Meet Phil Gordon, A Commitment to Public Service
Vice President, Phoenix IDA Board of Directors
Phil Gordon brings decades of public service, legal experience and civic leadership to his role on the Phoenix IDA board of directors, where he currently serves as vice president. He was appointed to the board in 2022 by Mayor Kate Gallego and has been a member of the executive committee since 2023. A longtime advocate for smart growth and community-focused development, Gordon’s career reflects a deep commitment to building strong, resilient cities.
Gordon is best known for his service as mayor of the City of Phoenix from 2004 to 2012, where he led during a period of economic challenge and transformation, focusing on the revitalization of downtown Phoenix. As mayor, he focused on fiscal responsibility, economic development, sustainability and strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors. His leadership emphasized long-term solutions that balanced growth with quality of life for residents.
He championed projects that reshaped the city’s core, most notably the creation of the Arizona State University downtown Phoenix Campus, a development that sparked a wave of new residential growth and breathed new life into downtown. Two years ago, ASU renamed its Downtown Phoenix campus residence hall Gordon Commons in honor of his legacy and contributions. He also is credited with leading the expansion efforts for the Phoenix Convention Center.
In addition to his executive experience, Gordon is an accomplished attorney with a background in public policy, regulatory matters and complex legal issues affecting municipalities and businesses. This legal perspective adds important depth to the Phoenix IDA board, particularly as the Phoenix IDA evaluates financing structures, public benefit considerations and compliance requirements tied to bond issuances.
“What sets the Phoenix IDA apart is its ability to reinvest back into the community,” Gordon said. “Being part of an organization that uses innovative financing tools to support affordable housing, education, healthcare and economic development is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Gordon’s connection to Phoenix runs deep. He has spent much of his career working to ensure the city remains competitive, inclusive and prepared for future generations. His understanding of local government operations and regional economic forces helps the Phoenix IDA advance projects that expand affordable housing, support nonprofit facilities and catalyze community revitalization.
As a Phoenix IDA board member, Gordon is motivated by the organization’s mission to use innovative financing tools to deliver measurable public benefit. He values the Phoenix IDA’s thoughtful approach to balancing growth with accountability, and sees the Phoenix IDA as a powerful partner in addressing housing, education, healthcare and economic opportunity across Phoenix.
His experience, institutional knowledge and steady leadership continue to strengthen the Phoenix IDA’s work on behalf of the city and its residents.
Phoenix IDA Board Elects
New Slate of Officers
Congratulations to the following Phoenix IDA directors who assumed officer positions on our board of directors for a term of one year:
Building Dignity for Low-Income Seniors, Families
Helen Drake Village
Late last year, we successfully closed on $15 million in Multifamily Housing Revenue Notes to support the development of Helen Drake Village, a new affordable senior housing community in the Alhambra neighborhood of Phoenix.
Following a competitive RFP process with the City of Phoenix, the Richman Group was selected to partner on transforming an underutilized portion of the Helen Drake Senior Center site into a vibrant, purpose-built community for seniors.
Helen Drake Village will deliver 80 affordable apartment homes for older adults earning between 30% and 60% of area median income, along with amenities that support health, connection and quality of life.
With additional support including HOME funds, project-based vouchers and low-income housing tax credits, this investment will create jobs, expand housing options, and ensure seniors can age with dignity in their community.
Horizon on Villa
We’re proud to support Horizon on Villa, a transformative affordable housing project that reflects what long-term, community-centered investment can look like in Phoenix. We recently closed on a $35 million Multifamily Housing Revenue Bond transaction for the project. Developed through an ongoing partnership between the City of Phoenix and Gorman & Company, Horizon on Villa is the second project in Phase IV of a broader effort to thoughtfully reposition the City’s public housing portfolio in the Edison Eastlake neighborhood.
The project will deliver 109 multifamily homes, including 76 affordable units for families earning at or below 60% of area median income, alongside 33 market-rate homes. With unit sizes ranging from one to five bedrooms, Horizon on Villa is designed to serve families of all sizes and incomes.
Beyond housing, the development replaces aging 60+ year-old buildings with modern, energy-efficient homes and shared community amenities. The site will include a Head Start program, community dental clinic, exercise space, City staff offices and a new central park with public art and play areas — creating a true hub for services, connection and stability. The project will also be Enterprise Green certified, supporting sustainability, transit access and long-term resilience.
Fellowship Square Surprise
The Phoenix-based Christian Care Foundation, a nonprofit that owns and operates senior living facilities throughout Arizona, has a long-standing relationship with the Phoenix IDA dating back to 1985 when we closed a bond transaction for their Christian Care Retirement Apartments in Phoenix.
Late last year, we closed a $79 million Senior Rental Housing Revenue Refunding Bond transaction for Fellowship Square Surprise to refinance certain outstanding indebtedness on the 14.6-acre campus. The existing development includes a three-story independent living building, a two-story assisted living building and an attached one-story memory support building, totaling 313 units of senior housing and 345,507 square feet of building space.
In 1985, Christian Care was a fledgling organization with a grand vision of what the “continuum of senior living” could and should be. Fast forward 40 years later to the present day, the combined Christian Care organizations have flourished beyond the original Phoenix campus into the largest nonprofit provider of senior living housing in Arizona with approximately 740 employees at six campuses. This bond transaction brings the Christian Care organization and the Phoenix IDA full circle back to a successful partnership initiated four decades ago.
PCDIC Receives $75 Million New Markets Tax Credit Allocation
Phoenix Community Development & Investment Corporation (PCDIC), which is managed by the Phoenix IDA, has been awarded a $75 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
This marks the sixth consecutive year PCDIC has received an NMTC allocation, which continues a strong track record of bringing catalytic investment to economically distressed communities across Phoenix and Maricopa County.
These funds will help unlock private-sector investment to:
✔️ Create jobs
✔️ Expand access to healthcare, education and essential services
✔️ Support workforce development
✔️ Strengthen community facilities and local economies
PCDIC’s award is part of a historic $10 billion national NMTC allocation for the 2024–2025 cycle — the largest in the program’s history — and reflects the growing role of NMTCs in advancing high-impact, mission-driven projects.
Carlos Contreras Named Chief Investment Officer
We’re pleased to share that Carlos Contreras has been named our new Chief Investment Officer. In this role, Carlos will provide strategic leadership across the Community Enhancement Corporation, Community Investment Fund, communications, government affairs and special projects. His work will help align investment strategies with our mission to deliver measurable community impact across the city of Phoenix and Maricopa county.
Carlos brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across the public and private sectors, including serving as director of the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and holding executive roles at Intel Corp. focused on workforce development, emerging technologies and community investment.
Please join us in welcoming Carlos to the Phoenix IDA team!
Juan Salgado Receives MLK Award
Last week, Espiritu honored Juan Salgado and the Phoenix IDA at the 10th Annual South Phoenix MLK Luncheon alongside the Pastor family. The theme of the event was “Remembering the past and highlighting the future of South Phoenix.” Phoenix Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington gave the videotaped keynote address.
Juan and the Phoenix IDA team were selected due to their significant leadership and investment in the south Phoenix community. Thank you, Espiritu, for this meaningful recognition!
Murray Boess Retires
After more than 15 years of service, we’re celebrating the recent retirement of Murray Boess.
Murray joined the Phoenix IDA in 2010 and has been a steady, respected leader through a period of major growth and impact. During his time here, he helped more than 26,000 families become homeowners, the majority first-time buyers — lowering monthly housing costs and helping build generational wealth across Phoenix and Maricopa County.
In Murray’s words, he’s been grateful to work alongside “great coworkers, people in the community, and countless others around the country” to improve lives here at home.
From all of us at Phoenix IDA: Thank you, Murray, for your professionalism, institutional knowledge, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to our mission. Wishing you the very best in this next chapter!
