Phoenix Car Wash Redevelopment Sparks Midtown Shift
What Is The Corner at Midtown? At the northwest corner of Third Street and McDowell, The Corner at Midtown is a planned mixed-use redevelopment of the former Los Olivos Hand Car Wash site at 232 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix’s Arts District. Helix Properties, a Phoenix-based commercial real estate firm, bought the long-vacant parcel in May 2022 for $3.6 million. The company presents the project as a walkable destination aligned with Midtown’s urban growth pattern and adjacent transit access. Similar mixed-use efforts in other cities have drawn attention for urban revitalization strategies tied to infrastructure and public-space improvements. It is planned as a new retail and restaurant center for the long-vacant site. Site Context and Development Role The property stands beside the Arts District Apartments and near the light rail line, placing it within an established cultural corridor. Its position near major museums, Roosevelt Row, and the Arizona School for the Arts supports communi...