Phoenix Couple Breaks Ground on Multifamily Development in 85007

After years of rising costs, the Valley is finally seeing some relief. According to Zillow, the average rent for Phoenix apartments is now $1,369—down $66 from the previous year. In August, a RentCafe analysis ranked Phoenix 4th among the top 20 U.S. metros for new apartment construction.

The region’s housing gap remains significant, but steady development and evolving policy are slowly helping. While headlines often go to large developers and massive projects, one local couple is proving there is space and opportunity for Black developers to shape their own communities.

Meet Fred & Tommyka

On October 16, Fred and Tommyka Phillips broke ground on a new multifamily project in the 85007 zip code. After restoring an older property in Chicago and completing several casita conversions across Arizona, the couple secured land near W. Apache St. and S. 15th Ave. They plan to build a large duplex featuring five bedrooms and three bathrooms on each side.

Fred, a Chicago native and Alabama A&M graduate (Go Bulldogs!), has called Arizona home for more than a decade. Through his work with the U.S. Forest Service, he’s lived in multiple Arizona cities, including Globe and Williams. A licensed real estate agent with HomeSmart, this is Fred’s first ground up development project.

Tommyka graduated from Alhambra High School before running track at Mesa Community College and playing volleyball at Grand Canyon University. A multitalented professional, she is a special education teacher, a yoga instructor, and now a real estate developer.

The Plan

Fred shared how the idea first took shape: “We worship in the same zip code as our project. One Saturday I was driving through the area and was inspired by a duplex being built. There aren’t a lot of duplexes in Phoenix and we saw it as an opportunity to bring something similar to the market. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 6:33—‘But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’ That sentiment applies well to our new endeavor. After that drive, I began looking at lots and researching who else was developing projects in the area. I started building relationships with builders and architects.”

Tommyka added, “On February 14th, we bought the land and joked that it was our Valentine’s gift to each other.”

The Financing

Tommyka said they leaned on personal relationships to get started: “We were blessed to have support from our family through a structured loan, similar to friends-and-family funding you often see in the startup space. They’ll get their money back in a lump sum and we’re grateful that our family invested in us.”

Fred noted that once they owned the land, securing additional funding became more straightforward. “After we acquired the land and paid for plans from the architect, it was clear we had equity in the project and funding became easier. I was able to leverage a prior banking relationship from a property I remodeled in Chicago.”

The Surprises

“There’s a learning curve when building from the ground up, especially when establishing relationships with contractors,” Fred said. “We’re getting bids for the different trades and skillsets, which takes a lot of time and diligence.”

Tommyka echoed the balance of excitement and caution: “It’s exciting but scary at the same time because there’s risk involved. As we’re building new relationships, we trust but verify. It’s a big investment and there are a lot of negative stories out there.”

Looking Ahead

“Our goal is to hold this property in our portfolio and create that generational wealth for our family,” Fred said. “We have two kids and we’re focused on leading a good example through hard work and creativity.”

Tommyka added, “Our expected completion is July 2026. We have the mindset that it’s a blessing to be in this community and provide housing, so we’d love the opportunity to work on another project with family and friends.”