Southeast Valley homebuilders downsizing plans

Homebuilders in Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa are turning to "infill" development to spur new residential construction on smaller parcels in more-developed areas. During the housing boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, development spread quickly to the Valley's outskirts, paving the way for large neighborhoods in sparsely populated areas. Gilbert's Power Ranch and Mesa's Las Sendas serve as prime examples of the urban sprawl for which metro Phoenix has become known. But the rapid expansion left behind pockets of undeveloped land --more so in Gilbert and Chandler and to a smaller extent in Mesa. Those vacant parcels in centralized areas present an opportunity for homebuilders to offer locations that buyers may find more appealing, industry insiders say. "We have been looking for opportunities to expand our presence in the Southeast Valley, and those infill properties are great," Pulte Homes spokeswoman Jacque Petroulakis said. Pulte is working on a small-scale development in Chandler's The Waters at Ocotillo, where the company plans to build 31 homes on about 10.5 acres. Meritage Homes has been a pioneer in acquiring more than $20 million of infill property in Gilbert, said Michael IlesCremieux, vice president of land acquisitions.

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