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

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Emerging Markets Double Trouble! Expensive Oil and Weak Currencies! Coul...

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Published on Oct 2, 2018
Views: 2,583

Uncommon: What It Takes To Trip Up The Typical

Published on Sep 27, 2018

How do you be Uncommon?

Complex problems take uncommon solutions – and uncommon folks, like you,
who believe education and entrepreneurship can empower people to shape their futures.

Round-Up: Mesa City Council Meetings Mon 01 Oct 2018

Let's try something different here today for yesterday's two meetings of your Mesa City Council. Business-as-usual once again.

Next meeting in ten days on October 11th
Here's a link to the Calendar of Events
Council, Committee and Board Research Center
http://mesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
October Meetings:
City Council Meeting

~~11/05/2018 5:45 PM - 7:00 PM~~

City Council Meeting

11/19/2018 5:45 PM - 7:00 PM

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Study Session 06:04

Regular Meeting 25:04
6 Views

Monday, October 01, 2018

OUR FUTURES ARE ON-THE-LINE: Candidates For Mesa City Council in Districts 3 & 4 Want Your Votes

Here's the Good News: Free Moderated Public Debate
For 4 Mesa City Council Candidates.
Now the rest is up to YOU and it's time for a change to demand candidates that are more open, more transparent and more accountable to represent the interests of residents in their districts.
Engaged residents do make government more effective.

Let's start with basics:
First of all
Do you know what district you live in?
If you have not registered to vote. Do it now.
What issues directly impact you?
> Jobs and incomes
> Affordability
> Quality of life
> Neglected and distressed neighborhoods
> Mesa's failing education system
> That old "Crony Capitalism"
> The entrenched political machine
> A vision where everyone is not included
> An increased public debt burden that serves and finances special interests rather than providing benefits to the public
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Hear from 4 Mesa City Council candidates in a forum at Benedictine University on Thursday October 4, 2018 and learn more about the four candidates in runoff races in District 3 and District 4 for the Mesa City Council.

The Arizona Republic is partnering with Benedictine University and the Downtown Mesa Association to host the forum from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Republic reporter Lily Altavena will moderate the forum, with questions from the audience and sponsoring partners.

Early voting begins October 10, 2018

The forum is open to the public and admission is free.

SEND QUESTIONS

Have a question you’d like The Republic to ask candidates?

Send it to Editor Carrie Watters at carrie.watters@arizonarepublic.com.

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Back-To-The-Drawing Boards: The Mesa LDS Temple + "Mesa-Authentic Architecture"

The LDS Temple here on Main Street is now "closed for renovations" for two years and is one of the oldest temples in the Church, one of the first not designed by a designated Church architect. Like an older temple in Cardston, Alberta Canada, they were built in a style called the “Solomon’s Temple” template.
The idea was to mimic, on the exterior at least, the design of the Temple of Solomon as described in the Old Testament. Since we don’t know precisely what it looked like, there is a lot of room for interpretation.
Interesting factoid: the design for Mesa Arizona Temple was actually put to a competition! Two entries that did not win:
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Blogger Note:
The second one is more in keeping with Mesa's heritage and history >
See the map below
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Here are some excerpts from 2016 published on a blog, reproduced in the italicized inserts below from Obsessive Temple Architecture Syndrome

"I’m not so crazy about this design. It looks like the beehive motif was used for the spire, and as much as I like beehives, it looks a little to me like the architectural equivalent of wearing a novelty hat in the shape of an ice cream cone or a wedge of cheese.
It is interesting to note that an Angel Moroni statue was proposed in that design—it would have been the third LDS temple to feature an angel on the spire, after Nauvoo and Salt Lake. Similar designs, at least from this front view, would later be used in some 21st century temples like, for instance, the San Salvador temple, but without the beehive on top."

" Now, for my part, I must confess that I am slightly sad that the Cannon and Fetzer entry did not win. I like the very Spanish/Pueblo style and the large window, a little reminiscent of Santiago de Compostela. . . "

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Here's an enlargement of the Omar-Turney Hohokan Canals Map that clearly documents and provides evidence of both the Spanish and First Peoples who were here for centuries before 'The Pioneers' arrived on their territory in the mid-!850's. It show Spanish place-names "Pueblo" designated towns or settlements that have names from The Book of Mormon appended to them, like Lehi and Moroni and Nephi

TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP DETAILS:

You can see

Pueblo Moroni at middle left with many small reservoirs and temples

Pueblo Nephi: that was one of the first names Mormon settlers wanted to call Mesa

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Pueblo Lehi: Locate that . . . you might be surprised to know that Pueblo Lehi became this: What did it take to dig into and re-claim this early heritage and history here in the City of Mesa > a group of citizens who organized and documented archeological evidence of indigenous earlier inhabitants who lived here for centuries before the arrival of Mormon settlers from Utah in the Mid-1850's ....Residents in the neighborhood in the LDS Temple area have said that artifacts have been found.

MESA GRANDE CULTURAL PARK

While there's demolition and digging already in-progress onsite on the Mesa Temple Grounds, it's also a GOOD OPPORTUNITY to have a team of archeologists onsite - the place could be hallowed and sacred ground . . . .

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One account in a 1991 edition of a book called "Our Town" stated there were 300 Mormon settlers and 5,000 Papago Indians already living here.

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HERE'S THE WINNER OF THE DESIGN COMPETITION:

The idea was to mimic, on the exterior at least, the design of the Temple of Solomon as described in the Old Testament

Ultimately, though, the design that won belonged to Don Carlos Young, Jr., and Ramm Hanson.

Huh? Jobs Pouring In, Firms Flocking, Job Numbers Sizzling + EV Numbers On Fire?

Looks like another East Valley Tribune staff writer Jason Stone was pushed into hyper-drive and hyper-happy talk using all the mixed metaphors in the post headline here . . . Are you ready for what gets spoon-fed to you from the East Valley Tribune as top story front-page "the news"?
Arizona’s job numbers are sizzling, but East Valley numbers are on fire. A recent report from the East Valley Partnership said the region’s six communities – Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek and Apache Junction – added a total of 4,589 jobs from January through June this year. . . "
OK. So where's that report to be found?
Jobs. OK. What kind of jobs?

“It’s fun to be mayor when the economy is doing well,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said.
Here’s just how fun: The East Valley’s job gains were more than half of all jobs generated in the greater Phoenix area – which is impressive considering the growth that’s also occurring in the West Valley.
The investment and manufacturing sectors are seeing the biggest job growth in the region, followed by technology and financial services.
“It’s been a great ride for the East Valley and Mesa in particular,” Giles said.

MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Local economic and government leaders agree there’s not just one reason big companies are either relocating to the East Valley or expanding here.
They say it’s a combination of low taxes, low regulations, space to expand, good weather and some forward thinking.

“Plus, people who move here actually like it here,” said Denny Barney, president and CEO of the East Valley Partnership and a Maricopa County supervisor.
“Businesses want to be here,” Barney said.
“Aside from a stable tax policy, we have affordable housing and a good quality of life. And the single biggest factor is we have an educated workforce that’s ready to be deployed.”
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"The job is also getting cities ready for businesses to set up shop. If ever the phrase “if you build it, they will come” was true, the East Valley is experiencing that.

For example, Mesa is laying the groundwork for much of its business momentum with improvements to its so-called “technology corridor.”
In April, the city voted to spend $10 million for improvements for the area, which stretches along Elliot Road from Ellsworth to Signal Butte.

Then we have that "$5-Billion Dollar Mile " .

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". . . And don’t forget about Arizona State University’s plan to add a satellite campus in downtown Mesa. Programs using augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and 3D design will be the focus of the $63.5 million campus, giving Mesa another footprint in the tech world . . ."
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Go ahead and Read more >
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/jobs-pouring-into-east-valley-as-firms-flock-to-region/article_9685b402-c36b-11e8-b7b8-13b824f6f48d.html

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Real Estate & For-Profit Religion: The Massive Mormon Make-Over of Downtown Mesa

Redevelopment Plans Announced for Area Near Mesa Arizona Temple

We are so blessed!
Just another one of those 'Revelations', published today by East Valley Tribune staff writer Jim Walsh who's getting ahead of his stories published by The Times Media Group for local consumption, framing them with a battle between "historic preservation can't beat progress" and "revitalizing" downtown Mesa.
Now he's revealing Phase 2 in the Mesa LDS Temple-area, where for-profit investment affiliates own more than 70 properties - they essentially "own the neighborhood" so we won't see any neighbors objecting. Furthermore, judging by election signs in front yards, It's Jake Brown's home turf.
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Blogger Note1: Writer Jim Walsh provides no links to the statement by CCRI Spokesman Dale Bills that he uses in the reporting and he doesn't name the CCRI 'affiliates' who own the land increasing the original Phase 1 of 4.6 acres to the 8.2 acres in Phase 2.
Blogger Note 2: Scroll down below in related content to see the sources of the announcements and revelations about earlier plans - Question: Is this really what Mesa needs?

TIME FOR A REACTION?
Or cross your fingers behind your back and hope no one notices?
Blogger Note: It's very clear from statements made by Matt Baldwin, real estate development director for City Creek Reserve (CCRI)), an investment affiliate of the Church.
We’ve been planning this project for years, . .We’ve talked with city and county government leaders, city planning staff and other local developers.

The proposed bland retro-historic and "Mesa-Authentic"
architecture looks a lot like the Mesa Superio Court Building
on the NWC of 1st Avenue/Pomeroy

“We want to enhance and beautify this block, but we also want to make sure what we’re proposing is what downtown Mesa needs, . ."
while NOT talking to the people who actually live here in downtown Mesa? City Creek’s challenge in completing the project is demonstrated by the wide spectrum of reaction.

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Scope of Mormon Temple-area project in Mesa to be doubled
"City Creek Reserve is planning to nearly double the size of the redevelopment project west of downtown Mesa’s iconic temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
City Creek Reserve, the church’s real estate division of the church, will expand the redevelopment project from the original 4.5 acres to 8.2 acres, according to spokesman Dale Bills.

“City Creek Reserve is expanding its mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment at Mesa and Main to include additional residences. New townhomes and single-family homes will be constructed on land already owned by CCRI affiliates, increasing the total number of redeveloped acres from 4.5 to 8.2,’’ Bills said in a statement. . . "

As reported on this blog earlier with an image of bulldozing at the site for Residences On Main & Mesa, ". . . Construction has already begun on the project, which Bills said is aimed at creating “a neighborhood with diverse residential unit sizes, comfortably scaled buildings, Mesa-authentic architecture, and landscaped streets and gardens. . . The expanded project was not unanticipated by Mesa preservation officials, who always suspected that there might be a Phase II added to the project. They noted that the church owns additional property south of the original project’s boundary.
Carl Duke, City Creek Reserve’s vice president, is scheduled to brief the Mesa Historic Preservation Board on Tuesday about his plans to demolish the seven historic homes covered by the original demolition permits requested by the company earlier this year, and discuss six additional homes that would be demolished as part of Phase II.
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READ MORE > http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/scope-of-mormon-temple-area-project-in-mesa-to-be/article_72245224-c4d5-11e8-a88f-4fa589377d9d.html_________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT:
> Source: LDS Missionaries https://ldsmissionaries.com

Plans have been announced to redevelop 4.5 acres of land along the Main Street light rail corridor in Mesa, Arizona, an area located just west of the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A new mixed-use community will replace vacant lots and buildings near the temple, which is currently closed for renovation.

“We’ve been planning this project for years,” said Matt Baldwin, real estate development director for City Creek Reserve (CCRI)), an investment affiliate of the Church.
“We’ve talked with city and county government leaders, city planning staff and other local developers. We want to enhance and beautify this block, but we also want to make sure what we’re proposing is what downtown Mesa needs,” he added. . . .
Image: Matt Baldwin with Mesa developer Tony Wall and Mike Hutchinson, former Mesa City Manager and Vice President East Valley Partnership
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> Source: The Mormon News Room https://www.mormonnewsroom.org

"We’ve been planning this project for years,” said Matt Baldwin, real estate development director for City Creek Reserve (CCRI), an investment affiliate of the Church. “We’ve talked with city and county government leaders, city planning staff and other local developers. We want to enhance and beautify this block, but we also want to make sure what we’re proposing is what downtown Mesa needs,”

The revitalization, located between Mesa Drive and LeSueur Street, will include 240 apartments, 12 townhomes, 70,000 square feet of landscaped open space, ground floor retail space and 450 spaces for underground parking. Retail tenants will be accommodated in up to 12,500 square feet of ground floor space

Mike Hutchinson

“What CCRI has envisioned is exactly right for downtown Mesa right now,” observed Mike Hutchinson, executive vice president of the East Valley Partnership and former Mesa city manager.
“They’ve done their homework. This project will bring renewed vitality to this key block on Main Street.”

Pending rezoning and permit approvals, City Creek expects to begin construction in September of this year, with completion projected in 24–30 months in late 2020 or early 2021.
City Creek Reserve, Inc. (CCRI) is a real estate investment affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. CCRI is the master developer of City Creek, a sustainably-designed, 23-acre, walkable urban community of residences, offices and retail stores in downtown Salt Lake City, which has renewed and revitalized the heart of the city
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> "Authentic Mesa architecture" ????????????????????????????????????????

Blogger Note: If you're really talking about "authentic Mesa architecture" way-back-when it looked like this in the image to the left of the 2-story Zenos Co-Op on Main Street, one of the mercantile early Mormon establishments to develop the local economy. The name comes directly from a prophet in The Book of Mormon.
Just like today's Main Street historic district it was neglected over the years and fell into ruin.

Here's another sample of authentic Mesa architecture on Main Street - note the variety of styles and the low-scale of the storefronts.
There are even earlier existing examples of different architectural styles that incorporate the days pre-Pioneer like the Spanish Mission Revival of Chandler Court and on a number of historic residential properties around town.
Transplanting a smaller version of a City Creek project from Salt Lake City into downtown Mesa is just mis-guided and wrong > THAT'S NOT WHAT MAKES MESA UNIQUE
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Architect pans Mormon redevelopment project's 'look'

By Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer

The planned look of the apartment-retail complex planned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for an area east of the Mesa Arizona Temple doesn’t impress some appointed city board members. Architect Tim Boyle thought the design lacked energy, but developers say they are trying to respect the project’s proximity to the temple.City Creek Reserve

". . . Board member Tim Boyle, a Mesa native and an architect himself, was underwhelmed by the renderings, as was board member Shelly Allen.
Eventually, the board voted to recommend approval of the zoning change – necessary for the planned transit development along the Metro light rail – but also decided to send the project to Mesa’s Design Review Board for an extra level of scrutiny.
“As far as the zoning, I think it’s great. I would like to inject some energy into the design,’’ Boyle said, adding that the design makes the new complex look like something built decades ago.
“I think it has a way to go,’’ Boyle said.
Tom Ellsworth, a Mesa city planner, said architectural design is always open to interpretation and usually boils down to one person’s opinion.
He said the Design Review Board’s findings give city planners an extra level of expertise when deciding whether to approve a project.
He cautioned that the LDS redevelopment proposal is still in an early stage and that City Creek has not submitted a site plan, which is far more specific than the renderings. David Davis, the project’s architect, told the board that he is trying to blend old with new.
“We don’t want the buildings to look too big,’’ Davis said.
"We are interested in an authentic Mesa, authentic Southwestern character. We don’t want to match the Temple.
The 91-year-old Temple is among Mesa’s most iconic buildings and is a powerful symbol of its Mormon pioneer heritage.
City Creek’s challenge in completing the project is demonstrated by the wide spectrum of reaction.
If the zoning change is granted [in August], City Creek would start demolishing some church-owned commercial properties along Main Street and Mesa Drive later that month.