El Rancho Del Arte

MESA, ARIZONA

Goal: Celebrate the strong local Latino culture and provide critically needed workforce housing for families with children in a Transit Oriented Design (TOD) location and invite in the surrounding community.

Located just outside Phoenix in the arts-centric city of Mesa, El Rancho del Arte is one of CDP’s first acquisition, demolition, and new construction projects, transforming a blighted motel into vibrant housing. El Rancho del Arte provides 66 units for Mesa’s low-income families, earning 40-60% of the area’s median income (AMI). The development sits on 1.4 acres and offers 2- and 3-bedroom units.

Mesa has a strong artistic community, with the city investing heavily to nurture a culture that supports the arts. To honor this, CDP worked closely with local artists to incorporate public art throughout the project. In addition to the art installations, the property features a large communal gallery, flexible studio space for children’s after-school programming, a media room, computer lab, outdoor dining area, community garden, and a pool.

Onsite services include after-school programs provided by Mercy House and Cultural Coalition, as well as community gardening, and cooking classes through Local First Arizona. Residents also have the opportunity to engage with El Rancho del Sol, the adjacent sister property, and its onsite service providers.

DEVELOPMENT

El Rancho del Arte marked the first phase of the El Rancho community, driven by CDP’s vision for low-income family housing that also offers enriching, culturally relevant experiences and supportive services. The project came to life after CDP built a relationship with the owner/operator of a 1940s motel, who shared CDP’s vision for the property and its mission to serve the community. By carefully analyzing the Arizona Department of Housing’s Qualified Allocation Plan, CDP identified a Transit-Oriented Design (TOD) project in the City of Mesa along the light rail line as an ideal candidate for 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, particularly given the motel’s blighted condition.

DATA
  • Completion Date: 2015
  • Total Development Cost: $14M
  • Affordability: 40% - 60% AMI
  • Total Units: 66
  • Unit Mix: 5 2BD, 36 2BD, 25 3BD
  • Sustainability: ADOH Prescriptive Path
TEAM
  • Developer: CDP
  • Architect: Perlman Architects
  • Contractor: ICON Builders
  • Property Management: MEB Management
  • Resident Services Partner: Cultural Coalition
WEBSITE

PARTNERS

CDP is proud to partner with these organizations, dedicated to bettering the lives not only of El Rancho del Arte’s residents, but of those lower-income residents in surrounding communities.

Cultural Coalition

Cultural Coalition brings vibrancy to the community by emphasizing the area’s indigenous cultures through on-site programming. Their mission is to engage the community with unique cultural initiatives that celebrate diversity, serve families, provide cultural education, and foster new traditions. Cultural Coalition leads after-school programming for children at the El Rancho properties, offering activities in music, arts, dance, and providing homework assistance. In addition, the organization has developed a space for teenagers that encourages civic engagement.

Local First Arizona

Local First Arizona leads programming and micro-entrepreneurship courses at El Rancho del Sol’s commercial kitchen and offices. Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes independent, locally owned businesses, advocating for strong local economies and raising awareness of their cultural and economic benefits.