Hawes and Elliot Roads Craftsman Project, Mesa Home Values

by Melissa Bailey

Market Update

Hawes and Elliot Roads Craftsman Project, Mesa Home Values

The Craftsman at Hawes and Elliot Roads is still a proposal, so its effect on nearby Mesa home values is unproven, but buyers can verify key facts.

Will The Craftsman change home values near Hawes and Elliot Roads?

Nobody can put a reliable number on it yet. The Craftsman is a proposed mixed-use project with 380 apartments and about 40,000 square feet of commercial space at the northwest corner of Hawes and Elliot Roads in southeast Mesa, and it is still working through City Council steps. I haven't found a verified study showing it will raise or lower nearby home values. Restaurants, retail, and road improvements could appeal to some buyers, while construction, traffic, and proximity to apartments could concern others, so the effect on your home depends on your street and your timing.

Key Takeaways

  • The Craftsman is a proposal at the northwest corner of Hawes and Elliot Roads, not an approved or built development, and City Council action is still ahead.
  • The plan reported in November 2026 includes 380 apartments and 40,000 square feet of commercial space, with about 10,000 square feet set aside for high-end restaurants.
  • No verified source quantifies the project's effect on nearby home values, so any promised price bump or price drop is a guess.
  • Mesa's Hawes Crossing materials include a master traffic-impact analysis, which is the right place to check access and road-capacity questions for your street.
  • The most useful move for a nearby buyer or seller is to compare recent sales for similar homes and confirm the final approved plan before pricing or offering.

What is proposed at Hawes and Elliot Roads, and is it approved?

It is a proposal, not an approved or completed project. The City of Mesa and local reporting describe a large mixed-use plan on vacant land, but the final terms are still being worked out. I walk my clients through this kind of situation often, and the first step is separating what's confirmed from what's being said around the neighborhood.

What's in the plan?

The City of Mesa's planning narrative for the site describes the parcel as roughly 22.46 gross acres and 19.26 net acres, which is where the "19-acre project" description comes from. Here is what the public record and reporting show:

  • Land use split: about 65% multifamily residential and 35% mixed and dedicated retail or commercial use.
  • Apartments: the planning narrative references approximately 386 dwelling units, while ABC15's November 3, 2026 report describes 380 apartments. The difference likely reflects different planning stages, so expect the number to be refined.
  • Commercial space: about 40,000 square feet, with roughly 10,000 square feet for high-end restaurants.
  • Current state of the site: vacant land with MX zoning at the time of that application, according to the same City of Mesa record.

Where does approval stand?

Per the Mesa City Council study-session record, staff presented a proposed development agreement on October 26, 2026. The next step was public notice of intent, followed by a planned Council consideration of the full development agreement and economic analysis on November 16, 2026. A November 2026 report says the Council approved issuing a notice of intent tied to a retail-development tax-incentive agreement.

A notice of intent is a procedural step. It is not final construction approval, and it doesn't prove the project will be built as proposed. ABC15 reported that Mesa officials were still working on a development agreement and that Council action was still required. I haven't seen a confirmed construction start date, completion date, or restaurant opening date, so be skeptical of anyone quoting one.

How could The Craftsman affect home values near Elliot Roads?

It could cut either way, and the honest answer is that the outcome isn't measured yet. No verified study ties this project to a specific percentage or dollar change in nearby home prices. What I can give you is a framework for thinking it through, not a forecast. Every home has a story, and how that story sits relative to this corner matters as much as the project itself.

What might appeal to nearby buyers?

  • Restaurants and retail within a short drive instead of a longer trip to another part of Mesa.
  • Road and infrastructure improvements that come with a large project.
  • A more established feel for an area that is still filling in.

What might concern nearby buyers?

  • Construction noise, dust, and road work while the site is built out.
  • More traffic and activity near Hawes and Elliot Roads once apartments and restaurants are operating.
  • Privacy and sightlines if you back up to or face the site.
  • Restaurant hours, loading areas, and lighting, which depend on the final site plan.

Different buyers weigh those points differently, and that is why a blanket claim of "values will go up" or "values will drop" doesn't hold up.

How do the project phases affect what you'll experience?

The effects of a project like this arrive in stages, and each stage matters to a different decision. Here's how I break it down with clients:

Phase What nearby owners may notice What to verify
Approvals and agreement Plan changes, public hearings, uncertainty Final approved site plan and agreement terms
Road and infrastructure work Lane closures, utility work, detours Improvement schedule and staging plans
Vertical construction Noise, dust, equipment, work hours Building placement and construction staging
Completed operation Traffic, lighting, restaurant activity, new amenities Access points, parking, loading, operating hours

Will traffic on Hawes and Elliot Roads change?

Most likely, but how much is something the documents should answer, not a hunch. The City of Mesa's Hawes Crossing page lists a master traffic-impact analysis, water and wastewater reports, drainage materials, airport-compatibility information, and design guidelines for the larger planned area. Those are the places to check intersection improvements, access points, and mitigation requirements. Their existence doesn't tell you what will happen to home values, but they do tell you how the city expects the area to function.

What should buyers and sellers near Hawes and Elliot Roads do now?

Verify the facts that affect your specific property, then price or offer based on recent comparable sales instead of speculation. The project is a reason to be more careful, not a reason to panic or to count on a windfall.

If you're buying nearby

  • Ask which direction the home faces relative to the site and how close it sits to planned apartments or restaurants.
  • Look at the Hawes Crossing planning materials for access points and road improvements.
  • Check whether the final plan changed from what was reported in early November 2026.
  • Think about how long you plan to stay. Construction disruption matters more to a short stay, and long-term amenities matter more to a long one.
  • Talk to your lender before you fall in love with a home so your numbers are settled while the project details develop.

If you're selling nearby

  • Don't market the project as a guaranteed benefit. Nothing is built, and buyers can read the same news you can.
  • Be ready to answer questions about status, traffic, and construction timing with facts, not promises.
  • Price off recent closed sales of comparable homes, adjusting for condition, lot, and location, not off the project.

What does the broader Mesa market look like right now?

For backdrop, recent local market data shows that all home types sold in Las Sendas from July to September 2026 had a median sale price of $744,791, up 11.6% from $667,500 in the same window a year earlier. That window covered 36 sales, with 4.2 months of supply and a median of 26 days from listing to going under contract. Las Sendas is in a different part of Mesa from this corner, so treat that as context for how the wider market is behaving, not as a prediction for Hawes Crossing. An individual home's value depends on condition, street, build year, and timing.

If you want a number for your own home, that is where a local market analysis comes in. I pull recent comparable sales around your address and walk you through how the project could factor in. For more background on the area, see my posts on what The Craftsman means for southeast Mesa and why Hawes Crossing is drawing attention in the East Valley. If you're weighing a move-up purchase, my take on The Craftsman for luxury move-up buyers may help too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Craftsman at Hawes and Elliot Roads approved yet?

Not as a finished approval. Mesa staff presented a proposed development agreement on October 26, 2026, and the Council reportedly approved a notice of intent in November 2026. The full development agreement and economic analysis were planned for Council consideration on November 16, 2026, so check the latest agenda for the outcome.

How many apartments and businesses are planned for The Craftsman in Mesa?

Current reporting describes 380 apartments and 40,000 square feet of commercial space, including about 10,000 square feet for high-end restaurants. The city's planning narrative references approximately 386 units, so the final count could differ. The specific businesses have not been confirmed in the sources I reviewed.

When could construction begin near Hawes and Elliot Roads?

No confirmed start date has been published in the sources I've reviewed. Construction timing depends on Council action, the final agreement terms, and permitting. Be cautious about any date you hear before those steps are complete.

Could 380 new apartments put downward pressure on nearby home prices?

It's possible some buyers will weigh proximity to apartments negatively, but no verified study shows a price drop or a price gain. Home values are driven by many factors, including condition, location, and what else is for sale nearby. The best way to evaluate your own home is to compare recent sales of similar homes and look at the final site plan.

What should a buyer ask about The Craftsman before purchasing near Hawes and Elliot Roads?

Ask about the final approved site plan, building placement, apartment access and parking, restaurant loading and operating hours, road-improvement schedule, and construction staging. Those details determine what daily life near the site will look like. I can help you pull the right documents before you write an offer.

The bottom line on Hawes and Elliot Roads

The Craftsman could bring real changes to this corner of southeast Mesa, but its effect on home values isn't settled, and anyone promising one is guessing. If you're buying or selling near Hawes and Elliot Roads, I'll help you compare recent sales and verify the plan details that affect your street. Schedule a consultation with me and we'll run the numbers for your specific home.

About the Author

Melissa Bailey

East Valley Real Estate Specialist | The Melissa Bailey Collaborative at Real Broker

Melissa Bailey is a Mesa and Apache Junction area real estate professional and team leader of The Melissa Bailey Collaborative, serving buyers and sellers across the East Valley including Las Sendas, Red Mountain Ranch, Eastmark, Mountain Bridge, and dozens of communities throughout Mesa and Apache Junction. She helps relocation, move-up, luxury, rural, and investor clients navigate the local market with a team behind them.

Equal Housing Opportunity. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice; confirm your own numbers with your title company, tax advisor, or lender. The featured image is an AI generated illustration and does not depict a specific property.