Curious why more companies are planting flags near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and what that means for your next move? You are not alone. Mesa’s tech and advanced manufacturing growth is reshaping where people want to live, how quickly homes sell, and which neighborhoods get new amenities. In this guide, you will learn what is driving the shift, how it could impact your home search or sale, and practical steps to stay ahead. Let’s dive in.

What and where it is

Mesa’s growth hub is the Elliot Road Technology Corridor in southeast Mesa near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The area includes large, shovel-ready sites along Elliot Road designed for data centers and advanced manufacturing. You will see it referenced locally as the Mesa Gateway Tech Corridor and highlighted for its airport access and freeway proximity. For a quick overview of the Gateway area’s role in Mesa’s economy, review the city’s visitor and business profile for the Gateway Tech district.

Major employers adding jobs

The anchor most people know is Apple’s Arizona Data and Global Command Center, a roughly 1.2 to 1.3 million square foot facility that signaled Mesa could land major tech operations. See the city’s grand opening coverage of the Apple command center.

Google’s multi-phase data center, known as Project Red Hawk, carries a planned investment near 1 billion dollars across several build phases. Those phases drive years of construction hiring and then ongoing operations roles. Read the project overview in DatacenterDynamics’ coverage.

Meta is also developing a data center in Mesa and has lined up clean energy to support the site. The company detailed its agreements with SRP and Ørsted to power the campus in this clean-energy announcement.

Infrastructure enabling growth

Power and grid upgrades are a big part of why large users locate here. SRP has documented transmission improvements tied to Project Red Hawk, which help serve high-energy tenants and improve long-term reliability. You can see project details on SRP’s Project Red Hawk page.

Logistics are expanding too. Union Pacific has proposed the PIRATE rail spur to connect the Pecos Advanced Manufacturing Zone to the mainline, supporting freight-dependent employers. Review the cultural resources survey for the PIRATE rail proposal.

Arizona’s policy environment supports this growth. State law provides tax exemptions for qualifying data center investments, a factor cited in development agreements around the Valley. You can read the enacted statute language here: Arizona law on data center incentives.

How this shifts housing demand

Large projects create two waves of demand. First comes a surge of construction workers who need short-term rentals and nearby services. The second wave is a steadier stream of operations staff and suppliers who look for long-term rentals and for-sale homes within a short commute.

As retail and services fill in around the corridor, nearby neighborhoods often become more convenient. Projects like the Elliot Tech Center show how mixed-use development follows employment nodes and boosts everyday amenities. See an example of those plans in Thompson Thrift’s Elliot Tech Center update.

Market timing matters too. Phoenix-area data in mid-2025 shows more inventory and longer days on market than the 2020 to 2022 frenzy, which can moderate short-term price jumps even as jobs grow. For context on current listing times, see recent coverage of Phoenix homes lingering over 60 days.

Buyer tips near the corridor

• Prioritize commute and convenience. Shorter drives and new amenities can add daily value. East Mesa and Gateway-area neighborhoods often sit within a 10 to 25 minute commute of the employment core.
• Check what is planned next to the home. Review nearby industrial parcels, truck routes, and the proposed rail alignment to understand future activity. The PIRATE rail plan is a helpful reference for due diligence.
• Compare new-build options. Communities marketed to corridor employees may offer modern layouts. Review HOA budgets, lot sizes, and community plans so you understand total cost and long-term fit.
• Watch the market cycle. With more buyer leverage valley-wide, you may have room to negotiate while still targeting locations poised for long-term demand.

Seller strategies in Mesa

• Lead with location benefits. If your home is close to new retail, hotels, or services and buffered from heavy industrial uses, spotlight commute times and proximity to employers in your marketing.
• Prepare for questions. Buyers will ask about nearby data centers, traffic patterns, and future rail. Provide maps and credible sources to build confidence.
• Price for today’s market. Phoenix-area listings are spending longer on market than recent years, so align your list price with current comparables and be ready to negotiate.

Risks to watch

• Water and energy constraints. Data centers are resource intensive, and water use is a frequent community question across the Southwest. For background on these pressures, see national reporting on data centers and water demand.
• Grid capacity and costs. SRP’s transmission projects are designed to meet high-energy needs, but timing and cost planning affect employers and communities. Review SRP’s Project Red Hawk upgrades for examples.
• Policy changes. Cities across the Valley have been revisiting data center siting and standards. Zoning shifts can influence where future projects land and which neighborhoods see the most spillover. See recent coverage of data center zoning discussions.

What this means for you

If you plan to buy, focus on commute-friendly neighborhoods with clear buffers and growing amenities. If you plan to sell, connect your home’s story to the corridor’s jobs and conveniences while addressing nearby land uses with facts. Above all, let local data guide your pricing and timing so you capture demand without overreaching.

Want a neighborhood-level game plan tailored to your goals? Reach out to Erik Kelly for an honest pricing read, focused marketing, and community insight you can trust.

FAQs

Mesa Tech Corridor location basics

• The Elliot Road Technology Corridor sits in southeast Mesa near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, with shovel-ready sites along Elliot Road and fast freeway access via Loop 202 and SR 24.

Data centers and long-term housing demand

• They create a surge of construction jobs and a smaller but steady base of operations roles, with the biggest long-term housing lift coming from the suppliers and services that cluster around them.

Resource limits and Mesa growth

• Water and energy needs are key constraints, and utilities plus corporate partners are planning upgrades and clean-energy supplies to support long-term growth.

Timing for home value changes near the corridor

• Job growth and new amenities support demand over several years, but broader Phoenix market cycles and mortgage rates influence how quickly prices respond.

Where to find updated local facts

• Check City of Mesa economic releases, SRP project pages, Arizona Commerce announcements, and current Phoenix-area housing reports for the latest maps, permits, and pricing snapshots.