North Peoria to Welcome New K-12 Charter School in Vistancia Community
A new era of education is on the horizon for north Peoria residents as plans for a state-of-the-art K-12 charter school progress within the Vistancia master-planned community.
City officials have initiated the pre-application site plan process in collaboration with American Leadership Academy, the proposed school’s developer. The two parties are ironing out the finer details, including a land purchase agreement for the school’s location within the expansive 320-acre Five North at Vistancia’s commercial core.
“The city and the Vistancia developer have always envisioned Vistancia as a potential location for a high school since development began over 20 years ago and I am excited to see this process underway to bring a high school to the community,” says Mayor Jason Beck. “These are important early steps to satisfy what our residents have been asking for and how rewarding to know that generations of new students will have another educational opportunity in their hometown.”
The plans for the American Leadership Academy involve the establishment of a campus that will accommodate 2,400 students. The institution is expected to cater to K-6 students with dedicated classroom facilities, while students from grades seven to 12 will have separate facilities tailored to their unique needs.
In addition to its comprehensive academic offerings, the charter school aims to be a hub of extracurricular excellence. From performing arts to athletic programs, students will have a wealth of options to pursue their passions. Furthermore, the campus design incorporates lighted sports fields, promising to be a value-addition to the local community as part of a shared neighborhood park.
“We have always envisioned Five North at Vistancia would include a high school and have been actively pursuing options that would not preclude a future PUSD high school in the vicinity if a bond should pass,” says Mark Hammons, general manager of Vistancia. “The need for high-quality high school education within our 7,100 acre master planned community is evident, and Five North at Vistancia’s vision to offer dynamic experiences for our community makes this a great fit at the appropriate time for our development.”
While several key steps remain, including the city council’s approval of a joint development agreement and the finalization of the land sale, all signs point toward the school’s grand opening in fall 2025.
Mountainside Fitness to Launch New $10M Club in Vistancia
Scottsdale’s Mountainside Fitness is set to expand its presence with a new 40,000 square foot health club in Peoria’s Vistancia community. Located alongside the upcoming Fry’s Food Stores retail development at the intersection of Lone Mountain Parkway and El Mirage Road, the club represents a $10 million investment. Groundbreaking is slated for late 2024, with the venue projected to open doors by the end of 2025.
Indoor Pickleball Facility Announced for Peoria
Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate announced The Pickle Guild is coming to Thunderbird Village. The full-service commercial real estate brokerage assisted the indoor pickleball company in signing a lease at 7586 W. Thunderbird Rd., in Peoria.
The transaction marks an exciting milestone as it brings one of the first indoor pickleball facilities to Peoria. The Pickle Guild plans to utilize the newly acquired warehouse space to create a state-of-the-art pickleball facility. Spanning an impressive 20,000 square feet, the site is poised to become a destination for the growing community of pickleball enthusiasts in the area.
The Pickle Guild aims to open additional facilities across the Valley in the near future. The company’s expansion plans reflect the increasing popularity of pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. With its low barrier to entry and inclusive nature, pickleball has gained a loyal following among individuals of all ages and skill levels.
