Like A Sci Fi Realty TV Show
It was supposed to be the crown UFO, err, jewel. A sleek new Axon HQ in North Scottsdale. Big jobs. Big plans. A billion-dollar flex. But instead of shovels in the dirt, we got leaked texts, profanity-laced threats, parking lot plots, and city council infighting that makes middle school look mature.
Now? Axon’s out. On June 9, 2025, President Josh Isner announced they were withdrawing from negotiations with the City of Scottsdale. He blamed internal politics and straight-up called the environment “toxic.” The spaceship-shaped office might still rise, but the peace? It’s gone.
Here Come The Space Wars
Let’s be honest. This isn’t just zoning anymore. This is galactic-level dysfunction.
A tech titan wants to build a spaceship campus. Local politicians respond by acting like they’re auditioning for a reality show set on Mars. The drama reached warp speed in early June.
- June 6: Isner leaves a meeting with Mayor Borowsky hopeful
- June 8: “Parkingate Tapes” drop—private council insults go public
- June 9: Axon says “we’re done here” and cuts off talks
- June 10: Council goes behind closed doors for damage control
Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas was caught calling the mayor names not fit for print. Councilman Kwasman sent volcanic texts threatening to take away the mayor’s office. Council factions plotted. Staffers braced. It all sounds like a Netflix sci-fi special titled “City Council: The Galactic Collapse.”
And let’s not forget, Axon is still planning to build their spaceship HQ. Just without city cooperation. For all we know, they’ll finish it, fire up the engines, and fly the whole building to Texas.
Meanwhile, The Corridor Keeps Booming
While everyone else is fighting about the mothership, cranes keep rising. North Scottsdale’s Development Corridor is hitting new heights weekly.
Banner Health’s $400 Million Bet
A 48-acre healthcare campus just off Loop 101.
- Outpatient imaging, surgery, urgent care
- Specialized cancer care with MD Anderson
- Hundreds of new medical jobs
- Phase One wraps late 2025
Optima McDowell Mountain
A billion-dollar build redefining sustainable luxury.
- Six towers, eight stories each
- Rooftop gardens, subterranean parking
- First major rainwater reuse system in Arizona
- Over 1,300 new residential units
Cavasson & Toll At Cavasson: The Office-Residential Mashup
Nationwide’s master-planned beast by Loop 101 & Hayden.
- 1.8M sq ft of office space
- The Hilton, Desert Pony Tavern
- Toll Brothers townhomes
- Walkable paths, plazas, and green spaces
The Parque Is The Statement Piece
Yes, spelled with a capital T and it’s PARQUE.
- Built on the old CrackerJax site
- 1,182 homes, 10% workforce housing
- A five-star hotel, 119-foot condo tower
- Central park and green stormwater design
Erickson Senior Living Moves In
Retirement, but high-end.
- 57 acres just off Princess Blvd
- 1,000 independent units, 250 assisted
- Pools, gyms, medical access, restaurants
ASM HQ Brings Silicon To The Desert
Dutch chipmakers staking claim.
- $300M investment
- 500+ high-tech jobs
- Renewable energy features
- Wraps up 2026
One Scottsdale: Luxury’s Cornerstone
A central player in the boom.
- 120 acres at Loop 101 & Scottsdale Rd
- 1,100 homes and 2.86M sq ft of space
- Retail, restaurants, and rising towers
Mayo Discovery Oasis: Biotech Titan Rising
Head just a little north, and you hit a game-changer.
- 120-acre campus backed by Mayo Clinic
- Research, biotech, and life sciences
- Anchors the state’s health innovation future
And Farther Northwest… TSMC’s $163 Billion Mega-Play
Yes. Billion with a B.
- Largest private investment in Arizona history
- Bringing chip fabrication power to North Phoenix
- Global tech reshaped by local dirt
The Bigger Picture
So while politicians launch personal attacks and tech execs go full hyperspace mode, North Scottsdale and North Phoenix keep rising. With mega-projects stacked like Legos and luxury towers touching the clouds, this corner of The Valley is the future.
Axon’s saga? It’s part of a wild, sci-fi-level story where billionaires build spaceships and city councils throw digital tomatoes.
Strap in. This episode isn’t over—and the next one might launch into orbit.