If you’ve driven through Central Avenue and Camelback Road anytime in the past several years, you’ve probably wondered the same thing: Is that building ever going to open?
The answer is finally yes.
One Camelback, the long-awaited transformation of the former BMO Harris Bank office tower at Central and Camelback, is nearing completion and is now pre-leasing.
And after years of construction delays, financial problems and uncertainty surrounding the property, the finished project could become one of the most interesting residential additions to Uptown Phoenix.
From Office Tower to Luxury Apartments
The building dates back to the 1980s and originally operated as an office tower. Plans to transform it into high-end residences began years ago, but the redevelopment eventually became one of those Phoenix projects that seemed permanently stuck in construction mode.
The original redevelopment ran into financial trouble, and the property ultimately went through foreclosure after a loan default in 2023.
Mesa-based Kinella Capital subsequently acquired the property and moved forward with completing the project.
Today, One Camelback is being introduced as a 163-unit luxury apartment community with residences ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.
Those Views Could Be Hard to Beat
One of One Camelback’s biggest selling points has been there all along: the building itself.
Its distinctive curved design and large windows create expansive views across the Valley, including Camelback Mountain to the east and the Downtown Phoenix skyline to the south.
Residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows along with contemporary finishes, quartz countertops, premium appliances, wood-style flooring, smart-home features and full-size washers and dryers.
The community also includes the amenities you’d expect from a new luxury development, including a rooftop resort-style pool and spa, fitness studio, resident clubhouse, co-working areas, secured underground parking, EV charging and a dedicated dog run and spa.
But the Location May Be the Best Amenity
For us, this is where One Camelback gets particularly interesting.
It sits next to Uptown Plaza, one of the best shopping and dining centers in Central Phoenix.
The historic shopping center has become a destination for restaurants, boutiques, fitness and everyday conveniences while still maintaining much of the character that makes Uptown feel different from newer developments elsewhere in the Valley.
And then there’s The Henry.
The popular Fox Restaurant Concepts restaurant opened its second Valley location at Uptown Plaza, bringing its all-day restaurant, bar and patio concept to Central and Camelback.
That puts one of Phoenix’s most popular neighborhood restaurants practically next door.
Residents are also close to the Uptown Farmers Market and dozens of restaurants, shops and businesses stretching along Central Avenue and Camelback Road.
It’s one of the relatively few places in Phoenix where living a genuinely walkable lifestyle is becoming possible.
An Interesting Location for Families, Too
Luxury apartment living may not immediately make you think about families, but the location could make One Camelback particularly interesting for parents with children attending some of Central Phoenix’s prominent private schools.
Brophy College Preparatory and Xavier College Preparatory are just minutes away.
For families looking to simplify the daily school commute while remaining close to the Biltmore, Uptown and Downtown Phoenix, that’s a significant advantage.
Downtown is a quick trip south. The Biltmore area is minutes east. Sky Harbor is easily accessible.
And unlike many newer luxury apartment developments, One Camelback sits in the middle of an established neighborhood rather than waiting for a neighborhood to develop around it.
After a Very Long Wait
There’s something satisfying about finally seeing this particular building come to life.
For years, the massive glass structure at Central and Camelback was almost impossible to miss, particularly because seemingly nothing was happening with it.
Now it is poised to bring 163 residences to one of Phoenix’s most prominent intersections, with great restaurants and shopping next door, some of the Valley’s best-known schools nearby and views stretching from Camelback Mountain to Downtown.
After a very long wait, One Camelback may finally become what that location always suggested it could be.
One Camelback is currently pre-leasing.
