprises bought it from Macerich in 2018.[9]

Harkins Estrella Falls 16

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Harkins Theatres opened Harkins Estrella Falls 16, originally projected to be part of the mall, in October 2016.[10][11]

Goodyear Civic Square at Estrella Falls

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In 2019, the city approved a new public-private partnership development agreement with Globe Corporation to build a civic center, including a library and new city hall, together with office space, a parking garage, housing, and a 2-acre park on the Estrella Falls site,[12][13] with the first of two phases located between The Market at Estrella Falls and Harkins Estrella Falls 16 and expected to begin construction in 2021 and open in 2022.[14][15] The project is to replace a temporary city hall; the city first bought land for a new civic center in 1984[14][15] and in the 21st century has also sought to develop a downtown on another site.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gibbs, Jeff (December 29, 2014). "Let's rethink Estrella Falls mall in Goodyear in 2015". Arizona Republic (opinion). Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Wright, Lesley (June 9, 2014). "Will West Valley get planned malls? Answers scarce". Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 10, 2020 – via Naples Daily News.
  3. ^ Allen, Rebecca I. (May 22, 2007). "Mall shops 'falling' into place". West Valley View. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Arnold, Elias C. (February 11, 2009). "Westcor delays Goodyear Estrella Falls mall opening again". Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Arnold, Eli (November 16, 2009). "Westcor asks to delay Estrella Falls shopping-mall project". Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Coomes, Jessica (February 14, 2008). "Westcor postpones opening of Estrella Falls mall to 2010". Arizona Republic.
  7. ^ Auer, Tonie (February 14, 2008). "Westcor Pushes Phoenix Mall Opening Back a Year". Commercial Property News. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008.
  8. ^ "The Market at Estrella Falls, Goodyear, AZ: Market Profile" (PDF). Macerich. May 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Vanek, Corina (July 13, 2018). "Cleveland investor buys retail center, land adjacent to regional mall site in Goodyear for $49.1 million". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Frigerio, Josh (October 7, 2016). "Harkins Estrella Falls 16 to open Oct. 13 in Goodyear". KNXV-TV. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Totten, Steven (October 11, 2016). "Get a sneak peek of the $20M Harkins Estrella Falls 16". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Scanlon, Tom (January 25, 2020). "No shopping mall ... but Goodyear moving closer to new city hall". West Valley View. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "Goodyear Civic Square at Estrella Falls gets green light". AZ Big Media. August 22, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  14. ^ a b O'Sullivan, Kelly (February 26, 2020). "City Council gets first look at Civic Square designs". Daily Independent. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Ross, Jakaria (October 18, 2020). "Goodyear Civic Square moving ahead". West Valley View. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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