Happy to feature an update on developments at one of Mesa's first innovative, equitable and affordable developments in Creative Place Making: El Rancho de Arte and El Rancho Del Sol

13 August 2017

Inspiring Creative Living Transforms The New Urban DTMesa Landscape

It's a work-in-progress accelerating what's next for affordable and attainable housing downtown here on Main Street when a company named Community Development Partners envisions and re-imagines what can get built from the ground-up by moving ahead quickly with the ongoing construction of Phase 2 Rancho Del Arte - two new buildings are "raising the roof" sky-high with stunning designs drawn up by Perlman Architects for El Rancho Del Sol located on East Main Street - it's a turning-point tipping around the prevalent old and tired and typical mindset that "it's OK for Mesa to be boring" . . .
A new vision is getting real, very real

12 June 2017

Sneak Preview > Community Development Partners Set For Move-Ins @ El Rancho Del Sol

Seems just like yesterday there was a new shovel-ready dig on ground here in The New Urban Downtown Mesa for Phase 2 of El Rancho del Arte.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 17, 2016 at 659 E Main Street. The keynote speaker was Arizona Department of Housing Director Michael Trailor, along with Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona and Eric Paine, Community Development Partners and others

Nine months later it's almost ready for move-ins, with a vigorous response from the community to fulfill the need [and shortage] of affordable housing.
Celtic Property Management is now accepting applications on a waiting list.
Building out the core aspects of El Rancho del Arte, El Rancho del Sol represents a comprehensive approach to designing and developing affordable housing, where not only are residents’ basic housing needs met, but a community is energized and engaged.
Christian Hulme guided your MesaZona blogger around the work-in-progress today - it's very impressive. Both buildings setting new standards for the attainable and affordable housing market will be featured in a series of upcoming posts.

The new construction getting ready for tentative occupancy at the end of June and into July consists of 47 units serving low-income households earning between 40-60% of the Area Median Income, with a preference for families with children. The project will be comprised of 26 two-bed, 11 three-bed, and 10 four-bed units, with sizes ranging from 942 to 1,988 square feet.
A New Leaf will provide resident supportive services and Local First Arizona will provide an on-site micro enterprise accelerator program for enterprising residents. Similar to its predecessor El Rancho del Arte, the adjacent El Rancho del Sol will integrate the arts into its design through installations and ongoing programming. The new community—designed by Perlman Architects, constructed by Rytan Construction, and managed by Celtic Property Management— is working to achieve LEED Gold certification.

Eric Paine [seen to the right] Chief Executive Officer of Community Development Partners, says, “Our mission is to not only provide housing, but create healthy and engaged neighborhoods. We are pleased with how El Rancho del Arte is becoming a community hub and look forward to delivering a second phase that continues the mission.”
When yours truly emailed him about arranging the on-site walk through, he joked and said Be ready for a few surprises . . . gotta say I was knocked-out by the "surprises" - totally impressed [not that that means anything to industry professionals] but more about the surprises in other featured posts on the blog site and on social media.
The project was partially financed by the sale of 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits awarded by Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) in 2015. The tax credit investor is Alliant Capital. A construction and permanent loan from Chase bank, HOME and Housing Trust Funds from ADOH and a HOME Loan from the City of Mesa, along with an acquisition/pre-development loan from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) financed the remaining project costs.
About Community Development Partners

Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. The company is based in Orange County and has developed or currently operates properties in Arizona, California, and Oregon.

13 May 2019

A VERY SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT: Attainable, Equitable, and Affordable Housing Here In Mesa Builds Community Development

At the time of an Affordable Housing Crisis here in the City of Mesa, it is a resounding pleasure to re-publish this recent feature from a California-based company that was right here at the right time in the forefront for building outstanding architecturally-significant innovative housing solutions in Phase I and Phase II here in a neglected district on Main Street. It was the right thing to do.
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The Grand Opening was featured in a post on this blog site in2017:
MesaZona > Table of Contents : Grand Opening Today > El Rancho Del Sol

MesaZona > Table of Contents

Community Development Partners Opens El Rancho Del Sol Setting High Standards Well-Designed Attainable Affordable Housing Mesa, AZ November 7, 2017.

(Shown in the image: Kyle and Eric Paine, the head of the Arizona Department of Housing, construction supervisor and general contractor for Raytan Construction Company, members of the architectural team, and Mesa Mayor John Giles. Iron artwork designed by Mesa artist Zarco Guerrero)

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El Rancho Del Sol, Mesa, AZ
Source: https://www.communitydevpartners.com/el-rancho-del-sol

COMMUNITY

Goal: Build on the momentum and success of El Rancho Del Arte but creating a second and adjacent phase that would create a more ideal scale and continue bringing vibrancy to the downtown adjacent Mesa neighborhood. 

Situated just outside of Phoenix in the bustling arts city of Mesa, El Rancho Del Sol is CDP’s recent acquisition, demolition, and new construction project of a blighted apartment building and underutilized office building adjacent to CDP’s existing El Rancho del Arte community. 

Completed in the Fall of 2017 and designed for low-income families earning 40-60% of the area’s median income (AMI), El Rancho del Sol’s 47-units sits in two, 4-story buildings comprised of 2, 3, and 4-bedroom units. 

As a complement to El Rancho del Arte in both function and architectural character, El Rancho del Sol features onsite services and art installations that reflect the spirit and heart of the community. 

Common areas are central to the community, including a second-floor playground area, a movie theater, two exercise rooms, community and game room, and a fully equipped commercial kitchen operated by Local First Arizona

Carmen Guerrero/Cultural Coalition Discusses Community Engagement

El Rancho Community Engagement on Horizonte

Affordable housing development El Rancho (featured on a Local First Arizona Forum the "Mesa bus tour" ) and one of its partners, Cultural Coalition, was featured on PBS's "Horizonte," discussing community engagement.

Sounds of Cultura: The Cultural Coalition

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017

In this segment: Carmen Guerrero: Executive Director Cultural Coalition

Link > Horizonte

A local nonprofit is providing opportunities for artists and art education by offering artistic opportunities in two Valley apartment complexes.

El Rancho del Arte and El Rancho del Sol showcase art and poetry throughout the complex, both by professional artists and by youth living in the apartments.

Cultural Coalition, an organization providing cultural programs for the development of artists in Arizona manages the after-school art and homework program for children living in the residences.

(Photographer Ray Hernández image > shows Carmen talking to the guests on the LFA Forum in the commercial kitchen facilities inside El Rancho Del Sol)

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Dining For Dreams At Home

Hello Tim,

Thank you for your ongoing support of Local First Arizona’s work to bring generational wealth opportunities, financial stability, and entrepreneurship to marginalized communities. Your support of our initiatives helps to create an Arizona economy that works for all.

This Friday Local First Arizona’s Community Kitchen and Fuerza Local unite to host Dining for Dreams, an event that embodies our belief that through food, we can cultivate inclusive and creative communities. The signature, biannual fundraising event not only highlights the culinary creations of three recent graduates from our Fuerza Local Business Accelerator program, it also supports these new chefs and restaurateurs while growing entrepreneurial efforts in Arizona’s local food economy - expanding the reach of the Fuerza Local Business Accelerator and Local First Community Kitchen into communities throughout the state.

Friday’s Dining for Dreams event brings the Flavors of Mexico to your kitchen table showcasing the culinary talents of three women chefs who are making their favorite comfort dishes for you to enjoy. Each family style meal for four includes appetizers, beverages, entrees, sides, and dessert, hand delivered directly to your front door by the Local First team.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, these chefs are also whipping up a plant-based dinner option! You can support the Fuerza Local Business Accelerator program and the Local First Community Kitchen by purchasing a Dining for Dreams dinner.

Thank you for all you do!

Purchase Your Meal

MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy

08 June 2021

Alla en El Rancho...Hay Una Cocina Vivienda > Dining For Dreams: Flavors of Mexico