Just another one of those things that drives your MesaZona blogger to publish different points-of-view from corporate-owned mainstream media is stuff like this that gets rolled out to the public about Valley Metro. Some people who actually live in Downtown Mesa are still left wondering if that Salvation Train promised by Mayor John Giles has delivered the goods.
As both a detractor and promoter of public transit and transit-oriented development, yours truly might choose to skip a few beats drummed-up all the time for any engine that can deliver economic development here in 'The Old Donut-Hole' that's now classified as a distressed neglected area Opportunity Zone three years after Valley Metro Light Rail Service ran a three-mile extension opening three platform stations through the Central Business District. Thirteen years ago, the $100M Mesa Arts Center did not magically turn Mesa into an Arts-and-Culture Mecca nor was it the promised engine for economic development downtown that now appears more on flat-line life support than getting revitalized or "in the midst of a revival" after more than 40 years of neglect.
Vibrant and exciting it's not, except for special events and Pop-Up festivals. Retail is zombie-dead. It's a four-day downtown with city government's Mon-Thu workweek. 24/7 Night Life? Forget about that . . .
But Hey! We really do want to believe it all
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Development around light rail has changed Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa
What else:
> Since 2008 more than 35,000 jobs have come to areas with 1/2 mile of light rail
> Overall, more than $11 billion has been invested in development along the Valley’s light-rail line during its first decade, creating 50 million square feet of housing, office, shopping, hotel, school and government space, according to light rail’s manager Valley Metro.
> Almost $1 billion was invested in land and projects around the light-rail route before it opened in 2008.
> In downtown Mesa, Encore on First, a five-story, 81-unit urban building, has been constructed to provide transit-oriented living for seniors. The new housing project includes a fitness room, reflection pool, lounge with a large covered balcony, storage lockers and barbecue area.
What the two reporters missed here in Downtown Mesa:
> The Gorman Company's Escobedo at Verde Vista
> La Mesita
> Community Development Partner's El Rancho Del Arte [Phase I]
> Community Development Partner's El Rancho Del Sol [Phase II]
> Venue Project's Adapted Re-Use of an Historic Property: Alhambra Residence Hall
> Encore On First West
> Residences on First (first market-rate housing built in 30 years)
The image below is the 175-unit 15-story Courtyard Towers, originally an apartment building constructed in 1985 and converted to an assisted-living facility 12 years later in 1997. It is the tallest biggest in downtown, towering over the one-story buildings blocked out in the image by a light rail car.
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One take-away from the two AZ Repub reporters that's more believable than some others:
Mike Milano, general manager of Milano Music Center on Main Street, isn’t sure light rail has exceeded the community’s expectations so far. But he believes it will in the future.
Milano said while the music store, which has been in downtown Mesa since 1946 and celebrated its 72nd anniversary in November, was not affected by construction because it’s a destination, many of the surrounding businesses suffered.
The affect construction had on businesses is just now beginning to turn around, he said.
Still, Milano said while developers have begun investing in the area, it has happened much more slowly than anticipated.
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This got a mention with the incorrect size of the Massive Mormon Temple Transformation of Downtown Mesa:
". . . Also, , the Mormon church is redeveloping almost five acres into new homes next to its temple in downtown Mesa. Residents and preservationists have protested plans for that project, as it calls for the demolition of some historic housing
Correction: That's almost doubled-in-size
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Some light-rail detractors still dispute whether the train is drawing enough passengers to justify its costs.
