Architect pans Mormon redevelopment project's 'look'
"Is the major downtown Mesa redevelopment project planned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints too blah?
A proposed zoning change ignited that debate over the architectural design of the project near the city’s ultimate landmark – the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Link to entire article >> Click here
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Blogger Note: That 6-acre project by City Creek Reserve, a for-profit branch of the LDS Church, is chump change compared to two other proposed projects in East Mesa - one profit-making real estate venture for commercial development on130 acres owned by City Creek Reserve and The Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church and another filing for a preliminary plat on 50 acres.
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"While the fate of seven 1940’s era homes west of the Temple has dominated the discussion about the multi-million project thus far, the conversation recently shifted somewhat to the architectural style depicted by renderings an architect presented at a city Planning and Zoning board meeting. . . "
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Blogger Note: That P&Z Board Meeting happened on June 20, 2018 with more than 20 items on the Agenda. Here's a Link >> Public Hearing PZ Board 20 June 2018
Here's the planned look to see for yourself. Please keep in mind that it's doubtful any people who live in the neighborhood or any members of the public had the opportunity to provide any input. These plans were made in Salt Lake City, announced at a press conference on May 31, 2018 as 'Mesa-unique'.
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". . . Board member Tim Boyle, a Mesa native and an architect himself, was underwhelmed by the renderings, as was board member Shelly Allen.
Eventually, the board voted to recommend approval of the zoning change – necessary for the planned transit development along the Metro light rail – but also decided to send the project to Mesa’s Design Review Board for an extra level of scrutiny.
“As far as the zoning, I think it’s great. I would like to inject some energy into the design,’’ Boyle said, adding that the design makes the new complex look like something built decades ago. . . "EXACTLY. Isn't that the whole point in these retro-plans? A Make-Believe Do-Over - an smaller transfer on a different scale of the exact same thing City Creek Reserve built in Salt Lake City! This action highlights the fact that even though adherents of the LDS religion are now a small demographic in a city of over 475,000, they still what to impose THEIR VISION of what the City of Mesa is and will be according to attempts like this 'look' across from Pioneer Park and at the intersection of Main Street and Mesa Drive.
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". . . After the meeting, Boyle elaborated in an interview with the Tribune on his objections to the architecture, saying the planned development looked boring and outdated.
“It will be finished and it will look like it’s been there for 70 or 80 years,’’ said Boyle, who has worked as an architect in New York City. . . "The 4.5-acre project, which includes a new Mormon Visitors Center closer to the light rail, will have 240-260 apartments and 12,500 feet of retail office space.. . . City Creek’s challenge in completing the project is demonstrated by the wide spectrum of reaction. . . "
