Mesa

[colin]

It was all me. My healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise should be used as a benchmark the world over.

I went out to lunch this afternoon and read part of the Republic. There was some interesting stuff in there, but this is Mesa related:

Lowe's hitting more roadblocks in west Mesa

[MJLO]

I think they should just give up. West Mesa is the older side of Mesa, I can't imagine there being to much free land there anyway.

[MJLO]

Two Marriots proposed for East Mesa.

One at Crismon and Hampton, and one by Falcon field. These are the first higher end hotels to be proposed for the city since, The Hilton was built back in the late 80's. I like this kind of news. I'm really hoping Mesa is starting to try and grow into itself.

[MJLO]

Phoenix Childrens, building small hospital in Mesa

To the East Valley, the childrens hospital building a small facility at the corner of Southern and Higley. I do like hearing all of this medical news. It's cool.

[mcheiss]

Well, I'm making my trip to Scottsdale on the 17th of March. I hate how my boss plans these business meetings during college Spring Break, but I still hope to enjoy in the festivities.

[MJLO]

right on my friend, holler if you want pointers or need directions while you're here

[MJLO]

Ok I just first got word on that Childrens hospital at Higley and Southern a week ago. Today they are breaking ground. Either I am way behind on my news, or Hospitals just get approved funded and built really easy.

[MJLO]

Downtown Business owners trying to make night life

I don't think it will work, you're going to need a developer to sink $ into downtown mesa with things like trendy bars and stuff, you have the infrastructure in place, Mesa has what it could use to have a Mill Ave style strip. But what these business owners are doing is a one night a month type of thing

here's a quote

Beginning Friday, the coalition of business owners plans to launch a monthly event,

[colin]

Because first Fridays are the art crawls on Van Buren.

But, yeah, it probably won't work. Even Glendale is trying to get in on this whole Downtown thing: http://www.downtowndiningdistrict.com/

Mesa doesn't have the same vibe and rapport as Tempe's Mill, so I'm not quite sure how they're going to work this out without a crazy media campaign.

[MJLO]

I think bottom line is, they won't. Downtown Mesa has the infrastructure in place, nothing else. It has buildings, ambiance, and space enough to turn into something like Mill. But Mill is decades old with a reputation of trendy, gentrified fun, and 50,000 students a block behind it. The only thing that would take downtown Mesa from the sleepy emptyness it is to a hip fun happening spot is a tenacious group of people with a passion for the city and, $, lots of it.

[MJLO]

Two Story comfort in under construction downtown. Normally run of the mill box hotels don't move me, this one doesn't move me much. It only makes me happy because they are building it downtown Mesa. Downtown Mesa needs a whole lot, but hey this is better than nothing at this point.

[MJLO]

Could Waveyard, give mesa an image?

This cracks me up:

Mesa

[colin]

It seems like that op-ed is bringing to the foreground a Mesa-Tempe rivalry. Do you think Mesans are genuinely jealous of Tempe for its successful Downtown?

I'd say Tempe comparisons are a little bit optimistic at this point (unless someone feels like making Mesa look as bad as possible). Maybe Chandler or Glendale, but definitely not Tempe.

[MJLO]

Mesa's current status as the sleepiest community in the valley is the fault of it's own residents, and leadership over the past decades. In an area that's experiencing an economic explosion, Mesan's in years past have fought to keep the sleepy bedroomness that exists now. They are joining the bandwagon late, with Tempe and Scottsdale, gunning for the current energy they have, and the current developement bonanza since the 70's. I sincerely thing a great portion of it has to do with a certain power hungry, homogenous, religious institution, that has houses of worship on every street corner in Mesa.

[MJLO]

Mesa's getting Az' fifth IMAX, it's going to be in the UBER BFE part, Signal Butte and Baseline. It's going in ANOTHER lifestyle center. I miss the indoor mall.

[colin]

I miss the indoor mall.

[MJLO]

Are there any indoor shopping facilities being built anywhere in the valley?

[traal]

Hurricane Bay essentially gives up on East Mesa site

It's too bad they couldn't work something out. Maybe when the payday loan stores start moving in, the residents in the area will begin to realize the opportunity they lost.

[colin]

Damn payday loan stores. They actually passed a law recently specifying a certain distance they had to be from each other. Not sure how far, but not far enough. I understand that people just get desperate, but don't they read the contracts? One step down from "rent-to-own" and leasing a car.

Sounds like Mesa's becoming more like Tucson: not letting anything get built because it doesn't please every stakeholder.

[traal]

Mesa could cut Saturday bus, Dial-a-Ride service

That's about the saddest thing I've heard all month.

It kind of makes sense, because bus service is heavily subsidized in the Phoenix area. But cutting bus service means more cars on the road, which means more costs to construct and maintain roads. It also means fewer people contributing to Mesa's economy on the weekends.

It's too bad gasoline is also heavily subsidized in the United States. That makes it hard for buses to compete with cars.

[MJLO]

That whole Hurricane Bay situation dissapoints me. I was hoping for maybe a new thing for Mesa, lord knows Mesa needs a few things like that. Though, perhaps they didn't have the best location in mind. But I don't think it would have done well downtown.

[nuplanner]

I am a native of Mesa, but have lived outside the state for 4 years or so in 3 different states. I wanted to get in on this thread and respond to some questions.

I work in West Mesa in redeveloping the city's core and west side. I enjoy it and see a lot of potential. There are however many obstacles that one may jump to bring some good to a an old rundown part of the city. The reason why this happened is due to sprawl, and the city relaying on sales tax and new developments on the east side. Also, they do not just allow Mormon churches to be built. That is a flat out lie. Yes, there are many, but what I have heard, they are a small percentage as many have moved away to Gilbert, Chandler and the Q.C.

Info on Mekong Plaza. As of now, it is not going to be built. They could not close the deal on funding I have heard. Thats not good.

The Fiesta Towers is looking like they are going to open office this summer. Instead of 4 towers, they developer is looking at 3 now. One being a hotel, the other a condo, and the last being an apartment building. All will be mixed with ground floor retail and would be a nice jolt in the Fiesta Area.

I actually went to the downtown Friday night thing the businesses did. My wife, a PR specialist helped out in moving the information forward between business owners. Downtown has some unique things that makes it different than Mill, or old town Scottsdale. The arts center is wonderful and the LDS temple grounds and building are beautiful.....even if you are not Mormon. Its a great place. But it needs to look more like a downtown of a city that has over 450,000 residents. They need some condo towers to support any type of life in that area. We will wait and see if the Town Center Development department, the city and the downtown development committee will actually look at the big picture and encourage density instead of fast food restaurants such as the new taco bell.

Waveyard. I have worked directly with Waveyard, have seen some of there plans and what they have submitted to the city. This is a destination, not just some water park. It is an adventure resort and will bring mesa its first 5 star hotel. I can't say much else about it, but many are optimistic about this development.

I have read over the working paper for the new updated zoning code for mesa. Some great ideas to change the way mesa develops. Infill, TOD's and density are big issues in these sections. Hopefully some in the city will look at other models and think outside the box.

I will be also be involved with the Fiesta District plan. I am excited and believe that west mesa can create some great, unique places. Downtown, Light rail line, Riverview area, and Fiesta District can become some interesting places if the city will get off there butts, and if the NIMBY's will educate themselves instead of being ignorant.

I think if Mesa wants change, it has to come from the people because the city will not do it as of now.

[MJLO]

I think if Mesa wants change, it has to come from the people because the city will not do it as of now.

[MJLO]

Condo project being redefined in Mesa

Why don't I remember hearing about this? Originally it called for Towers. Now it calls for low rises. depressing. It's at the corner of Alma School and Southern, Which is one of the busiest intersections in the East Valley. So it's unlikely that the towers would help take the suburbia away. I wish it was closer to downtown, but this section of Mesa, where Fiesta Mall is located, isn't totally rundown, but has seen better days. Anything new like this will be good for the area.

[traal]

Running light rail down Southern or Alma School might help reinvigorate the Fiesta area. They should have chosen to run it between the highest-density areas from the start, except Mesa couldn't spend much money on it at all. Mesa's citizens have tied their hands by not approving a property tax, so I think the city's problems will get worse before it gets better.