ArtPlace America > ArtSpace Mesa Lofts/Here in The New Urban Downtown Mesa

Image from artspace.org

Your MesaZona blogger did not have to be introduced to the idea of living downtown in a bona fide real neighborhood - there were many real and long-existing neighborhoods in all those cities - and artists sometimes living in the same building or just down the street - for a long time before I arrived. Nearly everything I needed could be found within about a 5-block area and that's within walking distance! Public transit was a matter of fact for decades, not soon-to-arrive.

In Washington D.C. it was Georgetown, in Philadelphia it was Logan Circle, in Boston it was The North End & Fort Point Channel Warehouse District, in New York City it was The Village & The Upper WestSide - here in Mesa it's "downtown".

I'm a refugee from NYC who left after the 9112001 World Trade Tower attacks who chose to live in downtown Mesa. This post is done today as a follow-up after reading an article from May 27, 2015 about downtown Mesa that was written about in Construction Reporter News

http://constructionreporternews.com/2015/05/27/artspace-promoting-housing-and-studios-for-artists-tackles-west/

Image from artspace.org

Mesa Artspace Lofts: Economic Impact for the Mesa and Valley Community

Starting in 2012, Artspace officials did a survey of over 650 artists [that's a lot of artists!] with 247 responding that they might be interested in living in Mesa; with that support, they entered into a dialogue with Mesa residents regarding what is now a planned 71,000 square-foot complex that will house 50 living units as well as 5,000 square feet of commercial space for nonprofit arts organizations and creative businesses, as well as 1,200 square feet of community space for events, exhibtions and educational programs. The estimated cost to build at the planned 155 South Hibbert Street location is $13.5 million. Entering into a development partnership with the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, Artspace hopes to begin construction of its Mesa site later next year.

Residential units will vary in type including studio, one-, two-, and three-bedrooms. Unit rents will serve households below 60% of area median income levels. 
The project is a TOD (Transit Oriented Development) site located one block from the new light rail corridor, major arts and culture assets and other downtown amenities.

Pre-development support:JP Morgan Chase and Local Initatives Support Corporation (LISC)

Programmatic support community partners: Mesa Arts Center and NEDCO