Dr. and Mrs. W.V.B. Ames, the original owners of the 2000+ acres that comprise Ahwatukee called it “Casa de Suenos” meaning “House of your Dreams”. After building an elaborate home, Dr. and Mrs. W.V.B. Ames did not fully enjoy living their dream as they both passed away the first year.

The property was then willed to St. Lukes Hospital. In 1935 Miss Helen Brinton from Dixon, Illinois, purchased the land from St. Lukes and renamed “Casa de Suenos” to “Ahwatukee”, which is the Crowe Indian language’s word for “House of your Dreams”.

After Miss Brinton’s death in 1961, the property was sold to a land syndicate. Ownership changed several times until the Presley Development Company purchased it and began building the first master planned community in 1971. As a result, the Ahwatukee Board of Management (ABM) Homeowner’s Association was born.

The ABM’s Articles of Incorporation provided that when 90% of the lots sold, control of the Association would be turned over to the homeowners. Thus, in 1988, the first nine-member Board of Directors was elected by the homeowners.

Now with the transition complete, the Board meets regularly to make business decisions on matters that affect any large corporation. The annual assessment provides for less than 50% of the ABM’s annual operating budget. The balance of the needed funds is comprised of transfer fees and user fees from the facilities. Ahwatukee’s common areas include approximately 106 acres of greenbelt and desert channels which require constant attention and upkeep for proper drainage and safety to homeowners. The R. V. Storage Park, community center, swimming pool and tennis club also require full-time attention and business decisions. The ABM office and management staff oversee all of the amenities as well as processing all real restate transactions, C. C. & R. enforcement and legal matters.