Mesa has invited 171 developers from across the West to a March summit that will focus on building urban-style projects along the future Metro light rail line in its downtown.
The city has targeted developers with a track record of building the kinds of urban projects Mesa wants in its downtown and along Main Street. The March 6 event kicks off what will be a years-long campaign to develop the area's many vacant lots or underdeveloped sites.
Mayor Scott Smith said the downtown Metro line will serve as a magnet for urban development, and that Mesa's downtown has a different character than segments going through Phoenix's sprawling downtown or the section that skirts downtown Tempe. But he's found the city isn't on the radar of many builders who do urban projects.
"It just really hasn't occurred to them that the 3-mile extension in Mesa is now in play," Smith said. "It's a unique opportunity and people aren't aware of it until you sit down and spell it out."
The summit is happening as Metro will begin construction this spring on a $200 million, 3.1-mile light rail extension on Main Street to Mesa Drive. Service is expected to begin in late 2015 or early 2016.
The Mesa summit will focus on promoting about 10 city-owned and privately-owned properties that are actively being marketed. But Mesa will also call attention to the entire area and offer to introduce potential developers to property owners.
The summit will include economic development specialists, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, elected officials, property owners and other players in the area and development, said Melissa Woodall, downtown project manager. That's an unusually coordinated approach to spurring development, she said.
"Development is not always an easy process, but rarely do you have a city taking an aggressive approach to say not only are we going to be here, but you've got the partners at the table," Woodall said.
Mesa recently sent invitations and isn't sure yet how many developers will attend, said Bill Jabjiniak, economic development director. They include companies from the West and Chicago who have built projects along transit lines.
The approach is similar to an initiative that invited colleges from around the nation to consider branch campuses in Mesa, he said. That has attracted Illinois-based Benedictine University, and the city is in advanced negotiations with several other institutions, hoping lively college campuses will create more energy downtown.
The summit will illustrate new things to Mesa like Benedictine as well as more flexible zoning rules the city has put in place to lure developers.
"We're looking for quality developers to look at these opportunities but there's no specifics other than you have to have transit-oriented development," Jabjiniak said.
Smith said if a developer began work on a project now, it would likely open about the time Metro service debuts downtown, given typical timelines for real estate acquisition, developing plans, seeking city approval and construction.
Smith said Mesa isn't planning incentives because it considers the Metro extension a catalyst for redevelopment.
The new downtown push is hardly Mesa's first attempt to give downtown a jolt. The city cleared 30 acres of homes at the southwest corner of Mesa and University drives in the early 1990s for a timeshare resort that was never built. The land remains vacant. A Main Street beautification more than a decade ago also was supposed to spur private investment, but nothing dramatic materialized.
Smith said the long history of redevelopment has helped position the city for opportunities now that light rail is coming, even if past projects weren't immediate successes. He noted downtown Phoenix's U.S. Airways Center just turned 20, but that it took many other projects before that city's core saw so much progress in just the last few years.
Mesa also will need more than just one key project to see its downtown revived, he said.
"I know people call the streetscape a failure," he said. "The problem with some of our development activities is people measure success in months or even a few short years. Real estate development is not a short process. It's a 5-, 10-, 15-year process."
The summit requires registration. For information, call (480) 644-3961.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
Main Street Merchant posted at 9:41 pm on Fri, Feb 17, 2012.
This comes down to a selling out of Downtown businesses by the Mayor and his city staff. Instead of working with Downtown Businesses they are seeking, and of course will not get, outside developers. It is repulsive that a Mayor, and his staff members like Melissa Woodall, claim to love their City but are so willing to sell the heart of our city to "171 developers from across the West". All of this is happening while at the same time they are intentionally killing, by not assisting in any way unlike Phoenix and Tempe, all of the businesses on the rail line who feed them at lunch everyday, give them free gifts for their events and provide paid sponsorship and countless hours of free labor for their desperate events all the while trying to eek out a small living for their families. We know that the City truly does not care for us and actually wants us to be thrown out of business so that "171 developers from across the West" can make a buck, just like the Mayor is on the vacant lot he owns and is now leasing / selling to Metro at a great profit. Follow the money, save the small businesses downtown and stop the train that nationally and traditionally closes 50% of all businesses along the construction path during it's construction.
mullis posted at 4:22 pm on Fri, Feb 17, 2012.
Dale Whiting is right. The Superstition freeway did a lot to kill downtown. So did the malls. When I moved here in 1964, downtown was vibrant and alive. The city did a Main street widening and beautification project in the late 60s that did a lot to improve downtown. I think it was the only such project where the merchants at that time, held a huge party on Main street for the contractor's employees, city employees and the general public. Since then, we have let the downtown die. Its going to take a lot more than a small commuter train to bring back what we had. In the meantime, we are expected to pay for this while our dollar declines and the economy tanks. Like most ideas in recent years, I am afraid it will be too little too late. God help us.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:49 pm on Thu, Feb 16, 2012.
Mesa continues to struggle with its downtown. When the US 60 went through east of Dobson, the traffic patterns shifted and downtown started to suffer. Can the light rail really make a difference? Not likely.
azconan posted at 3:52 pm on Thu, Feb 16, 2012.
Renew21 must be a city employee and a Democrat. he is trying to spin this in a good way. Its all Bush's fault ! Well the fact is there is NOTHING new in west mesa since the light rail went it. blame it on whatever you like. Its a third world looking place. How about Tempe along Apache. Yeah thats great. Some bars that are run down, a few used car lots, some old hookers. Yeah howd that go for that part of the city. I know , its Bush's fault. Mesa doesnt allow bars. Not the kind people want to go to ! You hang out at motorcylces on main and the arts festival? Wow youre a wild man ! Nobody in their early 20's cares about that stuff. How about bars with live music downtown. Wait, the city has turned THOSE down many times. How about doing something with the blight along Main, Broadway and University. Those streets are awful. But wait, its Bush's fault ! How about spending money to make Southern SMALLER as a dumb move by this city. Yeah thats gonna work, NOT ! Mesa passed on the Cardinals, Super Bowls, Fiesta Bowls and everything else. They are spending money in ALL the wrong places !
renew21 posted at 11:28 am on Thu, Feb 16, 2012.
What I like about this approach is that the city is working like it should and working together to solve issues. In the past, it was usually was a divided city hall with poor leadership, especially at mayor and in council. that has changed the past few years. It is good to see the city approaching things in a different and innovative manner. The previous and typical approach of most local, state and national gov't is to do another report, spend more money, build more public project in hopes things will change. Its the private sector that gets things moving in a positive direction. If gov't could do it, Detroit would be a great place. The city has done plenty of investment in the area and needs to make the process simple and friendly to developers and business. its smart of them to invite developers to a summit to look at properties, market the city and downtown area, learn from the developers in what they look for and what attracts them to an area. its an investment on their part and that investment is what gets things moving. Good for city leadership to recognize this and move in this direction in the bad economy.
renew21 posted at 11:22 am on Thu, Feb 16, 2012.
Obviously azconan has no clue what is in downtown or what goes on. They allow bars, and liquor license is at all time high of approval under this council. Maybe before you spew your ignorance, educate yourself on what is there. Many of my friends hang out in downtown on 2nd fridays, mortcylces on main, the arts festival etc. It has made a lot of progress the past few years. But it still has a long ways to go.
Another thing azconan, developers do not build in areas because public investment happens. Due to the bad economy, not much has happened outside of the Mekong plaza. you have to look at what kind of interest has been in the area during construction and a good market. But. let me name a few that I remember when I used to live in the area. There were multiple developers who looked at properties at or near the sycamore station. These sites include the closed Wal Mart on Main, Mesa Station TOD, The old Sun Pontiac site, the parking lot north of the station and south of the station. So there has been interest, but the economy killed these opportunities like it did any project nationwide. Remember, developers have to see more than just light rail to do a project. they look at the overall area, what it offers, market approach etc. That one mile stretch has not offered much. Downtown offers, but its going to be while due to the poor economy. Gotta get informed man.
azconan posted at 10:45 am on Thu, Feb 16, 2012.
As long as this city continues to let the inner core deteriorate there will be no new developement worth a dime. Have you looked around this city ? Broadway looks like Tiajuana at best. University is a series of 3rd world apartments, homes, and crumbling businesses. Main street is like a ghost town. Nothing worth going there for at all. The light rail will destroy what fragile businesses are hanging on there. What has light rail brought the west part of Mesa? Nothing. Not a single thing. This is a pipe dream. build it and they will come. Well there is NOTHING in Mesa worth going to . They wont allow bars, they wont allow live music, they wont allow anything for young adults that might make a nusiance. This town is run by the Liesure World crowd and old Mormons. They ahvent got a clue what it takes to make a vibrant , young , outgoing area.