Why Chandler’s employment corridors could take on new look

Historically, an office building in Chandler has been three stories, with 50,000 square feet. Now it’s 25,000 square feet, thanks to post-pandemic hybrid work schedules.

Economic development director Micah Miranda recently told council members the city will need to reimagine employment corridors as mixed use developments.

“And it could be ground floor retail, two stories of office in the middle, and then five stories of residential living to create really that amenity to support those retailers who are there, as well as service the employees that are looking to stay out of their car," Miranda said.

Miranda said more developers now accept that hybrid work is here to stay and are looking at ways to reposition their properties. Meanwhile, staff are examining different approaches through the city’s general plan, which serves as a long-term guide for Chandler’s future.

“And we're telling developers like, hey, what you've heard in the past, it's not gonna be Chandler in two years. There's gonna be probably a whole new set of development ideas around making our employment corridors viable for the next 40 years in light of the changes that COVID impacted,” Miranda said.

He said mixed-use developments will depend on the employment center. For example, not necessarily in west Chandler, which has a heavy manufacturing base, but likely in the Price Corridor and uptown areas.