Strange as it may seem, this proposed project now given the new name "Eco Mesa", is the fourth downtown in-fill development proposal that uses under-utilized city-owned parking lots to qualify for both (government-owned property) GPLET tax incentives and private wealth-creation Opportunity Zone incentives.
Major Points To Be Negotiated or Resolved - with the deadline of September 15,2020.
What do we know about "the local and trusted" developer Habitat Metro?
Please note the description "local and trusted" was used by city employee Jeff Robbins Downtown Transformation Project Manager, one of the two presenters of the 12-Slide Power Point Presentation (see attachment below).
He's introduced by Jeff McVay Manager of Downtown Transformation . . .
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HABITAT METRO:
"Way back when nothing was known to the public about the behind-the-scenes real estate grab on Main Street that took over eight somewhat shabby commercial properties on Main Street, Hizzoner John Giles and then AZ State Senator Bob Worsley were making plans. . . "Read more >
These are excerpts from earlier posts on this blog
26 March 2018
Opportunity Funds > Opportunity Zones for Who?
INFORMATION PLEASE: To qualify and be eligible as 'Opportunity Zones' OZ certain criteria are required. They sound nothing like the words vibrant and exciting used by city officials to describe what used-to-be the Central Business District before the 1970's: low income, chronically poor, blighted, neglected and under-developed
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
Caliber and Habitat Metro buy eight Arizona buildings for $7.5M
By Iris Dorbian
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Caliber – The Wealth Development Company, a real estate investment, development and management firm, and project partner, Habitat Metro, have purchased eight downtown buildings for $7.5 million on Main Street in Mesa, Arizona.
(See other posts on this blog for more details)
(See other posts on this blog for more details)
The eight-building acquisition was purchased with the Caliber Diversified Opportunity Fund II, LP (the “Fund”). The Fund offers accredited investors and registered investment advisors (RIAs) direct access to invest in “middle market” U.S. commercial real estate assets that can deliver attractive risk-adjusted return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
“We set this stage now, for creating this environment people want.” Blogger Note: Right...huh? Just like he 'set the stage' for this bogus charade and privately-funded $500,000++ bogus Public Relations campaign that turned into a major screw-up radically transforming Downtown Mesa into a satellite ASU campus???
Here's the Punchine: Caliber’s developments could also bolster Mesa’s efforts of bringing ASU into Downtown Mesa as well, Giles says.
He says economic developers have to make areas around universities attractive for students, and public investment on things like the light rail and the Mesa Arts Center are one part of that.
He says economic developers have to make areas around universities attractive for students, and public investment on things like the light rail and the Mesa Arts Center are one part of that.
“We also need the business community infrastructure to create an environment that’s welcoming and attractive for people,” Giles says . . .
An aerial view shows the buildings that Caliber, The Wealth Development Company purchased and will redevelop in Mesa. They are outlined in red
Mar 1, 2018 - Bob Worsley pleaded with the Council to protect the speculative investments he made in the area based on the ASU scheme. .... On the same day as the Council meeting, Caliber Wealth Development Company, “a real estate investment, development and management firm, and project partner, Habitat ... "
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"The projects are energizing city leaders who have long sought to transform the downtown into a bustling, innovative urban core.For now, the square mile of downtown has the lowest population density of any developed square mile in the city, according to Jeff McVay, Mesa’s manager of downtown transformation.
Now it aims to bring more people to live and visit.
HUH? It's back to more of a re-do in more schematic plans that have been controversial from the start!
McVay points to that and private development in the works as the momentum the city needs to convince investors.
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Looks like almost everything else to transform downtown Mesa - planned or proposed - has not nailed down the financing!
A behind-the-back deal? Hard to say, but a spokesperson Matthew Baldwin stated in public that they had been working with city officials for years. Millions of public funds have gone into street/utilities projects_______________________________________________________________________________
Whether it is through neighborhood meetings, advisory boards and committees, telephone calls and letters, or email, the Mesa City Council sets policies based on the input and needs of its citizens."
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Council Study Session Notice:
To decrease COVID-19 exposure, the City Council Chambers is closed, but public viewing and input on the items are available electronically.
Members of the City Council will appear electronically for this meeting, via a video conferencing platform, and the live meeting will be accessible via broadcast and telephonically.
Because of the current public health emergency, the City Council Chambers is closed for Council study sessions.
However, the live meeting may be watched on local cable Mesa channel 11, online at Mesa11.com/live, www.youtube.com/user/cityofmesa11/live, or https://www.facebook.com/CityofMesa, or listened to by calling 888-788-0099 or 877-853-5247 (toll free) using meeting ID 5301232921 and following the prompts.
For any difficulties accessing this meeting, please call 480-644-2099
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Roll Call
(There are 33 items)
Some items were reviewed earlier.
D2 Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker requested that Item 5-g be removed from the Consent Agenda
| Meeting Name: | City Council | Agenda status: | Final |
| Meeting date/time: | 7/8/2020 5:45 PM | Minutes status: | Draft |
| Meeting location: | Virtual Platform | ||
| Published agenda: |  Agenda |
Item 2-a 20-0731
Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on a proposed development located on a City-owned parking lot at the southeast corner of Pepper Place and Robson, commonly known as
"Eco Mesa."
| File #: | 20-0731 |
| Type: | Presentation | Status: | Agenda Ready |
| In control: | City Council Study Session |
| On agenda: | 7/8/2020 |
| Title: | Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on a proposed development located on a City-owned parking lot at the southeast corner of Pepper Place and Robson, commonly known as Eco Mesa. |
| Attachments: | 1. Presentation |
Jeff McVay Manager of Downtown Transformation
Jeff Robbins Downtown Transformation Project Manager
Major Points To Be Negotiated or Resolved
• September 15th Deadline
• Opportunity Zone investor
• All entitlements due: PA/DA/Zoning Entitlements
• Relocation of electric duct bank
• Relocation of public solid waste
• Government Property Lease Excise Tax
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