focus, money and determination on the part of communities and their leaders. Your MesaZona blogger recently sent an email to the Public Information Office of Mayor John Giles asking for a follow-up quote to a couple of lines in an earliest post about a grant from State Farm "In Arizona, funding will advance a corridor redevelopment plan in Tempe and commercial revitalization work along Main Street in Mesa.
Mesa Mayor John Giles, among other city, state, and national leaders working in public-private partnerships, has been a strong supporter for transit-oriented development to regenerate the New Urban Downtown Mesa. He was a part of the on-site visit here last summer by SF Fed Reserve Bank President John Williams to encourage investment in Creative Place Making."
Quite surprisingly, this arrived in the inbox quite fast
Hi Tim,
Here is a quote from Mayor Giles.
“I’m excited for all of the opportunities that transit oriented development can bring to downtown Mesa. From arts and education to housing and nightlife, I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Thanks,
Melissa Randazzo Public Information Office of the Mayor
This blog started out just one year ago writing and publishing about transit-oriented development here in The New Urban Downtown Mesa, having attracted some interest with over 21,000 views.
Arizona-based real estate investment and development company Harvard Investments has teamed-up with not one but two out-of-state companies with "New York-Values" - Lincoln Property Company (LPC) and GTIS Partners LP (“GTIS”), an international real estate private equity firm headquartered in New Yorkare planning to make capital gains here in real estate at Waypoint and Cadence at Gateway - the focus of strategies for economic development by the City of Mesa's Economic Development Office.
Ground broken on Mesa Riverview Office Project 25 Jan 2015/in News
East Valley Tribune
MESA – On Wednesday, Lincoln Property Management broke ground on the Class A office space in Mesa Riverview, which it announced back in June.
The development, now called Waypoint, is located at 1138 Bass Pro Drive and is scheduled to move in its first tenant, the headquarters of American Traffic Solutions, along with some 500-plus jobs, in November.
“Three years ago, Harvard didn’t have any projects in the city of Mesa,” Craig Krumwiede, president and director at Harvard Investments, said. “We wouldn’t be in Mesa without the city’s commitment to responsible development.”
Krumwiede went on to say that the city’s fast tracking of development permissions and other aid allowed the project to meet the deadline necessary to attract ATS to the site.
Harvard Investments and LPC creating 425KSF offices
With the just-closed, $34.34 million office acquisition of Riverview Point, Harvard Investments and Lincoln Property Company (LPC) will combine new construction with existing buildings to establish a 425,861-square-foot, Class A office campus at the borders of Tempe, Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona. The new development, branded collectively as Waypoint, will combine Harvard and LPC’s recently delivered Waypoint One Class A office building. Ground will be broken soon for Waypoint Two Class A office building and the existing, two-building Riverview Point portfolio. The result is a four-building business campus situated on 34.53 acres along the Loop 202 and adjacent to Mesa Riverview, a 1.3 million-square-foot retail, hospitality and entertainment complex. “With this activity, we’re establishing an almost half-million-square-foot office destination within one of the Valley’s brightest business corridors,” said Craig Krumwiede, president of Harvard Investments. “It is a tremendous opportunity to create a very strong new portfolio asset in the market.” Developed in 2008, Riverview Point consists of two, two-story office buildings totaling 164,861 square-feet at 1138 and 1146 N. Alma School Rd. in Mesa. The project is 98 percent leased to tenants including Ashton Woods, Mitel Corporation, Udall Shumway PLC and the corporate headquarters for Nextcare. In March, Harvard and LPC will break ground on Waypoint Two, a 152,000-square-foot Class A office building adjacent to Waypoint One at 1130 N. Alma School Rd. in Mesa. Waypoint Two is designed to accommodate single- and multiple-occupancy users. Like Waypoint One, it will provide a “high-tech” aesthetic with clean lines, timeless materials, simple detailing, bright and open lobbies and workspaces and abundant parking.
Harvard Investments and GTIS Partners Announce New Cadence at Gateway Residential Community in Southeast Mesa
A new master-planned residential community in Mesa’s expanding Gateway corridor.
Harvard expects to break ground in January 2016.
We are excited to be part of a unique master-planned community that will bring housing, retail space and job growth to the city of Mesa,” said Robert Vahradian, Senior Managing Director of GTIS Partners. “Our partner and exceptional design team has integrated the homes, landscaping and amenities together in a way that fosters a true sense of community in the neighborhood.”
Development Timeline Harvard Investments anticipates having homes available in 2017 as part of phase one of Cadence at Gateway. Phase one plans include approximately 600 homes built by nationally-respected builders, in intimate residential neighborhoods, with abundant parks and a trail system, and resident amenities that include a fitness center, pools, sport courts, community center, café and more. In future phases, Cadence at Gateway’s master plan includes a centrally located school site, additional community parks nestled among individualized homes, trails, and a main street commercial experience at the community’s main entrance. Design and Land Plan Built on New American Traditional Design principles, Cadence at Gateway will foster neighborhood connectivity with short residential blocks (average 10 homes on either side), separated sidewalks with abundant greenery, roundabouts, and distinct parks and landmarks for each neighborhood within the community. A richly landscaped entrance will, over time, include a business district with shopping, services and recreation reflective of a traditional main street. Additionally, Cadence at Gateway homes will emphasize indoor/outdoor living, usability, durability, modern conveniences and distinct floor plans for every type of homeowner – from those just starting out, to couples celebrating an empty nest and every type of family in between.
Accessibility Located near the Loop 202 Santan Freeway, at State Route 24 between Ray and Ellsworth roads, Cadence at Gateway is situated in the center of the East Valley’s growing Gateway corridor. The new community will provide residents access to high tech employers, a multitude of education options and the thriving Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport. To learn more about Cadence at Gateway visit http://cadenceaz.com.
Contacts
The Ferraro Group Phoenix (for Harvard Investments) Heather Austin, 602-738-9252
" Mormons are the most heavily Republican-leaning religious group in the U.S., . . . Seven-in-ten U.S. Mormons identify with the Republican Party or say they lean toward the GOP, compared with 19% who identify as or lean Democratic – a difference of 51 percentage points. That’s the biggest gap in favor of the GOP out of 30 religious groups we analyzed, which include Protestant denominations, other religious groups and three categories of people who are religiously unaffiliated . . . "
We are thrilled to make @GlobalTradeMag's list of "#America's Leading EDCs," alongside @GPEC! #EconDev#NextMesa http://www. globaltrademag.com aily/commentary/americas-leading-edcs … Hashtags : #NextMesa, #EconDev, #America
Somebody got up early in the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development to do that post back on 16 Feb
Why all that exuberant excitement in City Hall from the self-described "professional economic developers with expertise in site selection, marketing, sales, research, strategic planning, customer service, technical support, finance, and more" all about?
An announcement from days before that appeared in Global Trade Magazine
Just retrieved this from email inbox on 26 Feb 2016 - days three days ago. Guess yours truly might have been "behind schedule" but no more so than others. It's 01 March now with everything going Fast Fwd.
Message from the Interim CEO – Riding Transit
I have long been a supporter of light rail as an engine to spur economic development and revitalization, but even more importantly it moves people, myself included. Taking public transit from Mesa to downtown Phoenix eases my commute. It is stress free, allows me time to prepare for the day ahead and observe our daily operations. I'm especially looking forward to March 19, when we'll be able to ride light rail an additional three-miles to 19th Avenue and Dunlap.
Valley Metro has done so many good things for the Valley and connecting light rail to new communities is just the beginning. The Valley Metro RPTA Board of Directors approved a plan that will make significant improvements to paratransit services in the Valley. It will eliminate Dial-A-Ride transfers, making connections seamless for riders.
I look forward to using my experience as a private sector chief executive officer, accountant, attorney and mayor to strengthen Valley Metro and continue the good work already accomplished. Many more good things from Valley Metro are just down the road. –Scott Smith, Interim CEO
Blogger's note:
"down the road" looks like this
Here's a map of proposed Valley Metro corridor east of the Central Mesa Light Rail Extension proceeding past Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road
How does DMB's newest Arizona master-planned community continue to grow and sell itself just a few years after getting approvals and starting construction for new housing in a large tract of open land formerly the General Motors Proving Grounds [. acres] It's proving to be fertile ground for real estate developers - an investment that's paying off. Approvals from Mesa City Council came so fast there was no time for shock.
The vision for Eastmark as a major economic core for Phoenix’s East Valley is already coming to fruition. Apple’s Arizona Global Operations Center resides at Eastmark and DMB’s Operations team is working to bring more high-quality jobs to the area. Buyers appreciate living in the heart of the region’s transportation system with direct connection to employment, schools and parks, Eastmark saw strong traffic and sales in its neighborhoods last year - 550 with an average of fifty per month. In response to the rapid sales pace, Eastmark launched its next phase.Residents enjoy a rich community life that will continue to expand in 2016:
Resort style pool for residents coming in 2016
Recreation center for residents opening in 2016
The Eastmark Great Park including Event Pavilion, Splash Pad and The Orange Monster – growing each year
More than 25 neighborhood parks
100+ community and resident programs throughout the year
Two world-class elementary schools in the heart of Eastmark educate more than 1,000 students today.
BASIS, one of the leading charter schools in the nation, operates their only Mesa campus at Eastmark
Sequoia Pathfinder Elementary focuses on STEM education for their students.
A new A-rated public school opened this year to serve the community and it is just a short walk from Eastmark neighborhoods.
Today, Eastmark’s 10 national and local homebuilders are offering more than 80 different home floorplans in 23 neighborhoods. This includes the Encore community, which offers buyers 55+ a unique neighborhood with exclusive amenities within the master-planned community.
Here's a video produced by Eastmark that show you
The Community Life Team and alumni of Eastmark Leadership Class 1 welcomed 20 residents to Class 2 on Feb. 18. Eastmark Leadership is an initiative launched in 2015 to provide residents a valuable opportunity to engage with one another and their community in an enriching way. The goal of the 10-month program is to establish a strong foundation and tradition, The core program focuses on personal leadership development; gaining a deeper understanding of the Eastmark vision and community plan; learning about economic development strategies in the East Valley; and exploring other current issues that impact Eastmark, the region, and the state. Additional special activities offer opportunities to experience points of pride in our community and be introduced to leaders in a variety of public, non-profit, education, and business arenas.
Awesome enough for sure - Find out at Eastmark’s AwesomeFest 2016 on April 9. If you missed it last year, Eastmark’s inaugural AwesomeFest welcomed 6,000 people for a free gathering where artists from around the country delighted audiences for one spectacular night. For one night only, Eastmark’s Great Park will be transformed into Eastmark AwesomeFest featuring a feast for the senses with roaming entertainers, interactive arts and fun, music, technology and food for guests of all ages. If you missed it last year, you DON'T want to be left out this year!
Mesa Mayor John Giles, among other city, state, and national leaders working in public-private partnerships, has been a strong supporter for transit-oriented development to regenerate the New Urban Downtown Mesa.
