Mesa Is Getting Its Own Agritopia, and It's Called The Craftsman

If you've ever driven through Agritopia in Gilbert and thought, "I wish something like this existed in Mesa," you're about to get very excited. Agritopia gets a diverse crowd of people, and now Mesa will too!

A brand-new mixed-use development called The Craftsman is officially approved and taking shape inside the Hawes Crossing master-planned community at Elliot and Hawes Roads in southeast Mesa. Walkable streets, ground-floor retail, restaurants, apartments, live/work spaces — this is not your typical city sprawl. This is a new kind of neighborhood, and it's happening right here in East Mesa.

As a Mesa native and local Realtor who has watched this city grow for decades, I can tell you: this is a huge win for Mesa and its residents! I couldn't be more excited.

What Is The Craftsman at Hawes Crossing?

The Craftsman is a 386-unit apartment and retail complex approved by the Mesa City Council in May 2024. It sits within the 1,100-acre Hawes Crossing Planned Development Area along the Elliot Road corridor, one of the fastest-growing stretches of real estate in the entire East Valley.

What makes The Craftsman different from every other apartment complex going up in Mesa is the integration. This is the first vertically integrated mixed-use development in Mesa's District 6, meaning retail and live/work spaces sit directly beneath residential units, all designed to activate street life and create a walkable, community-centered environment. And the restaurants that we need in this area are now on the way!

The Hawes Crossing Planned Development Area requires that properties include 35% non-residential uses, which means the commercial and employment components are baked into the DNA of everything being built here — not an afterthought.

Think coffee shops. Restaurants. Local retail. Apartments above. People walking from their front doors to grab breakfast without ever touching a car.

How Does It Compare to Agritopia in Gilbert?

Agritopia has been Gilbert's crown jewel for years, and for good reason. Built on the historic Johnston family farm, the 166-acre community is an "agrihood" that blends a certified organic farm, walkable streets, front-porch architecture, local dining, and a tight-knit neighborhood feel unlike anything else in the Valley.

Homes in Agritopia feature narrow streets designed to slow cars down, short fences to encourage conversation, and tree-lined paths connecting residents to the farm, Joe's Farm Grill, Barnone, and local coffee shops. Residents rave about the walkability, the sense of community, and the authentic character. Limited inventory has kept demand high and prices strong.

Here's where The Craftsman draws the comparison:

Both are built on the premise that great neighborhoods are designed for people, not just cars. Both prioritize the street-level experience. Both blend residential and commercial in a way that creates daily activation and a genuine sense of place. And both are rooted in the identity of their respective cities.

Where Agritopia honors Gilbert's agricultural heritage, The Craftsman is positioned to honor Mesa's working-class, artisan character. The very name nods to craftsmanship, community, and quality — values that resonate with the kind of buyer and renter who is looking for more than a box in a sea of stucco.

Why the Elliot Road Corridor Matters

The Craftsman is not being built in a vacuum. The Elliot Road Tech Corridor is one of the most talked-about economic development stories in Arizona right now. Major employers, industrial growth, and thousands of new jobs are landing along this stretch of Mesa, and the demand for walkable, amenity-rich places to live near that employment base is real.

Mesa City Councilmember Jenn Duff called The Craftsman "an example of what mixed-use is and how to do it successfully and make a statement." Councilmember Scott Somers noted it is "proof-of-concept" for what vertically integrated development can look like in this part of the city.

Separately, Fore Property Company has a permit-ready, 11.6-acre project also planned at Hawes Crossing that would bring an additional 200-plus apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail, with construction targeted for early 2026. The momentum here is real, and it is building fast.

What This Means for Buyers and Investors

If Agritopia taught us anything, it is that walkable, community-centered neighborhoods hold their value and attract strong demand over time. Homes in Agritopia rarely hit the market, and when they do, they move quickly and command a premium.

The Craftsman and the broader Hawes Crossing development are in the early innings. That means now is the time to be paying attention, whether you are a buyer looking for a primary home near a vibrant walkable core, or an investor keeping an eye on where southeast Mesa is heading.

Southeast Mesa is following the classic growth pattern: housing first, then retail, then employment, then entertainment and lifestyle districts. Hawes Crossing is right in the middle of that transition, and The Craftsman is the punctuation mark that says this area is ready for the next chapter.

The Bottom Line

Gilbert got Agritopia. Mesa is getting The Craftsman.

Two cities, two different identities, one shared vision of what a great neighborhood can look like when it's designed with people at the center. If you've been watching the East Valley grow and wondering where the next pocket of long-term value is taking shape, Hawes Crossing deserves your attention.

I have been covering this corridor closely, and I am happy to walk you through what is happening, what is coming, and what it means for your real estate goals in Mesa and the surrounding East Valley.

Reach out and let's talk. This area could be the perfect lifestyle fit for you!

Melissa Bailey | Mesa Realtor® | Real Broker
602-318-9986
Melissa@TheMelissaBailey.com