Article originally posted by East Valley Tribune on July 13, 2020.
After decades of big plans followed by bigger disappointments, the foundations of new Mesa are emerging as city leaders and developers look past the COVID-19 pandemic towards a brighter day.
“The development is happening despite COVID-19,’’ Mesa Mayor John Giles said.
When the pandemic subsides, he added, “I think you will see Mesa at the front of the line and regain momentum.”
The cutting edge ASU building has been under construction for months and should start sprouting from the ground soon behind the Mesa City Council Chambers.
“I feel everything is coming together,’’ said council member Jen Duff, who represents downtown. “I see an avalanche of successful development along the light rail.’’
“When it’s finished in 2022,’’ Duff said about the ASU building, “we’re going to be on an upswing by then.’’
“The foundation of our economy is fine. We just need to work through this virus. We are all trying to figure out how to become more resilient,’’ Duff said.
Piece by piece, a new downtown is starting to come into focus, with the ASU@mesacitycenter as the epicenter and a constellation of large and small developments swirling around it.
“We have to make sure that when you come to downtown Mesa, you experience something unique,’’ Caliber CEO Chris Loeffler said. “I think downtown Mesa will surprise people in a meaningful way.’’
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