More than a half century ago, John F. Long began building the first of tens of thousands of ranch-style homes that would become west Phoenix’s Maryvale community.
Later, he would shift his focus to developing retail centers, providing residents with such commercial outlets as grocery stores, banks and pharmacies.
Now 86, the longtime Valley philanthropist and developer is turning to his three grown children to help him realize his latest vision: the Algod?n Center, a 1,000-acre business and medical office park expected to bring thousands of jobs to the West Valley.
I’ve been watching that land for years. It’s striking, because, as you’re driving down a major freeway, there are thousands of acres of undeveloped land on both sides of the road. John F. Long owns or controls a lot of that land. The shoe dropped in the paper today because the Cardinal’s football stadium opened Saturday. Long is ready to make his move, now that the land has substantially increased in value.
Without John F. Long, Phoenix would be a radically different place. And he’s not done yet…
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