Corteza

Corteza is a concept master-planned community surrounded by a 200-acre vineyard and winery. Located east of Mayer in the high desert hills of Arizona, Corteza sits at nearly 4,000 ft in elevation. The area receives 14 inches of rain annually and the average temperature is 63 degrees. This climate is ideal for growing grapes and for year-round living. Corteza is designed to accommodate 10,000 residents on 1,200 acres in a mixture of apartments, condos, townhomes and patio homes. 25% of Corteza will be natural open space, vineyard and neighborhood parks.

The heart of the community is Corteza Plaza (pictured above) - a three-acre plaza surrounded by shops, restaurants and apartments. The plaza features a 100-foot bell tower with bells made by the foundry at Arcosanti. 200 one and two-bedroom apartments will be built on the plaza with retail and commercial at ground level. A temporary grocery store, healthcare center and police/fire station will be located at the plaza until permanent locations are constructed nearby.

The Corteza Winery, Community Center and Sculpture Park will share a 15-acre parcel. The Community Center will have meeting rooms, game rooms, a library, craft/workshop and café. There will be indoor and outdoor event facilities, a lap pool, separate family pool, toddler pool and splash playground. The outdoor sculpture park will be a six-acre natural open space park with walking trails and a 200-seat outdoor amphitheater for music and theater. Inspired by the small villages of Italy, Corteza will be a walkable community with narrow tree-lined streets, remarkable gathering spaces, and distinctive architectural elements.