Estrella Falls

Estrella Falls is a planned regional shopping mall and mixed-use complex in Goodyear, Arizona, about 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix. Two segments of the planned development, first proposed in 2005, have opened: a retail power centre called The Market at Estrella Falls, and a multiplex theater, Harkins Estrella Falls 16. Other parts of the site have been replanned and construction of the Goodyear Civic Square at Estrella Falls, to include a new civic center for the city, is expected to begin in 2021.

Original proposal

Estrella Falls was first proposed to the city of Goodyear in 2005 by Westcor, a subsidiary of Macerich specializing in shopping malls,^[1] and the development agreement was signed the following year.^[2] Original plans were for a mixed-use development on a site north of McDowell Road between Bullard Avenue and Pebble Creek Parkway, consisting of two parts: The Market at Estrella Falls shopping center, to open in 2008, and a regional center including residential, hotel, and office space in addition to an open-air mall covering as much as 950,000 square feet, to open in fall 2009.^[2]^[3] In addition to Harkins Theatres, the mall had commitments from Dillard's and Macy's department stores;^[4] the development agreement with Goodyear required it to be completed by the end of 2012.^[5]

The recession of the late 2000s caused ground-breaking for the mall to be deferred, and its projected opening was delayed several times: in early 2008, until fall 2010;^[6]^[7] in early 2009, until 2011;^[4] and finally in late 2009, until 2016,^[5] with the city agreeing to extend the development deadline to the end of that year and Westcor also securing an extension on another planned mall in Surprise, Prasada.^[2]

The Market at Estrella Falls

The Market at Estrella Falls, the first planned segment of the development, on 40 acres, opened in 2008.^[8] Robert L. Stark's Stark Enterprises bought it from Macerich in 2018.^[9]

Harkins Estrella Falls 16

Harkins Theatres opened Harkins Estrella Falls 16, originally projected to be part of the mall, in October 2016.^[10]^[11]

Goodyear Civic Square at Estrella Falls

In 2019, the city approved a new public-private partnership development agreement with Globe Corporation to build a civic center, including a library and new city hall, together with office space, a parking garage, housing, and a 2-acre park on the Estrella Falls site,^[12]^[13] with the first of two phases located between The Market at Estrella Falls and Harkins Estrella Falls 16 and expected to begin construction in 2021 and open in 2022.^[14]^[15] The project is to replace a temporary city hall; the city first bought land for a new civic center in 1984^[14]^[15] and in the 21st century has also sought to develop a downtown on another site.^[1]