Mesa City Council will vote Monday on whether to lease 25 acres of city-owned land to the developer of Culdesac Tempe, a retail and residential space billed as America’s “first car-free community.”
The parcel near University and Mesa drives is known as Site 17, where previous attempts for redevelopment have failed.
The most recent plan includes retail and 1,000 residential units that will be developed in three phases.
Mesa's Manager of Urban Transformation Jeff McVay says the new development would close the chapter on Site 17.
“Being able to close the loop on Site 17 and bringing the real economic development and redevelopment of that site that was intended back when the city started acquiring properties, I think is by itself significant,” he said.
McVay also says the development would be beneficial for business in Mesa.
“The more bodies that we can bring into the downtown to be customers of that uniquely local business community is only going to make the entire or the broader downtown more successful,” he said.
McVay says the new development would not be car-free, but would be similar to an urban environment with less dependence on cars.
If approved, the lease would be $15,000 up front and then $5,000 annually so long as construction is taking place on the site.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story and headline have been updated to clarify that Mesa City Council will vote whether or not to approve the lease on Monday.
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