A Valley developer is aiming to breathe new life into a project near Glendale’s entertainment district that has sat vacant and unfinished for nearly two decades.
The project, now called the Capistrano, sits on about 7.5 acres near 91st Avenue and Zanjero Boulevard, south of the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley. It was proposed as senior housing and began construction but has been vacant since the housing crash in 2008, according to city documents. The existing three-story building is nearly complete but was never finished for its intended use.
Shaun Kanaka, principal at Nirvana Homes, is proposing to finish the existing building and add new buildings to the site, creating a 400-unit senior housing project. Kanaka said the vacant building will
be used for assisted living and memory care, and new buildings around the perimeter of the site could become an active adult, age-restricted project.
“For almost 20 years, the property has been underutilized with proposed developments never materializing and the existing building has been unused since it was constructed in 2008,” the development team wrote in a submittal to the city.
Kanaka said senior housing operators have been interested in the site. He is considering developing the project himself, partnering with a senior housing developer or selling the site to another operator.
“The existing building is so good, it’s ideally suited for senior living,” Kanaka said.
Nirvana Homes bought the site in 2021 for $10 million, according to Maricopa County data. The market at the time was soft, and he saw possibilities for the site, he said.
The proximity to the casino, the VAI Resort that is under construction, the Westgate Entertainment District and the Tanger Outlets made the property especially attractive, Kanaka said.
“There’s great restaurants, it’s probably the best spot in the West Valley,” Kanaka said. “I don’t think there’s 400 units of senior housing anywhere in this area.”
Kanaka has several other projects in the Valley, including a townhome project near Chandler Fashion Center, and is in the process of rezoning land for apartments in Buckeye, he said.
He expects to have permits ready for the project within the next six months and begin construction on the conversion and new buildings in the first half of 2027.
Corina Vanek covers development for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X @CorinaVanek.
Like this story? Get more West Valley news straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free weekly West Valley Newsletter, which comes out on Tuesdays.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Long-vacant Glendale site eyed for 400-unit senior housing | Exclusive
