Downtown Bus Tour with John Williams, at that time head of San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank. . .
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| \IPhone group image/Site Visit 14 July 2015 |
Some people might call it Pop Surrealism, rivaling the three-dimensional works by Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain, but no doubt it's an appropriate backdrop for the Creative PlaceMaking group focusing on exciting opportunities here.
Where's the mayor?
He's one in the collaborative group. John Williams is at center right in the jacket and sunglasses.
Consumers of mainstream media may have only seen or heard snippets about a speech delivered by SF Fed Chief John Williams at a Mesa Chamber of Commerce luncheon or tweets from the mayor trying to focus attention on himself; but to be fair the bus tour was a very interactive, open and dynamic exchange and discussion among everyone in the group including your MesaZona blogger - we had a great time!
Speakers/Participants included [in order of schedule]
Terry Benelli, Executive Director LISC Phoenix
John Giles, Mesa Mayor
Michael Trailor, Director Arizona Department of Housing
Jeff McVay, Special Project Manager for City of Mesa Downtown Transformation
David Carrisosos, Owner Celulares Conexiones
Jaime Dempsey, Arizona Commission on the Arts
Amy del Castillo, owner Lulubell's Toy Bodega +arts/creative placemaking activist
Jen Disbrow, NEDCO, Ripple Grant Program + Creative PlaceMaking
Brian Marshall, owner Village Bloom + community organizing/events @ Sliver Lot
Augie Gastelum, NEDCO Economic Director/Façade Improvement Grant, ArtEntrepeneur Programs + Business Lending/Technical Assistance
David Crummey, NEDCO, RAIL + Mesa Urban Garden
Liz Morales, Director of Housing & Community Development for City of Mesa
Marco Meraz. owner of Republica Empanada
Eric Paine, President of Community Development Partners, El Rancho del Arte
Pat McNamara, LISC Phoenix Senior Program
Ian Linnsmen, Chief of Staff to Mayor Giles
Members of LISC Phoenix Local Advisory Board [3]
Tim McElligott, Founder Curator Engine
Tyler Boone, LISC Staff Financial Opportunity Center
Joselyn Cousins, Fed Reserve Regional Manager Community Development
Jennifer Does, LISC writer/founder JDD Specialties LLC
We loaded on the bus provided by Jet Limousine at City Hall and traveled in the center city from Country Club to Mesa Drive east-west and University to Broadway, looked at Mesa Arts Center, Encore Senior Housing, South Broadway, Mesa Arts Academy, On/Off Main Street + City-owned museums, facilities, parks/recreation, LuluBell Bodega, Queen's Pizzeria, The Sliver Lot, the future site of ArtSpace Mesa Lofts, Central Main Plan, Inside The Bungalow, Plans for Consulari/Lincoln Center West/Julliard School of Music, new transit-oriented, form-based zoning and affordable housing developments Escobedo @ Verde Vista with an on-site tour and stop at El Rancho del Arte - whew! - and wrapped up the session retreating to Mesa Urban Garden with lunch and un-winding from the fast-paced whirlwind of the site visit @ Republica Empanada.
Conversations and ideas were exchanged all around and back-and-forth with the big ideas in opportunities for Creative PlaceMaking in the New Urban Downtown Mesa, while also taking note of the fact that businesses like Pomeroy's Men's Store, Mesa Typewriter Exchange, Lamb's Shoe Repair, The Nile Theater and Pete's Fish & Chips have been in business through up-and-down cycles of the local economy for anywhere from 60-90 years.
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