The term “car lite” encompasses a variety of multimodal transportation lifestyles, featuring little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. It typically looks like sharing one car within a household or only using a car when absolutely necessary.
City of Mesa Approves Transformative Culdesac Development at Site 17
September 9, 2025 at 12:52 pmThe Mesa City Council has approved a landmark agreement with Culdesac to transform Site 17-an underutilized 27-acre property along the Valley Metro light rail line-into a vibrant, mixed-use community that will bring new housing, retail and economic activity to the heart of downtown.
The project will deliver approximately1,000 residential units - including for-sale townhomes, condominiums, and rental apartments - alongside 25,000 to 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.
With a design emphasizing walkability, community and open space, the development will feature plazas, flexible commercial spaces for small businesses and amenities that encourage a car-lite lifestyle.
- Phase I will begin with approximately 140 for-sale townhomes and live-work units, welcoming new residents who will put down roots in downtown Mesa.
- The development agreement also includes significant public realm improvements, ensuring the neighborhood is well-integrated with our growing downtown.
Construction of Phase I is expected to commence in 2027 following planning and zoning approvals, with full build-out anticipated by 2034.
| Agenda | |
|---|---|
| 1-a Hear a presentation and discuss a proposed ground lease, development agreement, and purchase options between the City of Mesa and RN 1 Real Estate, LLC (AKA, Culdesac) for the approximately 25-acres of City-owned land at the southwest corner of University and Mesa Drives and the next steps for development of the property. | |
| 1-b Hear a presentation and discuss an update on the 2024 Bond funded dining, retail and urban farming education improvements at the Historic Sirrine House. | |
| 2 Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees. | |
| 3 Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended. | |
| 4 Scheduling of meetings. |
| File #: | 25-0702 |
| Type: | Presentation | Status: | Agenda Ready |
| In control: | City Council Study Session |
| On agenda: | 8/28/2025 |
| Title: | Hear a presentation and discuss a proposed ground lease, development agreement, and purchase options between the City of Mesa and RN 1 Real Estate, LLC (AKA, Culdesac) for the approximately 25-acres of City-owned land at the southwest corner of University and Mesa Drives and the next steps for development of the property. |
| Attachments: | 1. Presentation |
How China Builds Entire Cities in 30 Days — What America Takes 30 Years
29 March 2022
STIGMATIZED INFAMOUS SITE 17:
A Relic of Downtown Bulldozing + Bad Urban Land-Use Planning
However it came to be known as The Mesa Verde Resort DebacleThis public statement made last year:
"The City of Mesa wishes to transform 27 acres of city-owned land at the SWC of University and Mesa Drive into 'a vibrant and cohesive urban mixed-use project' and is requesting a partner to help with that vision . . ."
Can city boondoggle be a downtown boon?
"Mesa City Council hopes this is the year to finally turn a downtown boondoggle into a boon for downtown. Council recently heard the latest development plan for 27 acres of city-owned land just north of Main Street near Phoenix Marriott Mesa that Mesa acquired through eminent domain, leveling 63 homes at a taxpayer cost of $6 million.
INSERT: Streaming video upload of the actual City Council Study Session
INSERT: Excerpt from earlier post
WHAT HAPPENED?
". . . On May 6, the City of Mesa issued a Request for Qualifications for a developer to help redevelop the currently vacant Opportunity Zone site, also known as Transform
17
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>If Mesa succeeds in bringing the long-dreamed redevelopment into reality with the city’s latest partner on the project, Miravista Holdings, it would make the third decade the charm for a prime piece of real estate that has long sat vacant.
The city started purchasing property at the southwest corner Mesa and University Drives in 1996 and eventually acquired homes through eminent domain in order to make way for a 12-story water-park resort proposed by a Canadian developer.
But the planned Mesa Verde water resort died after the developer failed to secure funding.
The Infamous Site 17: Downtown Mesa's Biggest Urban Eyesore/Downtown Development Wreck
Here's an excerpt from a post on this blog site two years ago:
18 November 2016
At tonight's Mesa City Council Study Session for Monday, Nov 21, 2016,one item stands out on the Final Agenda, but first some background to put things into perspective . . .
_________________________________________________________________________
It's
the result of bad urban planning when city officials only listened to
real estate developer speculation schemes that demolished more than 60
homes to destroy a neighborhood leaving 27 acres vacant, ugly and
un-used and it's city-owned. City officials now own the damage done and
have hired a group of consultants who tried to transform a part of
downtown Gilbert's Heritage Area.
The history here on this infamous site -
and all the problems - simply cannot be ignored now. . . Jeff McVay,
the city's so-called "Director of Downtown Transformation" failed
miserably two years wasting time-and-money on citizen input sessions
that got nowhere.
Did the community already provide input on this site?
_________________________________________________________________________
BLOGGER
NOTE: I only attended one of the workshops two years ago, observing the
domination and control by the Mesa Grande/ANA (Action Neighborhood
Alliance).
Likewise, once again, at the Steering Committee the same complaint was voiced for actions by the Mesa Grande/ANA (Action Neighborhood Alliance)
_________________________________________________________________________
Yes! There
were two community meetings and a survey conducted in the summer of
2016. After those meetings, Mesa City Council asked that a consultant be hired to create conceptual master plans for the property with more community input. The consultant, Crandall Arambula, was hired in September 2018 and has received all of the input from 2016 for review.
This is their promise to fulfill the ____ contract:
“We
will provide the Mesa community with maximum value for investment. We
are passionate about assisting communities through our depth of
experience and research, and we are committed to the long-term success
of this project. The measure of that success will ultimately be the
development of a vibrant community that is harmonious with greater
Downtown Mesa. We look forward to working with you.”
________________________________________________________________
What makes your MesaZona blogger turn red is this statement just a few days ago made by Mesa Mayor John Giles:
"The city is not in the business of owning remnant, undeveloped pieces of properties, . . . "
WTF????
How wrong can Giles get spouting bullshit like that with blinders on when Site 17 has been an ugly eyesore for more than 30 years. He sees only what he wants to see and lacks any vision whatsoever unless it's fed to as bait.
_________________________________________________________________________
Some people who attended the first presentation have told me they were "disappointed" and that's putting it mildly to say the least!
Here's a link to the workshop six weeks ago where attendees were told to only submit written comments: https://www.mesaaz.gov/about-us/city-projects/downtown-transformation/university-mesa
Slick-and-slippery: The Process
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