How's that "Vision Thing" Going?

Back on September 11, 2014 the City of Mesa announced appointments to the Downtown Vision Ad-Hoc Committee. The Vision Committee’s work is to be concluded within approximately six months [end of March 2015]
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/news/ArticleView?id=44001

You can see the appointed members, and their qualifications by going to this link: http://www.mesaaz.gov/city-hall/advisory-boards-committees/downtown-vision-ad-hoc-committee


The Downtown Vision Committee was asked to:

• Recommend a shared vision and broad goals to the Mesa Mayor and City Council that set a clear intention and direction for the long-term evolution of Downtown Mesa.
• Collaborate with key downtown partners and agencies that will contribute to the implementation of the shared downtown vision.
• Consider Downtown Mesa’s future opportunities, untapped urban growth sectors, barriers to success, and its existing and future market potential.
• Review existing plans and strategies and how to build on, reaffirm and prioritize those outcomes.

The first meeting took place on September 30, 2014 @ 4:04 p.m. and was off to a fast start!
You can look at all the committee agendas and minutes by clicking on this link: Downtown Vision Committee Agendas & Minutes

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Light Rail Train Testing on Main Street

According to information received from Valley Metro, another sign of progress in the Central Mesa Light Rail Extension Project will move forward soon with  train testing taking place beginning in May on Main Street, between Alma School Road and Mesa Drive. . . Watch for trains May 20-22

A section of trackway between Country Club and Mesa Drive has been designed as curbless, with rumble strips, to give an open appearance as drivers and pedestrians view the heart of Mesa’s downtown. At the same time that an "open appearance" might be a good factor in terms of design, some Main Street business owners your blogger has spoken with have concerns that without some kind of barrier vehicle drivers could easily cross over the tracks, attempting to make a U-turn between street intersections and, worst-case scenario with out-of-control drivers - crash over sidewalks and into their storefronts. 

Safety is Valley Metro’s top priority. 

Rules to Remember:

Obey all traffic signals

•  Obey all traffic signals
• Never stop or park a vehicle on the tracks
• Never try to beat a train through an intersection
• Be patient and do not accelerate through yellow lights
• Remember, it takes light rail trains longer to stop
• Look for flashing headlights
• Listen for warning bells and horns

Short [and Late] Notice by City of Mesa for Public Input on an Environmental Assessment?

Click on map to see larger view

Press Release from City of Mesa Newsroom
Federal Aviation Administration's MetroPlex Project includes Mesa

Post Date:05/07/2015 3:11 PM

It wasn't until late in the day yesterday - and more than a month after being notified - that the City of Mesa made an announcement about these intended actions by the FAA that were first posted by the Federal Aviation Administration back on March 27, 2015.
The same day this blog post was published television station KTAR ran a report @ 3:40 P.M. in which Mayor John Giles is quoted as saying: " . . . the study is a case of "better late than never . . . it's important that people step up and let us know how they feel so we can communicate that to the FAA," he said.
Advising citizens of Mesa with only a week's deadline ahead of the extended comment period is just bad if the objective is for people to communicate
.  
Sometimes your MesaZona blogger wonders what century the mayor lives in when he terms the preparation of an environmental assessment a figure of speech from a bygone era,  "This is a great example of the government putting the cart in front of the horse I'm afraid . . ."
Pardon me, but It's not about carts and horses, Mr. Mayor - proposed changes for the "optimization of airport routes" that may affect noise levels over impacted areas and residential real estate development with unyielding growth in the urban fringes and building supporting airport management structures.
http://ktar.com/22/1832464/Mesa-to-be-involved-in-FAA-study-of-possible-flight-plan-changes

While Phoenix Mesa Gateway was included in the original notification, Falcon Field was not added to the additional Study Areas until May 01, 2015 . . . this blog provides some context and a timeline for the public notices issued by the FAA for the Phoenix Metroplex to document the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed optimization of aircraft routes and the supporting airspace management structure serving aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) while departing from or arriving to the Phoenix Metroplex area.

http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/215/ 

March 27, 2015 [Early Notification Letter] 30-day notice
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Phoenix Metroplex Project
http://metroplexenvironmental.com/docs/phx_metroplex/PHX_Metroplex_NOI_150327.pdf

This notification letter is to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the potential environmental impacts of the implementation of the Phoenix Metroplex (PHX Metroplex) Project. Attachment 1 is a copy of the Notice that will be published in major newspapers in the Phoenix and Tucson area that notifies the general public of the FAA’s intent to prepare an EA.

 to evaluate potential impacts of changes in aircraft routing that are proposed to occur below 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
If you desire to provide comments and/or have any questions about the information provided, please provide them by letter or email, before Monday, April 27, 2015 . . .

April 30, 2015 Revised NOI: Extension of Comment Period for the NOI above 14-day notice
http://metroplexenvironmental.com/docs/phx_metroplex/PHX_Metroplex_NOI_150501.pdf
This notification letter is to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the comment period ... to May 15, 2015

May 01, 2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS 14-day notice

05/01/2015 - The Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Phoenix (PHX) Metroplex Project has been published. Since publication of the Notice, additional Study Airports have been added to the scope of the Project. The original and revised Notice of Intent are available here. If you desire to provide comments and/or have any questions about the information provided, please provide them by letter or email, before Friday, May 15, 2015.

http://metroplexenvironmental.com/phx_metroplex/phx_introduction.html

If you desire to provide comments and/or have any questions about the information provided in the Notice of Intent, please provide them by letter or email, before Friday, May 15, 2015, at the following address:

Phoenix Metroplex EA
Marina Landis
Environmental Specialist
Western Service Area - Operations Support Group, AJV-W22
Federal Aviation Administration
1601 Lind Ave., SW, Renton, WA 98057
9-ANM-Phoenix-Metroplex-Project@faa.gov

Meet Mesa Downtown Artist William Barnhart @ Mesa Arts Center

THE SEATTLE SERIES

William Barnhart

Current Exhibition
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum  
Created in the summer of 2014, Mesa Arizona artist William Barnhart’s Seattle Series is a gorgeous collection of large-scale, high-color, oil-on-canvas paintings. Barnhart honors aquatic and aviary life in his inimitable style: wide strokes, bright vistas, deep movement. Made while the prolific, celebrated artist was sailing on Washington’s Lake Union on his beloved, restored sailboat, “Champion,” this new series interpret the sights, sounds and experiences of being alive.

Curated by Robrt Pela.

Running at the same times as Friday Night Out in Downtown Mesa

OPENING RECEPTION Friday, May 8, 2015 (7-10pm)

FREE and Open to the Public
• Musical Entertainment
• Artists in Attendance
• Light Refreshments and Cash Bar

VIP/MEMBERS PRIVATE RECEPTION: 6-7PM (RSVP Event!)
Wayne and Kathye Brown Sculpture Courtyard
Call 480-644-6615 to RSVP

Walk-Able? Yes ... and the New Urban Downtown Mesa is filled with History - Get to Know It

This building from 1894 seen in the image to the left is gone in the vanished past, destroyed by a fire in 1921, and replaced with the present structure at 43 S Macdonald Street that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What it looks like and how it functions today opens a window to the past and economic conditions today -  the Alhambra Hotel, opened as the Pioneer Hotel in 1894 at 43 S. Macdonald and mirrors downtown Mesa's rise and fall.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/07/07/20100707mesa-preserve-commercial-property.html#ixzz3aXLg8jFi

- it  is yours to discover in a self-guided walking tour of Historic Downtown Mesa now available both online and in a printed brochure - thanks to the efforts of The Mesa Preservation Foundation.
Images like these, while not shown in the somewhat-sketchy brochure, will help guide us in the right directions for all the re-envisioning taking place in downtown Mesa
Read More >>>

Republica Empanada: An Extraordinary Property in New Urban Downtown Mesa gets recognized by the City

Press Release from the City of Mesa Newsroom
05/05/2015 8:52 AM
You can read the entire release here: http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/199/ 

While The City of Mesa’s Extraordinary Properties Campaign has recognized three commercial property owners who exceed design standards, there is one on the list that brings "simple urban industrial chic" design to downtown that was done by the owner Marco Meraz with friends and family doing much of the work during a two-year renovation.
The mid-century architecture is a unique contrast to the brick and stucco rows showcased along Main Street. Its location at the northeast corner of Hibbbert & First Avenue adjoins a thriving urban community garden providing a hands-on greenspace where residents can plant and grow their own food. Mesa Urban Garden
This Pan-Latin bistro,specializing in Arizona's largest variety of South American style savory empanadas, adds international flavors for both residents and visitors alike The menu offerings represent the different regions and tastes of Latin American comfort food.
Hmmm ... what early-day pioneer back in 1878 could ever have imagined in  their wildest plans that Mesa would be the location in Arizona for the largest variety of South American-style savory empanadas?

The restaurant has seating and service both inside and outside - you can see images taken by the photographer Ivan Martinez by going to RE's website. Local place with international flavors.

In plugging new urban downtown businesses like I do all the time, whether it's retail, services, education, arts-and-entertainment, recreation, or foods & drinks & eats, you gotta taste some of the whopping local, domestic and international 18 beers here from Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Maui Hawaii, Cali, Oregon, Colorado, France, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Wines are stocked from Argentina, Chile, Spain, Italy and Mexico. 

While the City of Mesa recognizes the architecture of commercial properties, MesaZona blog recognizes the accomplishment of an owner and his friends and family bringing different tastes and flavors to downtown. 
Mesa may be conservative in its politics, but there's no doubt it enjoys diversity in the menus offered on/off Main Street.

SPOTLIGHT: Other Blogs About Downtown Mesa

1. Very nice to see a new posting from May 1, 2015 on the Build a Better Mesa blog ... the previous one was way back on December 31 of last year.
The article features a downtown business owner, Amy Del Castillo who is the co-owner of Lulubell Toy Bodega Lulubell Toys with both a brick-and-mortar retail store on Main Street and an online presence for toy manufacturers and distributors: 

NEDCO's (Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation) business assistance helped Lulubell Toys during the light rail construction. She says, "being a small business with no staff, the NEDCO assistance was a lifesaver!"

Her business mission is to bring art of all kinds to Downtown Mesa and have a place for all kinds of artists to be.

Here's a link to Love Letter To Mesa❤️: Amy Del Castillo 
http://buildabetterdowntownmesa.blogspot.com/2015/05/love-letter-to-mesa-amy-del-castillo.html 

2. The mayor of Mesa, John Giles, has his own blog called Next Mesa

 According to the blog and answering the question, What is NextMesa?, the mayor writes:

"I'm an old Mesa guy. I love reminiscing about the small city I grew up in. We live in a different Mesa now. It's changed and I'm okay with that. The Mesa our children will inherit will even be different from this one. It will be the one we plan and create now. I want us to continue to improve . . ."

On the average of about twice per month he has entries called "what's next food for thought" featuring going to Mesa restaurants usually with City officials, and details about the owners and the reason for the visit. In the posting for April 29, 2015 he had lunch at Orchard Eats with his wife Dawn, with personal, business and family details usually reserved for privacy for those  holding public office. The wife of Mesa's mayor is shown in an image prominently featured on the mayor's blog.

The mayor says the food, prices, location, decor and service at Orchard Eats were all excellent and rated Two thumbs up! by the mayor.

But if you look at the hand gesture in the image it's not two thumbs up .... and it's a gesture that in some cultures is vulgar and offensive. 

3. Mesa Arts Center, the city-owned $98 Million Dollar economic engine currently driving development of the New Urban Downtown Mesa, has its own blog that people may not be familiar with - it's great!
BlogSpot for Mesa Arts Center

Older image from 1EMain Blog

Your MesaZona blogger was particularly impressed with their report from April 16, 2015 about downtown artist Bill Barnhart, with an exhibition "Seattle Series" now on exhibit in the Mesa Contemporary Crafts Museum that runs until August 16th.
Entrance is free to MCAM - please take advantage of the opportunity while you're visiting downtown Mesa.

The New Urban Downtown Mesa is home to artists like Bill Barnhart who live and work downtown from a ‘work of art’ building [image to the right] that he created from scratch. It is located on Center Street just above University Drive on the west side. I've always wondered what that building was all about - it's his studio. 

Here's a 3:45 You Tube Video that was uploaded by the artist on January 18, 2012 of his new art studio that was built over two-and-half years. He says, "It was an amazing learning experience and a test of personal fortitude and determination to see the project to completion......well.....it is NEVER really complete," as he keeps adding new things to it - like the monumental sculpture installation in the left side in the front that was recently photographed.

 

Bill strives to make artwork that will lift, and inspire the hearts and minds of man.

Here's a link to his website: http://www.fineartist.com/home.html