Affordable Senior Housing Coming to Phoenix With New 80-Unit Development

PHOENIX, AZ — For older Phoenicians living on fixed incomes, finding affordable housing close to the services they need has long been a challenge. The city is trying to change that.

Phoenix officials and development partners broke ground last month on Helen Drake Village, an 80-unit affordable housing community for seniors that will rise on city-owned land directly next to the Helen Drake Senior Center.

When it opens in 2027, it will become what the city describes as its first campus combining senior housing and services under one roof.

The three-story building will include 74 one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units, all reserved for adults 55 and older. Rents will be priced for seniors earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income, targeting residents who are often priced out of the broader housing market.

The location is central to what makes the project distinctive, according to officials.

Residents will live steps away from the social programs, wellness classes, community meals and recreation opportunities already operating at the senior center, without needing to arrange transportation or navigate unfamiliar surroundings to reach them.

"Helen Drake Village is going to change lives," said District 5 Councilwoman Betty Guardado. "It's inspiring to see our city step up and invest in seniors who've given so much to this community."

Beyond the senior center connection, the development will include its own onsite amenities: a community center, wellness studio, sports courts and a community garden.

The project is part of Phoenix's broader Housing Phoenix Plan, which calls for repurposing city-owned land to create affordable and mixed-income housing.

Phoenix Housing Director Titus Mathew said the development reflects how public resources can be put to work creatively.

"By transforming city-owned land into long-term affordable housing, we are demonstrating how public resources can be used responsibly and creatively to expand options for seniors across Phoenix," he said.

The development is a partnership between the City of Phoenix, co-developer The Richman Group, Snell & Wilmer, Biltform Architects, Atwell Engineering, EOS Builders and the Arizona Department of Housing.