Q2 2019 Newsletter from City of Mesa Office of Economic Development

Let's start this off with an image from Arcgis that shows what is titled The Urban Expansion of Phoenix available online that can give readers of this blog an expanded perspective that puts Mesa in the context of area geographic development.
No one would call the kind of expansion you see  "urban", although the over-used word "suburban" might be used to describe it.
In common usage is another word with some serious negative connotations in land-use planning lingo: SPRAWL.
Your MesaZona blogger likes the word "Spawn" to describe the current future breeding grounds where people choose to live outside of older city centers - like Mesa, east and south.
What do we get beyond "urban centers" and how to develop new areas for places to live and places to work: real estate speculation for investments in vast tracts of open acreage to incentivize residential/commercial/industrial growth > spending on highways and loops and installation of utilities (water, sewer, electric and gas power lines, fiber optic/broadband hook-ups and networks) > scattered business parks, industrial and manufacturing corridors inside the "inner loops", tech centers and data centers, new employment corridors and multi-modal airport zones that can capitalize on transportation logics.
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If truth be told, the Director for the city's Office of Economic Development doesn't look like this any more.
Neither does Mesa after his arrival 12 years ago.
You might notice that this 2nd Quarter 2019 Newsletter is getting published ahead of time (it's usually April-May-June).
Along with the usual "Mesa In The News" column that just reprints what is published, Bill has highlights he wants you to know about.
THE ECONOMIC REPORTER Second Quarter 2019
The QUICK JAB
By Bill Jabjiniak
Economic growth and Opportunity Zones driving new industrial development in Mesa
"Since January 2018, more than 30 industrial buildings, consisting of nearly 2.5 million square feet, have been constructed, are under construction, or are currently in the entitlement process in the City of Mesa.
Many of these projects are located in Mesa’s Opportunity Zones.
Companies including Piper Plastics, EuroContempo, EdgeCore, and PotatoBarn have all broken ground or opened space in the last 12 months in both the Falcon District and Mesa’s Gateway Area.
In fact, so much activity has occurred in and around Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport that in Oct. 2018, the Phoenix Business Journal identified the area as “the next industrial development hot spot.”
LINK to the entire Economic Reporter Newsletter is inserted farther down
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Blogger Insert: To the left you can see a infographic taken from an April publication Community Impact for Gilbert.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is the former military base Williams Field. It is very close to the Gilbert boundary.
An Employment Corridor
Take a look at the numbers from the sources they use for community impact. How's that for Return-On-Investment?
Public Investment:  $504,000,000
Private Investment: $  87,000,000
Investment dollars from the public are about 500% more than dollars from private interests.
What does that tell you? Benefits for the public _______
Benefits for private investors ______________________
(Fill-in the blanks  . . . )
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The federal Opportunity Zones program, which enables investors to defer and discount capital gains tax owed should they invest in a qualified Opportunity Fund, has driven much of the interest in industrial speculative space in Mesa.
Eleven census tracts in Mesa have been designated as Opportunity Zones, further incentive for companies and developers to invest in Mesa.
A map of Mesa’s Opportunity Zones can be viewed here.
The chart below includes a sampling of the current opportunities and industrial developments in Mesa.
As the economy continues to strengthen and more information is published about the Opportunity Zones program, we expect to see steady interest in these and other properties: 

Recent Industrial Development in Mesa
Site Name	Location	Bldgs	SF	Delivery Date	District	Opp. Zone*
Gateway  Technology  Commerce  Center	Ray Rd. between  Sossaman Rd./  Hawes Rd.	2	138,901	May 2019 Under Const.	Gateway	Yes
The Landing	Ray Rd. between  Sossaman Rd./  Hawes Rd.	6	281,085	Q2 2019 Under Const.	Gateway	Yes
Sunbelt  Holdings	NEC Elliot Rd./  Loop 202	2	286,000	TBD	Gateway	No
The Landing  202	SWC Hawes Rd./ Ray Rd.	TBD	500,000+	Q1 2020	Gateway	Yes
Falcon Field  Business  Center	3110 N. Greenfield  Rd.	1	42,228	Available Now	Falcon	No
Longbow  Gateway  One	3115 N. Higley Rd.	1	147,435	Available Now	Falcon	Yes
Falcon  Industrial  Park	1715 & 1737 N.  Rosemont	1	29,412	Apr. 2019 Under Const.	Falcon	No
Falcon  Commerce  Park	1710 N. Higley  Rd.	3	130,689	May 2019 Under Const.	Falcon	No
Majestic  Falcon  Field	NWC Higley Rd./  Ingram St.	1	85,554	Dec. 2019 Under Const.	Falcon	No
Longbow  Gateway  Phase 2	NEC Higley Rd./  Longbow Pkwy	3	211,050	TBD	Falcon	Yes
Metro  East Valley  Commerce  Center 2	709 E. Auto  Center Dr.	2	363,600	Sep. 2019 Under Const.	US 60 Corridor	No
* Denotes whether properties are in one of Mesa's Opportunity Zones. Take a look at >                (www.MesaAzOpportunityZones.com)

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Mesa’s Available Properties
Follow along if you wish and watch the developments move from concept to completion using our new Active Development map at www.selectmesa.com/mesadevelopments. Additionally, viewers can experience an aerial 360-degree, interactive tour of Mesa’s business districts at  www.AerialMesa.com.
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It is interesting to note that the right side includes contact information for members of the Economic Development Advisory Board and a link to their page on the official City of Mesa website 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Voting Members

Rich Adams (20) - 1^st TermPresident & CEO
Southwest Business Credit Servicesrich@swbcs.com

 

Brian Campbell (21) - 1^st TermAttorney
Campbell Law Group of Arizona, PLLCbcampbell@campbellazlaw.com

James Christensen (19) - 2^nd TermPresident & CEO
Gateway Commercial Bankjamesc@gcbaz.com 

 

Deb Duvall (19) - 1^st TermCommunity Volunteerdebbieduvall@cox.net 

 

Jim Kasselmann, Vice Chair (20) - 1^st TermGeneral Manager
Dexcomjames.kasselmann@dexcom.com

 

Matt Likens (19) - 1^st TermPresident & CEO
GT Medical Technologies, Inc.
mlikens24@gmail.com

 

Natascha Ovando-Karadsheh, Chair (20) - 1^st TermAssociate Broker/Owner
KOR Propertiesnataschak@KORproperties.com

 

Dominic Perry (20) - 1^st TermAssociate
Avison Youngdominic.perry@avisonyoung.com

 

Ex-Officio Members

John GilesMayor
City of Mesamayor@mesaaz.gov

 

Chris BradyCity Manager
City of Mesachris.brady@mesaaz.gov

 

Sally HarrisonPresident & CEO
Mesa Chamber of Commercesharrison@mesachamber.org

 

Jeffrey S. Pitcher
Partner
Stinson Leonard Street LLPjeff.pitcher@stinson.com

 

Staff

William JabjiniakEconomic Development Director
City of Mesawilliam.jabjiniak@mesaaz.gov

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https://www.selectmesa.com/about/news-room/economic-reporter-newsletter/second-quarter-2019

A Flash-Back to June 10, 2018: Coulda, Woulda . . . It's A Done Deal

Massive Mesa Mormon Temple Make-Over Plan could transform downtown Mesa- East Valley Tribune Report by Jim Walsh reproduced by Rose Law Group Reporter 
"An extensive renovation of the iconic Mesa Arizona Temple has the potential of becoming a catalyst for the transformation of the city’s downtown. Using Pioneer Park* and the revamped Temple as its anchor, that transformation could attract an unparalleled revival, said Maricopa County Supervisor and East Valley Partnership President Denny Barney.

Iconic figure from Monopoly

“We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in private investment down there,’’ Barney said. “I think this will be a catalyst for future investment. . . " 
RIGHT DENNY! . . . but we'll never know since no financial details were ever revealed.

* Blogger Footnote: The original Parks Bond budget approved figure for the renovation of Pioneer Park was $5.9 Million dollars that somehow doubled to $12 Million$ while the eastward Gilbert Road Extension of Valley Metro Light Rail Service was in-progress. One public report stated that the architect for the temple's redevelopment area 'worked with' planners, possibly for the underground installation of city-owned utilities infrastructure.
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Reporter Jim Walsh frames his take on the story like this: (it is) . . . " a classic confrontation between neighborhood revitalization and historic preservation with a landmark of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the center. . . " It's way more than that!
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Here's this report in The Salt Lake Tribune June 7, 2018
THIS WEEK IN MORMON LAND: Plans for 'City Creek South' Unveiled
(Courtesy Intellectual Reserve Inc.) Plans have been announced to redevelop 4.5 acres of land near the Mesa Arizona Temple. This rendering offers a southeast view of the mixed-use community.
City Creek South? You could call it City Creek South or City Creek Lite.
By David Noyce  ·  Published: 3 days ago Updated: 2 days ago
The real estate investment arm of the LDS Church has announced plans to erect a new mixed-use development near the faith’s Mesa Temple, which is being renovated.
The Utah-based church completed a similar — albeit much larger — project in the heart of Salt Lake City with its City Creek Center.
The Mesa makeover, covering 4.5 acres along a light rail line, would include 12,500 square feet of ground-floor shops, 240 apartments, 12 town homes, 70,000 square feet of landscaped open space and underground parking.
“We’ve been planning this project for years,” Matt Baldwin, real estate development director for City Creek Reserve, said in a news release.
 “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.”
Blogger Note: Did they talk with or get any input from the public??? NOPE.

It is, according to a former Mesa city manager.
“What CCRI has envisioned is exactly right for downtown Mesa right now,” Mike Hutchinson states in the release. “… This project will bring renewed vitality to this key block on Main Street.”and in June last year:
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,”  

Final Agenda Mesa City Council Study Session Thu May 09 2019

Readers of this blog can find the two streaming videos unpload from YouTube in another post on this blog site.
These were both important public meetings that took place last week . . . and yes, there were issues
Please take the time to watch-and-listen to the actual proceedings
SUPER-SLAMMED! It takes time and work to exercise your rights as a citizen actively engaged and involved in our elected government.

Roll Call (City Council members participate in person or by telephone conference call.)
1 Presentations/Action Items:
> 19-0542 Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide final funding recommendations for the FY 2019/20 and prior years' available funding for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Human Services Programs. 1-a
> 19-0485 Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on a summary wrap-up of the fiscal year 2019/2020 budget. 1-b
> 19-0566 Hear a presentation and discuss the purpose and uses of the Enterprise Fund, including the Economic Investment Fund. 1-c
2 Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees.
> 19-0590 Self-Insurance Trust Fund Board meeting held on March 25, 2019; and pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-981(B)(1), verifying the current insurance licenses for the insurance administrators designated for the Public Property and Liability, Worker’s Compensation and Employee Benefits Trust Funds. 2-a
> 19-0585 Housing and Community Development Advisory Board meeting held on March 28, 2019. 2-b
3 Hear reports on meetings and/or conferences attended.
4 Scheduling of meetings and general information.

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MEETING DETAILS, LINKS AND ATTACHMENTS

Meeting Name:

City Council Study Session

Agenda status:

Final

________________________________________________________________________ Attachments: Meeting Items (5) 5 records Group Clear sorting Clear grouping Group by Type Group by Result Export Export to Excel Export to PDF Export to Word Show: Legislation only Legislation only All agenda items File # Agenda # Type Title Action Result Action Details 19-0542 1-a Presentation Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide final funding recommendations for the FY 2019/20 and prior years' available funding for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Human Services Programs.     Not available 19-0485 1-b Presentation Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on a summary wrap-up of the fiscal year 2019/2020 budget.     Not available 19-0566 1-c Presentation Hear a presentation and discuss the purpose and uses of the Enterprise Fund, including the Economic Investment Fund.     Not available 19-0590 2-a Minutes Self-Insurance Trust Fund Board meeting held on March 25, 2019; and pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-981(B)(1), verifying the current insurance licenses for the insurance administrators designated for the Public Property and Liability, Worker’s Compensation and Employee Benefits Trust Funds.     Not available 19-0585 2-b Minutes Housing and Community Development Advisory Board meeting held on March 28, 2019.     Not available _________________________________________________________________________________ File #: 19-0485    Type: Presentation Status: Agenda Ready In control: City Council Study Session On agenda: 5/9/2019 Title: Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on a summary wrap-up of the fiscal year 2019/2020 budget. Attachments: 1. Presentation ________________________________________________________________________  File #: 19-0566    Type: Presentation Status: Agenda Ready In control: City Council Study Session On agenda: 5/9/2019 Title: Hear a presentation and discuss the purpose and uses of the Enterprise Fund, including the Economic Investment Fund. Attachments: 1. Presentation ________________________________________________________________________  Enterprise Fund Review May 9, 2019 Candace Cannistraro, Management and Budget Director Brian A. Ritschel, Management and Budget Deputy Director History • In 1945, City Council eliminated a general purpose revenue, the primary property tax • They authorized to increase the income of the utility department to support general governmental services • Today, the City continues to provide general governmental services without a primary property tax Enterprise Fund • Utility operations and improvements • Public Safety Contribution • Economic Development • Convention Center/Amphitheater • Spring Training Facilities • Economic Investment Fund Economic Investment Fund • Funding for economic investment opportunities that benefit the City as a whole • Serves as a financial tool for investment in growth and expansion of industries in the City • Allows for leveraging development opportunities as they arise • Increased jobs/investment in the City as well as expansion of utility services/customers Economic Investment Projects • Able Engineering • AZ Labs • Launchpoint/Accelerator • Purchase of Mervyn’s building • Redevelopment zones • CO+HOOTS @ Benedictine University 10 • Healthcare study • Mesa Center for Higher Education • Benedictine University • Spring Training Multi-use Fields • ASU @ Mesa City Center • The Studios @ Mesa City Center Revenue Investment • Revenues gained from the lease of facilities offset  some of the operating expenses • One-time revenues are leveraged • Ex: Zayolease –one-time payment for lease of fiber • Land sale revenues are leveraged • Pinal County land • Riverview • Recker & Thomas • Mervyns

Fly Me to the Moon / You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You / Just a Gigo...

Yeah baby!

US False Flag Operation Against Americans - Operation Northwoods

"Bay of Pigs"

Published on May 12, 2019

During the Cold War the US lost a territory to Communist Soviet Union that was too close to home, and would take drastic measures to overthrow the government of Cuba. In today's educational animated cartoon we dive back into history and take a look at Operation Northwoods.
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POLICE SPECIAL FORCES, SHOW OF FORCE || WARTHOG 2019

An Eye-Opener: Special Ops Training for Civilian Police
Published May 12, 2019
This video is made under fair use policy, also this material is made from public published domain for people with hearing and seeing disability
Warthog Defense members are sharing stories, insider tips, news from the front lines, and unique slices of military life including the tough stuff of war.
Warthog Defense provides headline news and technology updates since our community answers the call and makes news. We also cover the rest of the military experience —and in our military equipment guide we present what makes the military unique (and fun).
We also want to revolutionize the way for Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed.
The United States Air Force will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all of our activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost.
We will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and Power for the nation.
The U.S. Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. We do this by:
Executing Title 10 and Title 32 United States Code directives, to include organizing, equipping, and training forces for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations on land.
Accomplishing missions assigned by the President, Secretary of Defense and combatant commanders, and Transforming for the future.

Watch Jeff Bezos Reveal Blue Origin's Detailed Plan For Colonizing Space

R U Ready? The 21st Century Space-Race is Here

Published on May 10, 2019

Jeff Bezos wants to colonize space. But he knows there's a lot of work to be done before that's possible. First we need cheap, reusable rockets. Then we need to mine resources on the Moon. It's generations of work, but Bezos says he's up for the challenge.#JeffBezos #BlueOrigin #TechInsider
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