Mesa Partners With Commonwealth Development for 62-Unit Affordable Senior Housing

The Helix project aims to address affordability and age-appropriate housing needs in Mesa.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:23am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a clean, monochromatic background with a carefully arranged composition of premium, polished objects representing the key elements of affordable senior housing development, such as architectural models, building materials, and financial documents.A carefully curated still life captures the collaborative effort behind The Helix, a new affordable senior housing development in Mesa.Phoenix Today

The City of Mesa has entered into a ground lease agreement with Commonwealth Development to build a new 62-unit affordable senior housing community called The Helix. The $18 million project will provide income-restricted one- and two-bedroom apartments for seniors earning between 30% and 60% of the area's median income, along with shared amenities and outdoor spaces tailored to older residents.

Why it matters

As the population ages, there is growing demand for affordable housing options that cater to the needs of low-income seniors. The Helix project represents a public-private partnership to address this issue in the Mesa community, leveraging city-owned land and tax credit financing to create a service-oriented living environment for older adults.

The details

Under the agreement, Commonwealth Development will ground lease the city-owned site at 37 W. University Dr. and has an option to purchase the property after 25 years. The developer must secure Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing and submit building plans by the end of the award year, with construction required to begin the following year. The Helix is designed with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, shared common areas, and an amenity roof deck to support on-site programming and resident needs.

  • The City of Mesa entered into the ground lease agreement with Commonwealth Development in 2026.
  • Commonwealth Development must secure LIHTC financing and submit building plans by the end of the award year.
  • Construction on The Helix is required to begin by the end of the year following the LIHTC award.

The players

Commonwealth Development

A division of The Commonwealth Companies, which has developed multiple affordable housing communities in Arizona, including Lynne Village and The Cove in Phoenix, and The Abbott in Bullhead City.

City of Mesa

The local government entity that is providing the ground lease for the project site and setting the development timeline tied to the LIHTC financing.

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What they’re saying

“This project represents an important partnership between the City of Mesa and Commonwealth Development to address the growing need for affordable housing options for low-income seniors in our community.”

— Mayor John Giles, Mayor of Mesa

What’s next

Commonwealth Development must secure the necessary LIHTC financing and submit building plans to the City of Mesa by the end of the award year, with construction required to begin by the end of the following year.

The takeaway

The Helix project demonstrates how cities can leverage public-private partnerships and affordable housing tax credits to create service-enriched living environments that cater to the needs of low-income seniors, addressing a critical housing gap in the community.