You’ve probably seen the name popping up more lately. If you live anywhere near the East Valley or spend time driving down Miller Road, it’s hard to miss. When people search for Michael McShane Tempe AZ, they’re usually looking for one of two things: the massive construction developments reshaping the city skyline or the national education expert whose work frequently influences Arizona policy.
It’s a bit of a local name-game, honestly.
On one hand, you have the McShane Construction Company, which has been on an absolute tear in Tempe recently. They just wrapped up some of the biggest residential projects the city has seen in years. On the other hand, there’s Dr. Michael McShane, a heavy hitter in the world of school choice and education reform who has a significant footprint in Arizona's legislative discussions.
Let's break down what’s actually happening on the ground and why these names matter to Tempe right now.
The Construction Boom: Northbend and Nollie
If you’ve noticed a lot of wood-frame buildings going up near the Salt River, that’s likely the work of the McShane crew. They aren't just "building apartments." They are fundamentally changing how people live in North Tempe.
Take Northbend, for example. This isn't your average "cookie-cutter" complex. It’s a 310-unit monster located right at Miller and Curry Roads. They finished this one in early 2025, and it’s basically a city within a city. We’re talking about 8,000 square feet of "amenity space"—which is basically code for a gym that's nicer than yours and a dog park that actually has a view of the downtown skyline.
They also just handed over the keys to Nollie.
This one is a luxury multi-family spot with 219 units. What makes this interesting is that it’s sitting in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. Basically, that’s a fancy tax-incentive area meant to spur growth in parts of town that needed a little extra love. By bringing in CCBG Architects, they gave the building a look that mixes brick veneer with metal panels. It feels "Tempe" but updated.
- Location: North Tempe corridor
- Scale: Over 500 new units combined between Northbend and Nollie
- Impact: Massive influx of residents near the "Silicon Desert" tech hubs
The "Other" Michael McShane: Education and Policy
Now, if you aren't looking for a place to rent, you might be looking for the guy who writes books about how your kids learn. Dr. Michael Q. McShane is the Director of National Research at EdChoice. While he isn't swinging a hammer in Tempe, his ideas are all over the place here.
Arizona is basically the "Ground Zero" for school choice in America. Because of that, McShane is a frequent voice in the Arizona conversation. He’s written about hybrid homeschooling and the "college cartel," topics that hit home in a city like Tempe which is literally built around Arizona State University.
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He’s not some ivory tower academic who doesn’t get the real world. He started out as a high school English teacher in Alabama. You can tell in his writing—he gets that policy sounds great on paper but looks a lot different when you’re standing in a classroom on a Tuesday morning. He’s been a major advocate for the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) that have become a lightning rod in Arizona politics.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a lot of noise online.
People often confuse the construction firm’s leadership with the education researcher. If you’re at a Tempe City Council meeting hearing about "McShane’s impact," you need to know if they’re talking about zoning for new apartments or vouchers for private schools.
Honestly, both are "building" things in Tempe, just in very different ways. One is building the literal walls where people sleep, and the other is trying to build a new framework for how those people's children get an education.
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Why This Matters to You Right Now
If you’re a local business owner or a resident, these developments are a big deal. The Northbend project alone brought 510 parking spots and hundreds of new consumers to the Curry Road area. That shifts the gravity of the neighborhood.
For parents, keeping an eye on the research coming out of EdChoice (and Michael McShane’s desk) is key. Arizona’s education landscape changes fast. One year we’re talking about "micro-schooling," and the next year it’s a full-blown legislative overhaul of how schools are funded.
Actionable Steps for Tempe Residents
- Check out the new transit routes: With the completion of Northbend and Nollie, the city is likely to adjust local bus or streetcar flow in North Tempe.
- Follow the ESA updates: If you’re interested in school choice, look up Dr. McShane’s recent work on "Hybrid Homeschooling"—it’s a growing trend in the East Valley where kids split time between home and a traditional campus.
- Visit the "Miller Road Corridor": If you haven't been over there lately, take a drive. The architectural shift is pretty wild compared to what was there five years ago.
Tempe is evolving. Whether it’s through the physical construction of luxury apartments or the intellectual construction of new school systems, the name McShane is going to be part of the city’s story for a long time.