Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Public-Private Partnerships Fueling Housing Growth in Camp Verde

Good afternoon,

Camp Verde is tackling the region’s housing shortage head-on through innovative public-private partnerships. The town currently has 1,480 housing units in various stages of development – proof that creative collaborations between municipalities and developers can deliver results.

Last month, Highview at Boulder Creek broke ground on the first phase of what will ultimately be more than 300 factory-built homes as part of a larger mixed-use development on the west side of town. It’s an area with little infrastructure and currently no links to the Town’s water or wastewater systems.

Developer Jeremy Bach and the Town negotiated a comprehensive development agreement where Highview committed to upgrading a well on the property, setting aside land for the Town to purchase for an additional well, and constructing on-site wastewater treatment.

“Finding developers who are willing to do on-site treatment for now, instead of waiting for us to build it, that’s huge,” said Town Manager Miranda Fisher.

“We could have waited for the town to bring infrastructure out to us, but that wasn’t going to serve anyone,” Bach explained. Moving forward will also help keep the price of the homes under $380,000, offering an accessible entry point in a market where average homes cost is almost twice that, he added. “We’re creating pathways to homeownership with manageable costs and significant equity potential for buyers.”

Two other developments that are using public-private partnerships to spur development are Sycamore Vista and Bradshaw Living Legacy.

Atlantic Development Group’s Sycamore Vista Apartments is bringing approximately 330 units of affordable housing to Camp Verde. The Town provided a loan to cover construction costs – money strategically set aside through a competitive RFP process. Residents are already moving into the first phase of the development, and construction on the second phase is already underway.

Meanwhile, John Bradshaw’s tiny home village demonstrates another partnership model. Bradshaw drilled a deeper well on the property to add capacity to the Town’s water system and split the cost with the town. But he also wanted to go further and create a truly sustainable water system with rainwater harvesting and greywater systems.

Fisher noted that to pursue these goals, he needed Water Infrastructure Financing Authority funding but couldn’t apply as a private developer. The Town Council agreed to serve as fiscal agent, with Friends of the Verde River managing the grant – a three-way partnership Fisher calls unprecedented. Another benefit to the Town is that the transitional workforce housing model will reserve units for teachers, first responders, and government employees.

Camp Verde’s success stems from its in-house general plan, which designates the Highway 260 corridor for major development while protecting downtown’s character. A real-time online community dashboard tracks all projects from permit applications through completion.

The town also has 204,884 square feet of commercial space in the pipeline. As residential rooftops come online, they’ll create the critical mass needed to attract retail, services, and employers.

Camp Verde’s progress demonstrates what’s possible when municipalities and developers work together creatively to solve infrastructure challenges and deliver the housing our region needs.

Sincerely,

Gail Jackson

President & CEO

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona