From cookware to custom homes, Cole Mecray’s passion for design and innovation fuels Hunt Developers’ rise in the luxury market.
Located at the former Ascension Lutheran Church site in Paradise Valley —Hunt Developers funded the removal of the steeple to donate it back to the community— Mockingbird Estates consists of four single-family custom homes, each a private oasis.
Cole Mecray has spent his career in sales, but his passion for design and real estate has led him to his next big venture— Hunt Developers (huntdeveloper.com) Originally from Portland, Oreg., Mecray built his career as a traveling salesman, honing an instinct for understanding people and opportunities. That skill set played a pivotal role in co-founding HexClad (hexclad.com), the cookware company that redefined how consumers shop for kitchen essentials.
Located at the former Ascension Lutheran Church site in Paradise Valley —Hunt Developers funded the removal of the steeple to donate it back to the community— Mockingbird Estates consists of four single-family custom homes, each a private oasis.
“We discovered a new technology and applied it to cookware, which was already a category my partner and I had experience in,” Mecray recalls. “Then we took a huge risk and focused our attention on consumers being willing to buy their cookware online rather than from major brick-and-mortar retailers.”
Built into Mummy Mountain, Las Brisas boasts views that stretch from Camelback Mountain to downtown Phoenix.
The success of HexClad, built on innovation and bold decision-making, informs Mecray’s approach at Hunt Developers. “HexClad is not only highly functional but also has a very cool design and is visually appealing,” he says. “We launch products that fill a void while being best in class functionally and visually. I will do the same at Hunt Developers.”
Cole Mecray
Hunt Developers has already made its mark with completed projects like Monad Terrace in Miami and a Lake Minnetonka estate. Currently, the company is spearheading high-end developments in Arizona, including the exclusive Mockingbird Estates in Paradise Valley, a collection of four luxury properties designed to blend contemporary architecture with the natural desert landscape. The firm is also developing a high-end single-family home on 57th Place in Arcadia and a breathtaking custom home in Las Brisas on Mummy Mountain, which will feature panoramic views and state-of-the-art design. “For our Arizona properties, we’ve created a dream team, including Stratton Architects, Arcadia Custom Builders and Berghoff Design Group,” Mecray reveals.
This custom-built two-story residence on 57th Place also has stunning views.
Mecray sees Phoenix following a trajectory similar to Los Angeles a decade ago, with vacant lots and teardown properties transforming into custom luxury homes. His goal? “Becoming the most sought-after custom home developer in the valley,” he shares. “And hopefully lowering my golf handicap.”
