The NRP Group Breaks Ground on 288-Unit Affordable Housing Community 'Desert Sky' in Phoenix

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2025--

The NRP Group, a vertically integrated, best-in-class developer, builder and manager of multifamily housing, in partnership with the city of Phoenix, today announced the financial closing and groundbreaking of Desert Sky, a 288-unit affordable housing community in West Phoenix. Half of the units are reserved for families earning up to 80% of the area median income, providing thoughtfully designed housing in one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251208146465/en/

“Phoenix continues to rank among the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, with strong population growth and a thriving job market driving demand for quality rental housing,” said Chris O’Neill, Executive Vice President of Development at The NRP Group. “Desert Sky reflects our commitment to this market and provides thoughtfully designed homes for the people who keep this city moving, including teachers, first responders, healthcare professionals and students. It’s about building housing that strengthens the community and meets real demand.”

Situated at 6939 West Thomas Road, Desert Sky offers direct access to major employment corridors, retail centers and neighborhood public spaces. It is one mile from Desert Sky Mall, half a mile from Desert West Park, a 15-minute drive from Grand Canyon University and a 20-minute drive from downtown Phoenix. Major thoroughfares and bus routes offer added connectivity.

“Desert Sky demonstrates what’s possible when private development works hand in hand with public partners,” said Austin Kates, Vice President of Development at The NRP Group. “Through collaboration with the city, we’ll deliver an affordable community that blends modern design with the character of the surrounding neighborhood, enabling residents to live near where they work and study while enjoying convenient access to local amenities.”

The 10-acre development comprises nine, three-story garden-style apartment buildings and a central clubhouse. The property’s design preserves the neighborhood’s character with warm, earth-toned exteriors, interconnected pathways and thoughtful landscaping. Units include one- and two-bedroom residences with high-quality finishes, walk-in closets, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and in-unit laundry machines. Select ground-floor homes will feature private yards. Covered parking and on-site private parking garages are available.

“Desert Sky is a demonstration of our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable housing to greater Phoenix,” said Councilwoman Anna Hernandez. “This development will bring 288 new units to Maryvale and help meet the city’s increasing demand for housing, providing new opportunities for residents while strengthening our local economy. By expanding housing availability near key employment hubs, we’re ensuring that Phoenix remains a competitive and thriving city for years to come.”

Desert Sky’s design emphasizes wellness, walkability and community connection with a robust amenity package that includes a 5,500-square-foot clubhouse, outdoor pool, resident lounge, dog park, a business center with coworking spaces, fitness center, grill stations and mail and parcel lockers.

The Phoenix metro area is a priority market for The NRP Group, underscoring the firm’s strategic commitment to one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. The firm’s expansion reflects strong confidence in the region’s long-term rental housing market, driven by robust job growth and sustained year-over-year in-migration patterns. The NRP Group has developed more than 62,000 apartment homes since 1994, and currently manages over 30,000 residential units across the U.S.

The NRP Group broke ground on the new residential housing development this month, with completion scheduled for 2027.

About The NRP Group
The NRP Group is a vertically integrated developer, owner, builder, and manager of best-in-class multifamily housing with a mission to create exceptional rental housing communities for individuals and families, regardless of income. Since its founding in 1994, NRP has developed more than 62,000 apartment homes and currently manages over 30,000 residential units.

Through its disciplined approach to vetting opportunities, NRP has established a track record of delivering impressive returns for investors. The company’s formidable size and depth of talent provide the experience and infrastructure necessary to execute developments of varying degrees of complexity and scope in both urban-infill and suburban locations, including market-rate, affordable, mixed-income, and senior housing.

The NRP Group has been consistently named a largest developer and builder in the U.S. on the NMHC “Top 50” lists, the Top 5 on the Multi-Housing News’ “Top Multifamily Developers” list, named a Top Affordable Housing Developer by Affordable Housing Finance, and has won three NAHB Pillar awards since 2020 for Development, Construction and Ones to Watch. The NRP Group has become the top multifamily developer in the U.S. that creates both affordable and market-rate housing at a national scale. Based on over 30 years of experience and expertise, NRP provides construction and property management services to outside owners and developers. For additional information, visit www.nrpgroup.com.

Photo Credit: Studio Schafer - Desert Sky

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful 7. 6-magnitude earthquake struck late Monday off northern Japan, triggering a tsunami of up to 70 centimeters (27 inches) in Pacific coast communities and warnings of potentially higher surges, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said.

Several people were injured, media reports said.

The quake struck at about 11:15 p.m. (1415 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean about 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island, the agency said.

A tsunami of 70 centimeters was measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, just south of Aomori, and tsunami levels of up to 50 centimeters struck other coastal communities in the region, the agency said.

The agency issued an alert for potential tsunami surges of up to 3 meters (10 feet) in some areas, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged residents to immediately head to higher ground or take shelter inside buildings or evacuation centers until the alert is lifted.

Several people were injured at a hotel in the Aomori town of Hachinohe and a man in the town of Tohoku was slightly hurt when his car fell into a hole, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Kihara said nuclear power plants in the region were conducting safety checks and that so far no problems were detected.

Several cases of fires were reported in Aomori, and about 90,000 residents were advised to take shelter at evacuation centers, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Satoshi Kato, a vice principal of a public high school in Hachinohe, told NHK that he was at home when the quake struck, and that glasses and bowls fell and smashed into shards on the floor.

Kato said he drove to the school because it was designated an evacuation center, and on the way he encountered traffic jams and car accidents as panicked people tried to flee. Nobody had yet come to the school to take shelter, he said.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in brief comment to reporters, said the government set up an emergency task force to urgently assess the extent of damage. “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she said.

The quake struck about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Hachinohe, and about 50 kilometers (30 miles) below the sea surface, the meteorological agency said.

It was just north of the Japanese coast that suffered the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 that killed nearly 20,000 people.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo early Tuesday, Dec. 9, following a strong earthquake in northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo after a strong earthquake struck northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, after a strong earthquake hits off Japanese northern coast, tsunami alert issued. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)