AZ League Connection

The League's Monthly Online Newsletter

Issue 169: May 2017

City Snapshot: City of Chandler

Long known as a family-friendly agricultural community, Chandler has matured into one of the most well-rounded cities in the Southwest, with an urban downtown, high-tech stable of growing companies and an array of parks, recreation and cultural amenities.

Chandler's business and development community continues to be a dynamic force with no signs of slowing down. Rogers Corporation, one of Chandler's longest-running businesses, announced last summer it will move its headquarters here, adding close to 200 corporate jobs while making a $20 million expansion to its existing facilities. Rogers was one of the first tech companies to locate in Chandler, predating even Intel as one of our leading manufacturers. And Intel recently announced a $7 billion expansion at its Ocotillo campus, already home to the most advanced chip manufacturing plants in the world. In all, we saw 2,000-plus jobs, the absorption of nearly a half-million square feet of space and close to $90 million in new capital investment – in 2016 alone.

Perhaps the most exciting local trend has been the emergence of car technology in our City. Fortune Magazine called us “the country's hottest new city for autos.” Chandler is home to many companies developing automotive tech including Waymo (formerly the Google self-driving car project), General Motors Innovation Center, Intel, NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale), Microchip, Garmin, Local Motors and others.

Downtown Chandler continues to thrive with a number of new restaurants, shops, office users and expansions taking place. Under construction is a project called Overstreet that will feature a Flix Brewhouse theater complex and a number new restaurants. Arizona State University and the University of Arizona also have a presence in the city core.

Chandler's iconic City Hall is approaching its 7th birthday. The LEED Gold building features an administrative office tower, Council Chambers, Public Housing and Neighborhood offices, full scale print shop and an art gallery. The courtyard is a popular place for family and wedding photographers due to the many cutting-edge architectural features of the building.

Chandler's park system is close to reaching a longtime goal of having a neighborhood park in every residential square mile in the City. Other larger facilities include Tumbleweed Park and the Tumbleweed Recreation Center, a bike park, skate park, several dog parks, and a number of other community centers, senior center and four libraries. The Paseo Trail is a 7-plus mile amenity for biking, hiking and jogging that abuts the Consolidated Canal through the community. The Snedigar Sportsplex houses a number of tournament-quality soccer, baseball and softball fields. Chandler also boasts six aquatic centers that are heavily used throughout the year.

The Chandler Center for the Arts is a unique partnership between the City and Chandler Unified School District, used virtually every day of the year, the Center's three stages and exhibition space are home to global, national and regional touring acts as well as school productions and educational programming.

Chandler has come a long way in its 105 year history, and continues to develop and transform itself into one of the most award-winning cities in the state.

 

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