City North & High Street: The Mixed-Use District Transforming Desert Ridge

 

The biggest change coming to Desert Ridge isn’t a subdivision — it’s a downtown. CityNorth is a roughly 100-acre mixed-use district along the Loop 101. It is filling in with apartments, corporate headquarters, hotels, and restaurants around the walkable core of High Street. At full build-out it’s planned for more than 3,400 residences and about 2 million square feet of office. Additionally, it is planned for roughly 1,000 hotel rooms. This is enough to shift Desert Ridge from suburban master plan to genuine urban destination.

From suburban to urban core

Desert Ridge has always had the retail firepower of Desert Ridge Marketplace and the resort gravity of the JW Marriott. What it lacked was a true urban center. CityNorth is supplying it: a walkable district stretching from 56th Street to the Marketplace. It is designed to combine living, working, dining, and entertainment in one place. For residents, the practical result is a Kierland-style environment. This environment has jobs, restaurants, and hotels, and it anchors the north end of the Valley.

CityNorth at a glance

At a glance	CityNorth / High Street
Developer	Crown Realty Group
Size	~100 acres along the Loop 101, 56th St to Desert Ridge Marketplace
Residential	3,400+ apartment residences at full build-out
Office	~2 million square feet
Hotel	~1,000 rooms, including a 240-room dual-branded hotel
Anchors	Republic Services HQ; Sprouts Farmers Market HQ & flagship store
Status	Delivering in phases through 2026–2027

Phased developments evolve. Delivery dates and tenant announcements shift — reach out for the latest on what’s opening and when.

What’s built and what’s coming

• High Street: the original pedestrian phase, open since 2008, with restaurants, shops, and offices.
• Residential: Sunela opened in 2024 with 272 luxury apartments, followed by additional phases including Azur, with rooftop pool, fitness, and spa amenities.
• Corporate headquarters: Republic Services built a 250,000-square-foot HQ, and Sprouts Farmers Market’s 180,000-square-foot headquarters and flagship grocery store have been underway.
• Hospitality: an eight-story, roughly 240-room dual-branded AC Hotel by Marriott and Element by Westin began construction in 2025.

 

What it means for buyers

CityNorth is a rental and commercial district rather than a for-sale condo community, so buyers who want to own near it typically look to the surrounding Desert Ridge neighborhoods — The Luxe, Toscana, Talinn, Aviano, Fireside, and the new single-family communities now in planning. The appeal is straightforward: walkable amenities and thousands of nearby jobs, with the option to own a home rather than rent.

Who benefits most

Professionals who want a short commute to a growing employment core benefit. Buyers who value walkable dining and entertainment also gain advantages. In addition, investors watching a suburban area evolve into a live-work-play destination all benefit. Meanwhile, families also benefit from the amenity growth. They can do so while staying in the Paradise Valley Unified School District.

 

Frequently Asked Questions for City North & High Street in Desert Ridge

 

1. What is CityNorth in Phoenix?

CityNorth is a roughly 100-acre mixed-use urban district in the Desert Ridge area of North Phoenix. It stretches along the Loop 101 from 56th Street to Desert Ridge Marketplace. It combines residential, office, hotel, retail, dining, and entertainment into a walkable district. The area is anchored by High Street.

2. What is High Street?

High Street is CityNorth’s original pedestrian-oriented phase. It opened in 2008 and is known for its walkable streetscape of restaurants, shops, and offices. Therefore, it remains the social heart of the district. This will continue as the surrounding blocks build out.

3. How big will CityNorth ultimately be?

At full build-out the master plan calls for more than 3,400 apartment residences, roughly 2 million square feet of office space, about 1,000 hotel rooms, and a substantial amount of new dining and retail — a genuinely urban core for the northeast Valley.

4. What has already been built at CityNorth?

Sunela, a 272-unit luxury apartment community, opened in 2024. This was followed by additional residential phases including Azur. Republic Services has built a 250,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. In addition, Sprouts Farmers Market’s 180,000-square-foot headquarters and flagship grocery store have been underway.

5. What’s coming next?

A dual-branded AC Hotel by Marriott and Element by Westin — an eight-story, roughly 240-room hotel — began construction in 2025 and has been expected to open around 2027, along with further residential and office phases and new restaurants.

6. How will CityNorth change Desert Ridge?

It shifts the area from a suburban master plan toward a walkable urban district — much closer in feel to Kierland Commons or Scottsdale Quarter. For residents, that means more dining, entertainment, and employment within a short drive or walk.

7. Will CityNorth include homes for sale?

The residential built to date has been rental apartments rather than for-sale condominiums. Buyers who want to own near the district typically look to nearby Desert Ridge communities. These include The Luxe, Toscana, Talinn, Aviano, Fireside, and the new single-family communities in planning.

8. How does CityNorth affect nearby home values?

Major employment and lifestyle districts tend to support demand in the surrounding neighborhoods over time. With corporate headquarters, hotels, and thousands of residences arriving, Desert Ridge becomes more of a live-work-play destination. Still, as always, individual home values depend on community, condition, and timing.

9. Where exactly is CityNorth located?

It sits near 56th Street and Deer Valley Drive, directly east of Desert Ridge Marketplace, along the Loop 101 corridor. This places it near the intersection of two major freeways. Specifically, these are the Loop 101 and State Route 51.

10. Why work with The Holm Group when buying near CityNorth?

Knowing which streets, communities, and price points benefit most from a district like this takes local expertise. With over 26 years of experience and more than $250M in closed transactions, The Holm Group can help you. They will position you in the right Desert Ridge neighborhood at the right time.

Thinking about buying near CityNorth?

Districts like this reshape neighborhoods over years, not weeks. This is exactly why timing and street-level knowledge matter. The right Desert Ridge community for you depends on how close you want to be to the action and what kind of home you want to own.

Explore current listings on our Desert Ridge homes for sale page. Furthermore, follow the district’s progress at the official CityNorth website.

When you’re ready to find the right home near CityNorth, The Holm Group knows this market inside and out. Reach out and let’s find the home that fits the life you’re after.

Work With Andrew & The Holm Group

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in Adobe Highlands, Andrew & The Holm Group have more than 26 years of experience helping buyers and sellers throughout Phoenix, Deer Valley, Scottsdale, Glendale, and the greater Phoenix area. Our team specializes in single-family homes, luxury properties, and established Valley communities. We provide expert local market knowledge, innovative marketing, and skilled negotiation to help clients achieve exceptional results. 

 

Let The Holm Group Help You Sell or Find Your Next AZ Home.
Call Andrew @ The Holm Group Today at 480-206-4265.

Last Updated: July 2026