The crumbling Escobedo Neighborhood in Mesa generated 780 police calls last year — a number that’s even more stunning when one considers the area hasn’t been home to a single resident since 2007.
Vandals and graffiti have become even more common in the central Mesa neighborhood in just the past few months, but a revitalization effort is within weeks of finally paving the way to bring new life to the area.
Mesa is working on a $23 million plan to bulldoze most of the city-owned neighborhood of 101 apartments and revive the area with housing for low-income and moderate-income families. The plan includes space for social service organizations and having a private developer manage the property.
Mesa’s City Council will likely approve a deal July 9 to redevelop the property in stages. The city would remain involved for at least 30 years with restrictions that Escobedo is reserved for low-income families.
Wisconsin-based Gorman & Company Inc. would lead the effort, starting with a 70-unit phase that would begin in November. Gorman would raze part of the Escobedo area, which is on the north side of University Road, taking several blocks between Center Street and Mesa Drive. The developer would also build a social services center on a sliver of land south of University.
Gorman will save a portion of the barracks-style Escobedo, which was built in World War II as housing for British pilots training at Falcon Field. The buildings later became a largely Hispanic neighborhood until their age forced Mesa to close the area because of excessive maintenance costs. Four units will remain and serve as a gathering place or base for social services.
The adjacent Washington Park Neighborhood helped with the Escobedo redevelopment plans, said Cynthia Dunham, director of the West Mesa Community Development Corporation. Dozens of residents have been active for at least two years to strengthen the area and save its history.
The Gorman development will bring more social services to the community, both for new and existing residents, Dunham said.
“I don’t know many neighborhoods where the human infrastructure will be built along with the physical infrastructure,” she said.
The Escobedo redevelopment will be partially subsidized because the market isn’t ready in this area for market-rate housing, city officials said. Gorman will receive about $15 million in tax credits over 10 years from the Arizona Department of Housing. But Mesa estimated 99.9 percent of the funding will come from private investors, who will recoup their money through future rent collected there.
Gorman plans to develop the remainder of the Escobedo land in 2013 and 2014. Gorman will only tear down part of the property this fall. An agreement with Mesa requires it to fence the remaining area and maintaining the property until it starts the next phase.
Gorman is working with Save the Family, which will provide social services at Escobedo and will have the first option to buy the new housing in 15 years. If Save the Family declines, Gorman will eventually have to buy the land within 30 years to relieve Mesa of the property.
Gorman will lease the land for up to 30 years at $6,000 a year, with a 3 percent annual increase. When Mesa sells the land, it will charge either Save the Family or Gorman for the value of the land and not for the housing.
Mesa Councilwoman Dina Higgins raised questions about whether Mesa should adjust rent if Gorman makes a high profit on the transaction. But Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said the city has been working on plans for a fixed-rate lease as part of the effort to attract redevelopment.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
AJW3 posted at 7:50 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Another money pit...............
Leon Ceniceros posted at 9:32 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
As President Obama's mentor, "honorary Uncle" and 20 year Pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright screamed from the pulpit to his adoring congregation gloating about the 9/11 Attack....."America....your chickens have come home to roost".
Well, to the Powers-that-be and have-been in the Mesa City Hall and Council Chambers............"Mesa.....your chickens have come home to roost".
Mesa was allowed some say encouraged to become a "Sanctuary City" for Illegal Aliens 5 years ago and they pushed out the older law-abiding Citizens from South Mesa by their sheer numbers and now we have a "Little Juarez" in South Mesa. Rebuilding one neighborhood is just..........."lipstick on a pig".
Just look at the millions and millions going to put........."lipstick on the Fiesta Mall Area" while nothing is being done about the ..."slum" conditions North of Southern Avenue.
renew21 posted at 3:05 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Its sad how many great neighborhoods have gone to pot in the central area. I remember growing up south of downtown and what a great area until it got too bad and my family moved. Its now unrecognizable.
But if you want to know were more waste is going, look at WMCDC and Dunham. She works part time for a big salary doing nothing. She has and along with the past Ex Dir McNamara have been huge failures to the community. Time for some younger, visionary people who care about the community instead of ripping off the tax payers.
aznative9369 posted at 8:45 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
What a great way to leverage private investor equity into a much-needed revitalization project in a struggling neighborhood. Renew21 is clearly naive. The West Mesa CDC and Ms. Dunham herself were responsible for introducing this developer to Escobedo. As a result, $17 Million is being invested into this neighborhood starting this Fall. Younger, visionary people are always needed. But veteran leadership made this project a reality. A great day for the City of Mesa.
AZNative66 posted at 12:14 am on Sat, Jun 23, 2012.
[smile] Well said, Aznative9369 Bravo!
Tookie88 posted at 10:40 pm on Mon, Jun 25, 2012.
I thought it was a low income area already. Mesa allowed this type of eye-sore (and areas like this) to be overtaken by people who have no vested interest in the community as a whole.. I am not optimistic that by rebuilding and investing into areas like this will work...it is the people that ruin an area and if the people do not show pride in their homes and the community in which they live, the area will look terrible again in no time. Like another poster noted, "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig".
mikea12012 posted at 10:54 pm on Tue, Jun 26, 2012.
So basically they're building another instant crime ridden slum for illegals and welfare cheats.
mikea12012 posted at 10:58 pm on Tue, Jun 26, 2012.
Nearly 800 police calls without a single resident living there. Just wait until they pack in thousands of illegals and welfare recipients that have all day every day to cause trouble !