Banking on the economic growth of the far East Valley, a handful of developers are planning to add more than 5,000 homes in unincorporated Pinal County.

Their development plans come despite a slowing housing market, transportation issues and massive congestion in the area.

In the first quarter of 2006, Pinal County recorded 1,110 resales, down 17 percent from fourth-quarter 2005 and 22 percent from a year ago, according to the Arizona Real Estate Center at Arizona State University Polytechnic.

Jay Butler, director of the Arizona Real Estate Center, said the resale market is slowing throughout the country, and Arizona is no exception.

"The question is how far (the slowdown) will go," he said.

Developers, however, aren't letting the latest statistics stall their plans. Las Vegas developer JEKE Group LLC plans to build a 225-acre master-planned community, and SPD Inc., a Birmingham, Ala., developer with Scottsdale offices, is on board to develop a 4,200-home master-planned community in Pinal County.

JEKE's development, called Maricopa Opus, is slated for about 725 half-acre lots, just south of Maricopa. The company purchased the land for just under $12 million a year ago. The community is expected to feature a half-mile equestrian trail, an astronomy viewing area, a 10-acre park with a lake, picnic area, basketball and volleyball courts, and a water feature.

"We really like the way Maricopa is being developed," said JEKE Managing Member Ken Lowman.

He said the community will be developed in seven separate parcels over time by three or four different home builders in response to the slowing market.

If county supervisors approve the project, as expected, home builders could start construction in late spring or early summer 2007.

In late April, board supervisors approved the concept for SPD's 1,200-acre community, called Dugan Fields. The name was chosen after the seller, Tom Dugan, a longtime baseball fan and owner of T & K Dairy.

With that in mind, SPD is incorporating a baseball motif throughout the development and plans to name all of the streets after Hall of Fame players, pending county approval.

Dugan Fields, planned for the south side of Highway 84 between White and Parker roads, will feature one- and two-story single-family homes.

Plans also include zoning for a school, parks, a public library and 25 acres of commercial space and a possible church.

The project won't be completely built out for six to 10 years, with home sales likely to begin in early 2009.

SPD Principal Matt Montgomery said the East Valley has been bolstered by the Intel Corp. expansion in Chandler and consistent job growth along the Interstate 10 corridor.

"These two projects bring separate design elements to the total package of housing developments available in Pinal County," said District 3 Supervisor David Snider. "We're confident that the final products will provide reasonable and affordable dwelling opportunities for future residents."

JEKE also is working on a 60-acre community off Interstate 8 and Thornton Road near Casa Grande, an 80-acre entry-level housing development in Stanfield and a 543-acre master-planned community in south Buckeye.

Get connected
SPD Inc.: 480-355-8338.

JEKE Group LLC: 702-216-4663.

ASU Real Estate Center: www.east.asu.edu/arec.