Maricopa’s newest luxury apartment community held its grand opening Saturday, enticing prospective residents with free food, giveaways and a chance to tour the grounds. 

President Stu Hansen of Shelter Asset Management, the Los Angeles-based developer, said Home @ Maricopa is focused on providing “livable, attainable housing” for the city’s essential workers. 

“We’re excited because we’re providing homes for the backbone of communities. Today, we already have police officers living here and …  teachers, firefighters, nurses who’ve already moved in,” he said. “It’s providing for that heart of the community, the people that do the really hard work that we rely on every day.”

The three- and five-story apartment buildings at Porter Road and Shea Way were approved in 2022 during the city’s first wave of apartment construction. Hansen said developers hope to complete all 531 units before the end of 2027. 

One-bedroom apartments range from 772 to 962 square feet, while the two-bedroom units top out at 1,200 square feet. Amenities include fiber-optic internet, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, spacious walk-in closets and balconies with views of the city and mountains. 

That’s what drew Jerrica Bess, the community’s first tenant, to Home @ Maricopa. She moved into her apartment in mid-August.

“I was passing by and saw the balconies. That’s what drew me to the community,” she told InMaricopa. “The selling point for me was the staff … I wasn’t planning on signing a lease or anything, but I paid my deposit the same day and locked in. So, yeah, they won me over.” 

She added the community amenities, like the resort-style pool, basketball and pickleball courts, a co-working space, dog park and spacious elevators all contributed to an ambiance that felt like home. 

“The community is a beautiful place, you know? It’s luxury in Maricopa, something we don’t really have here as far as apartments go,” she said.