Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort
By Jodie Newell | Pinal Central
A major site plan proposal for a 1,500-bed youth immigration facility at Gila Bend Highway and Ethington Road has been withdrawn because the applicant will not receive a federal contract.
City Manager Larry Rains told PinalCentral the application was withdrawn Friday because Target Logistics Management LLC had failed to be short-listed for the contract.
“Target Logistics was in a request for proposal process through the federal government and ultimately they were notified that they had not made the short list and as a result they have withdrawn their major site plan for consideration,” Rains said. “Whether or not they elect to look for a site in Casa Grande in the future is unknown at this point.”
The Texas-based company was seeking to build an “influx care facility” dubbed Buckthorne for 1,500 unaccompanied minors who had crossed into the U.S. and were seeking asylum.
The project drew serious concerns from local residents and from Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, which had filed an appeal to the Casa Grande Board of Adjustment. The resort engaged the services of Rose Law Group with attorney Henry Hardy vigorously opposing and appealing the site plan at the most recent board hearing.
Hardy had argued that important correspondence between the city’s planning department and his client had been left out and should have been included for deliberation on the matter.
Hardy, upon hearing the news, said his client was happy that the site plan had been withdrawn.
“We are grateful this application was withdrawn and grateful for the people of Casa Grande who made their voices heard,” he said.
