The District aims to transform Avondale

Arizona developers Pederson Group and Barclay Group are partnering on The District, a 32-acre, 269,000-square-foot development at the northwest corner of Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street. (Pederson Group/Submitted) A new mixed-use development planned for Avondale aims to bring shopping, dining, entertainment and employment opportunities to the growing community while creating a gathering place designed to strengthen the city’s identity.

Arizona developers Pederson Group and Barclay Group are partnering on The District, a 32-acre, 269,000-square-foot development at the northwest corner of Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street.

The project will feature a major grocery store, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues and a landscaped public plaza, along with a light industrial component intended to create additional employment opportunities.

Jim Pederson, chairman of Pederson Group, said the development grew out of a longstanding need for additional retail services in Avondale and a shared vision with city officials to create something beyond a traditional shopping center.

“We’ve been looking up and down the Avondale corridor for quite some time because historically, it’s been underretailed,” Pederson said.

Pederson said Avondale’s rapid growth has created opportunities for developers to introduce services and amenities that residents previously had to travel elsewhere to access.

After identifying the intersection as a potential location, developers began working with city officials to understand how the project could complement the city’s broader development goals.

The District will be located within Avondale's 356-acre Boulevard District, known as The BLVD, which incorporates residential, commercial and employment developments intended to establish a recognizable urban center.

Pederson said city officials emphasized the importance of creating a pedestrian-friendly environment that encourages residents to spend time together rather than simply visit individual businesses.

“We want walkability,” Pederson said, describing the city’s vision. “We want a place where people can gather and interact.”

That approach helped shape the project’s design, which includes pedestrian walkways, upgraded landscaping, outdoor dining areas and a large public plaza.

Rather than reserve the prominent corner for a bank, gas station or drive-thru restaurant, developers plan to dedicate the space to community gatherings.

“We’re taking the most valuable piece of the property, which is the immediate corner,” Pederson said. “We’re going to turn that into a public area.”

The plaza will be surrounded by specialty shops and restaurants, creating opportunities for residents to gather, socialize and participate in community activities.

Pederson said the concept draws inspiration from The Trailhead, another Pederson Group development at 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road in Peoria.

That project features restaurants and outdoor gathering spaces designed to encourage visitors to spend more time at the shopping center.

For The District, developers hope to expand on that concept by placing the gathering space at the front of the property.

Pederson said attracting sit-down restaurants with outdoor seating will be especially important to creating the atmosphere envisioned for the development.

While quick-service restaurants will also be included, the developers hope to attract specialty retailers and dining establishments that provide options not currently available nearby.

“If you’re in Avondale and have to travel to Phoenix or Scottsdale for a specialty retailer you like, hopefully we can bring those retailers further west,” Pederson said.

Although no tenants have been formally announced, Pederson said leasing interest has been encouraging.

The project still must complete its entitlement process and receive final zoning approvals before developers can finalize certain agreements.

The partnership between Pederson Group and Barclay Group also reflects the financial demands associated with large-scale commercial developments.

Pederson said rising land prices, construction expenses and equity requirements have made partnerships increasingly valuable.

The companies have established relationships within Arizona’s development industry and can combine their financial resources and tenant connections to move the project forward.

Together, the developers have completed more than 20 million square feet of retail projects.

Beyond expanding shopping and dining options, Pederson believes The District could encourage additional investment along Avondale Boulevard.

He said the surrounding area includes existing apartment communities and additional residential developments that could provide customers within walking distance of the project.

The combination of housing, employment, retail and recreational opportunities could help establish the Boulevard District as a destination for residents and visitors.

“If we build a quality project at that very important location, then that’s going to kind of set the standard for other projects,” Pederson said.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027, although Pederson said the schedule depends on securing final approvals, arranging financing and completing major tenant agreements. While the original announcement targeted an early 2028 opening, Pederson said an early summer 2028 opening is now more likely.

Pederson hopes residents will eventually view The District as an important part of their neighborhood, with businesses and public spaces that encourage them to return regularly.

“If we can get people saying that this is a great project, it’s a real addition to the community and we’re proud to have it in our community, then that’s what we’re looking for,” Pederson said.

The District aims to transform Avondale

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