Glendale voters will decide future of $1.2 billion VAI Resort
GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Developers of a new West Valley resort are making a high-stakes gamble by moving forward with plans to build corporate offices and a parking structure.
The problem is the property is not zoned for that kind of development, at least not yet. A labor group known as Worker Power has gathered enough signatures to leave this up to voters.
The Glendale city manager explained the city wants VAI resort’s headquarters, with the project set to bring in an estimated 2 million dollars in new tax revenue and thousands of jobs.
The plot of land is on 95th Avenue, just south of Montebello. Proposition 401 will ask voters whether this land should be rezoned. “Proposition 401 would change the zoning for a parcel of land 10 acres that was originally zoned for park space to allow VAI to build an office building and a large parking lot,” said Brendan Walsh, Worker Power Executive Director.
Prop 402 is related to the planned area development, or pad. Voting yes on both propositions will allow the property’s zoning to go from parks and open space to a corporate commerce center. A no vote would change that. “Our research indicates that they’ve been doing so since July of 2024, despite the fact that the zoning change was not voted on until November of 2024,” Walsh said.
City officials, however, say they never had plans to move forward with a park. “So that’s supposed to be open space or for parks. I’d much rather take my kids to a park than a parking lot, frankly,” said Shawn Foley, who lives in Glendale.
Foley argued the city has supported VAI while overlooking other neighborhood needs. “I happen to live in a part of Glendale that I see the roads. I see the streets. I see various areas just in all parts of Glendale that need help, so I think the city should pay a little more attention, a lot more attention to other sectors in Glendale,” he explained.
Thursday, the city said it had waived $5 million of the resort’s estimated $7 million in permitting fees. The same incentive the city offered Nestle, White Claw and Red Bull.
City officials said VAI is building at its own risk, but vowed to work with the company if voters don’t approve Prop. 401 and 402.
If an agreement is never reached, VAI will need to tear down the building, something VAI’s CEO and president Grant Fischer wants to avoid. “If we were to lose it would put a big stall in this it would. It would stall the jobs being hired. It would stall the economic growth and honestly, it would be very concerning for other developers looking at Arizona wanting to invest in the state,” said Fischer.
The group Worker Power has raised concerns over VAI before. It led a failed ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage for Glendale’s hospitality workers.
The city manager estimates the group has cost the city $1 million on elections.
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