Scottsdale-based developer Diversified Partners is turning the former Forever Corporate Plaza at 7501 E. McCormick Parkway into The Lakefront at Scottsdale. The project is a mixed-use destination with upscale waterfront dining, boutique retail, wellness concepts, and Class A office space. Four restaurant tenants have already signed leases. The developer is targeting the first openings by November 1, 2026.
If you live in McCormick Ranch, here is what is about to change on your doorstep
The building at 7501 E. McCormick Parkway has been an office complex for nearly three decades. Most residents drove past it without a reason to stop. That changes with this project. New lakefront restaurants and retail are coming to the site. It sits right along the lake path the community already uses for walking and biking.
McCormick Ranch resident Sherri Mayhew lives across the street. She said she is looking forward to walking over for coffee and restaurants with a view of Camelback Mountain. Coffee, dinner, and a lake view — all without getting in a car. That kind of access is new for this part of the community.
Near-term, expect construction noise and some disruption around the property while interior demolition and remodeling work through Phase 1. Longer term, a waterfront destination at the edge of this neighborhood tends to draw foot traffic. That is worth watching if you own property nearby.
One note on a nearby landmark: Chart House is at 7255 E. McCormick Parkway — a separate address. Some early coverage confused the two properties. The Lakefront at Scottsdale is at 7501, and the two sites are not connected to this project.
What is The Lakefront at Scottsdale? The $70 million project explained
Diversified Partners is investing $70 million into the redevelopment. The project covers more than 100,000 square feet. It will include waterfront dining, boutique retail, wellness concepts, and Class A office space, as well as public gathering areas.
The property was originally developed in 1978. For nearly 30 years it served as the headquarters of Forever Living Products. Diversified Partners acquired the site from Forever Living Products in late May 2026, paying $25.5 million. Importantly, Forever Living Products is not leaving. The company will continue to operate its headquarters inside the building after the acquisition and redevelopment.
Diversified Partners will also relocate its own Scottsdale headquarters to The Lakefront at Scottsdale, occupying 10,000 square feet of the space converted in Phase 1.
The groundbreaking: what happened on September 24
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 7501 E. McCormick Parkway. It ended with a partial demolition of the 1970s-era interior. The ceremony and the start of real construction happened in the same moment. Interior demolition was set to begin that same day, September 24. The first phase is expected to wrap up the following fall.
Confirmed restaurants and what to expect
Four tenants have signed leases as of the groundbreaking. A fifth concept has not yet been named publicly.
- La La Land Kind Cafe — a coffee and kindness-focused cafe brand expanding into Scottsdale.
- V Modern Italian — an upscale Italian concept coming to the waterfront.
- SUSHISAMBA — a globally recognized restaurant blending Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian flavors.
- Frost Gelato — a Tucson-born gelato brand with a strong Arizona following.
The developer is hoping to open the first of these restaurants by November 1 of next year.
Dining on the water: four lakefront spaces, three massive patios
The project plans four waterfront dining spaces right on the lake. Each ranges from roughly 5,400 to 10,400 square feet. Three of the four will also add large patios. Each patio is sized around 3,000 to 4,000 square feet.
That means diners could be sitting on a 4,000-square-foot patio directly on the water. For a community built around its lakes and greenbelt, that is a meaningful shift in what the neighborhood offers.
Beyond restaurants: retail, wellness, and office space
The project is not just a restaurant row. The full use mix includes boutique retail, wellness concepts, and Class A office space. Phase 1 converts 60,000 square feet of the existing office footprint. That space becomes a new mix of restaurant, retail, and office — including Diversified Partners’ own 10,000-square-foot headquarters.
Public gathering areas are also part of the plan. That fits the lakefront setting and the community’s existing trail and path network.
The “modern Santa Barbara” design — and why the original architecture is being kept
Walt Brown Jr., founder, CEO, and designated broker of Diversified Partners, described the design direction as “modern Santa Barbara.” The aesthetic includes arched colonnades, terra cotta tile roofing, warm lighting, and open outdoor terraces.
The redevelopment will preserve elements of the property’s longstanding architectural character. The building has stood on this site since 1978. This is a reimagining of an existing structure, not a full teardown. That approach is part of why Phase 1 can move quickly.
First openings and what comes after
Interior demolition began September 24. The developer is targeting Phase 1 completion in the fall of 2026. The first restaurants could open by November 1, 2026. A fifth restaurant tenant has been mentioned but not yet named.
If you want to track progress, the property sits at 7501 E. McCormick Parkway, near the intersection of Scottsdale Road and McCormick Parkway. Construction activity will be visible from the street well before the first doors open.
