Downtown Mesa The Next Mill Avenue? is a post from: Rail Life

I read a really good article about downtown Mesa yesterday titled, “Our view: Arrival of colleges could transform downtown Mesa.” The article stated what I have been thinking / trying to say for a while now. It talked about how important these new colleges coming to Mesa could be for the transformation of the area.

“For a downtown corridor that some may see as nothing more than the Mormon Temple at one end, blight and closed businesses at the other end, and not too much in the middle — the prospect of residential colleges locating there is huge and welcome news.” East Valley Tribune via msnbc.com

The article points out the somewhat obvious fact that Mill Avenue and downtown Tempe would be very different without ASU and the students, employees and jobs brought to the area because of the college.

One thing that seems certain is the fact that these students are going to need places to live, work and play. Heck, they just might want to live close to campus and close to a light rail station, right? For now, the downtown Mesa area seems to be a bit more affordable than their neighbors to the west in Tempe. When someone calls and says they want to buy a house near ASU for “cheap”, they are often surprised at how few sub-$200k homes are actually located within close proximity to campus. In Mesa it might be a bit easier for now, but there is a limited supply and a demand that should increase as students begin descending on this part of town. We’ve heard that new housing options are coming, and that will be something of a necessity for the area.

With negotiations said to be in the works for yet another college, the area seems to be on the fast-track to breathing new life into an older area that many had written off as dead. The light rail line is sure to be a real asset to business owners, college students and a bunch of people in the area. Thousands more are soon to be “rockin’ the Rail Life!”

Mayor Smith in downtown Mesa

Towards the end of the article it says they hope mayor Smith gets re-elected this year. I’m willing to bet he does. Any takers?

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Missouri College Joining Benedictine University in Downtown Mesa is a post from: Rail Life

It may sound like a broken record around here, but the positive news for downtown Mesa just keeps coming.

Yesterday, we read that Westminster College is planning to open a campus in downtown Mesa. This significant announcement comes just a few months after the city announced plans for Benedictine University to open shop in downtown Mesa, as well. While the early numbers indicate that Benedictine University could bring “1500 students within a decade”, early reports say that Westminster could bring approximately 1200 students to the area within a decade.

Reports indicate that Westminster could be holding its first classes in 2013.

And that’s not all:

It was also announced that other colleges could be coming to the downtown area, as well. Mesa owns and controls several vacant and underutilized buildings along with 60 acres of ground in this core area, and there is a ton of potential to completely transform the area into an educational hotspot and economic engine.

“Mesa has a $14 million budget to prepare downtown sites for the multiple colleges it wants to attract. The city originally anticipated the college center would open at the former Tri-City Community Center, 225 E. Main St. But in January, Benedictine University entered into negotiations to lease the entire 68,500-square foot building” – via msnbc.com

Just a couple of blocks from a light rail station.

The widget below shows examples of properties currently for sale within ( approximately ) 1/2 mile from the coming light rail stations. Compare the prices with homes near ASU and see what you come up with…

Investors and small business owners should be taking notice. People love college towns. Have you see the price of real estate in Tempe near the ASU campus lately?

Our “city within cities” known as the light rail corridor is expanding, and the vibrancy of the lifestyle people are growing to love looks like it will be a great fit for downtown Mesa. Soon, there will be thousands more people, rockin’ the Rail Life!

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METRO Announces Contractor For Mesa Light Rail Extension is a post from: Rail Life

Design-Build contractor selected for Central Mesa light rail extension

The project timeline and community will benefit from a single team

PHOENIX, AZ — Valley Transit Constructors (VTC), a Kiewit/Mass. Joint Venture, was selected today as the team who will continue designing and building the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail extension.  Parsons Transportation Group, also part of the team, will serve as lead designer.

“METRO transitioned to a Design-Build delivery method to expedite the project, encourage collaboration and take advantage of favorable market conditions,” said Valley Metro CEO Steve Banta.  “We are pleased to have Kiewit, Mass Electric and Parsons Transportation Group back on board following their years helping to successfully design and build portions of the current light rail line.”

This decision comes following a nine-month procurement process that sought support from high quality contractor/design teams from across the country.  The contract was unanimously approved this afternoon by the METRO Board of Directors.

VTC will be issued a Limited Notice to Proceed for design and utility relocations in early April.  They will then spend time developing a more detailed schedule that will be reviewed with the community at a public meeting slated for end of April.  Utility relocation could break ground in late May.  The current schedule calls for project completion in 2016, however, the details of the VTC schedule is likely to show this date can be moved up to 2015.

“Securing VTC brings METRO one step closer to building the Central Mesa extension,” said Mesa Mayor Scott Smith.  “The Design-Build method speeds up the process allowing the extension to open early but not without taking into consideration the needs of Mesa businesses and residents along the line.”

The 3.1-mile, $200 million Central Mesa light rail extension will travel through downtown Mesa to Mesa Drive.  It includes four stations and an end-of-line park-and-ride.  More than three-fourths of the project’s funding has been programmed with Proposition 400 and federal air quality and grant dollars.  METRO expects to receive its full funding commitment from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) this summer.

For more information on the Central Mesa extension, visit www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa.  Sign up to receive Central Mesa email updates, including construction updates and meeting notices, by emailing Lisa Procknow at lprocknow@metrolightrail.org.

High Stakes BEER? is a post from: Rail Life

I’ve got a few friends that are pretty big fans of beer. Not just any beer but “good beer.” In fact, if you follow the AZ beer world at all, you probably have heard that the sale of craft beer continues to rise. I’m pretty sure some of those same friends have something to do with those sales…

We are pretty fortunate to have several great beer joints to visit, but, rumor has it, there will be more coming our way in the future.

I was talking to a friend today about the new brewery opening up in downtown Mesa this year. Like many people, he wasn’t aware that Desert Eagle Brewing is coming to Mesa. Our conversations went back and forth between, “I can’t wait to try it” to “will it spur more development in the area?”

The age old stereotypes that Mesa has had for decades has kept many folks from uttering beer and downtown Mesa in the same breath. The reality is, I’ve heard the same things from people looking to live near the light rail line. Smart investors seem to be able to predict the future. They don’t worry about the past when buying for their future.

Will a brewery make a difference in Mesa? What if it’s a hit? What if it bombs?

If it’s a hit, other businesses are sure to follow. If it’s a bomb, people will say things like, “They should have waited until construction was completed on the light rail line” and “See, I told you no one drinks beer in Mesa.” Actually, if they say that second thing, they are wrong. I know a lot of people that drink beer in Mesa. :)

Like many people, I am a pretty big fan of the Mesa light rail extension. I believe we will see a lot of changes along this section of the line, and I believe there will be some real economic development in the area. I must admit, I am kind of a beer fan, as well.

Here’s a few more things to think about.

1. Getting a DUI in AZ can cost you, big time.

2. Transit ridership in 2011 topped 10 BILLION trips in the US last year.

3. Living near the light rail line is cool.

So, we know that craft beer is something we love in Arizona. We know that transit ridership is up nationwide, and we know that people like to live near the light rail line. Do you think the combination of these things can help Desert Eagle become a spot where the cool kids like to hang out?

What if Desert Eagle is a success? Do you think more places will notice the potential of downtown Mesa? Will it change your mind?

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Mesa Looking At College Students To Rock The Rail Life is a post from: Rail Life

We know that ASU students are a huge part of the success of the Phoenix light rail system. They ride in big numbers, spend money at businesses along the line, and they seem to enjoy the convenience of taking the train to school as well as out to play.

Recently, it was announced that Mesa could soon be welcoming college students downtown in the former Tri City Community Center building located at 225 East Main Street.  In a story titled “Mesa, Benedictine University working toward downtown campus”, we learn more details on the possibility of an “urban campus with on-site student housing that will enroll 1,500 students within a decade.”

I’ve seen that building many times. It’s a cool old building that would be a great fit for a small college. The location is VERY close to a future light rail station and park and ride lot. It is also easy walking / bike riding distance from several small restaurants, coffee shops, Pioneer Park, museums, etc.

If they really can enroll 1500 students within the next 10 years, there seems to be a lot of reasons for people to take a look at the housing options in the area. Will there be a need for more? Will you see lofts in some of the cool old buildings downtown? Are some of the small historic neighborhoods close by ready for an influx of students? Will we see infill development come to some of the vacant land in the area? Are the business owners in Mesa ready for a bunch of college students from Benedictine University?

The photo above was taken just a couple of blocks west of the Tri City building that could be home to Benedictine and is right in front of the multi-million dollar Mesa Arts Center. I’ve mentioned many times how much I like the next section of light rail opening in Mesa in the not too distant future. The stretch of Main Street that will see light rail trains carrying passengers in and out of that city seems like a perfect fit for Transit Oriented Development ( TOD ) in this area. Downtown Mesa already has some TOD characteristics in multi-level, street-facing buildings with wide sidewalks. This helps to make living, working and playing very convenient. Obviously, people traveling in and out of Mesa via light rail will have even more choices than ever before once this next stretch opens. 

While we are all familiar with the “chicken and the egg” discussions of bringing quality development and more residents to a downtown area, it seems that there is an interesting correlation between creating more urban environments surrounded by quality transportation and an influx of college students. We continue to learn from the short history of light rail in the Phoenix area. It will be fun to see how this one plays out, and it will be cool to see more students rockin’ the Rail Life!

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More News About Mesa Light Rail Extension is a post from: Rail Life

As most of us know, Mesa is on the fast-track to complete the next ( and first ) extension of our light rail system. Over the past couple of years, there have been many meetings and much input on routes, construction, business development and all aspects of bringing light rail further into Mesa. This next phase of the Mesa light rail extension is set to be operational in 2016.

Recently, there has been a lot of attention to potential zoning changes along the line where a “dense urban core of mid-rise buildings with a variety of business and residential uses” could be found. As we have discussed in the past, Main Street in downtown Mesa already seems to have what many urban planners look for when talking about transit oriented developments. Wide sidewalks, street facing businesses, densely populated cores, etc. Bringing the light rail line through the existing downtown Mesa area will bring new residents, shoppers, and interest to an area that has struggled to transform itself after many attempts in the past. Sure, there are those who would like to see Mesa keep it’s “small town feel” forever, but having an economic engine that is light rail travel through the city is bound to help bring much needed foot traffic to the area.

“The first step is adoption of form-based zoning for the area. Form-based zoning pays more attention to the size and density of buildings rather than to their specific uses, and it provides transitions from intense urban areas to residential neighborhoods” – Jeff McVay, Mesa City Planner via AZCentral

All of this talk comes at a time when light rail ridership continues to post record numbers. As the economy struggles to find it’s footing, many people are looking to find areas where they can combine convenience, cost savings, and lifestyle into one simple package. Phoenix and Tempe have both shown that businesses and neighborhoods can benefit from a strong transportation system. All indications point to Mesa looking forward to extending the light rail system further east and bringing more of an urban feel to the areas along the line…

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Rail Life Pic Of The Week – More Options Coming Up is a post from: Rail Life

This week, I mentioned the old train at Pioneer Park in Mesa. As I was driving around the area after snapping a few photos of the train, I was reminded of some of the cool old historic properties in and near downtown Mesa. I know a lot of people living and playing along the line have never seen some of these neighborhoods.

I have a feeling that many of these areas along the Mesa extension will become more popular once METRO begins to service these neighborhoods.

This home is located on 1st Street, just a block south of Pioneer Park and was built in 1935.

Remember, Rail Life has a Phoenix Light Rail Group on Flickr. Basically, we want to share some of our pictures from the community and allow people to add their pics (or videos), as well. These can be light rail related, but we also want pics or videos of your favorite spot, restaurant, sports team, community, event etc.

See these samples of some of the homes for sale near the Mesa extension.

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Saving A Train – Will Old Meet New? is a post from: Rail Life

Before we know it, the METRO light rail line will extend further east into Mesa, stopping just short of Pioneer Park. Many people that ride the current system have probably never been to or even heard of Pioneer Park. When I was a little kid, a LONG time ago, I can recall going to Pioneer Park and playing on the big old train. Back in those days, we could climb all over it, get inside and pretend to be the conductor, play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, etc., etc. Now days, the train is blocked off and kids are not allowed to do these things. Heck, I get it… We put a LOT of wear and tear on that old train.

Check out this video of the old Southern Pacific Engine 2355 at Pioneer Park from “back in tha’ day”.

Unfortunately, the train has seen better days. Vandals, the elements, and father time have done a number on the Southern Pacific Engine #2355. A group of people want to help restore the old train to once again be a shining example of years gone by. The rich history of the train will take a lot of people coming together and stepping up in many way$.

I believe there have been talks of bringing the train towards the front of the park near Apache Blvd once it is restored. At that point, people riding the METRO light rail line along Apache would be able to see it much easier. I know people would enjoy seeing and learning more about the history of the area and about the transportation systems. Kind of an “old meets new” feeling for transportation geeks. In order to restore the train and to move it from the back of the park out closer to Main Street where many more people will be able to see it, people from the community have been trying to Save The Train from further deterioration. There is a golf tournament scheduled for this weekend to raise funds and awareness.

The Mesa light rail extension is scheduled for 2016. It will be interesting to see if this old train is still around to welcome it’s new guests to the area.

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Public invited to learn more about Mesa light rail expansion is a post from: Rail Life

More Mesa light rail expansion information is now available and the public is invited to add their .02 on Friday, December 10th. Take a look at today’s release from METRO.

Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Review

One opportunity to review is a public meeting on Dec. 10

METRO and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) report for the Central Mesa extension of light rail on Main Street to Mesa Drive in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The federally-required EA evaluates the potential impacts to the neighboring environment. Many social, economical, and environmental categories were evaluated including noise and vibration, traffic and parking, historical and archaeological resources, and potential impacts related to construction activities.  METRO will take public comments on the draft EA from Nov. 24 – Dec. 24, 2010.  All comments received by Dec. 24, 2010 will be addressed in the Final EA.

The public is invited to attend an open house in which project staff will provide information, respond to questions and receive comments on the Draft EA.

Friday, Dec. 10, 2010

6 – 8 p.m.

OneOhOne Gallery

101 W. Main St., Mesa

Copies of the Draft EA are also available for review at the following locations:

• METRO’s website – www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa
• METRO’s office – 101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1300, Phoenix
• Mesa’s Main Library – 64 E. 1st St., Mesa

For additional information or to submit comments in writing or by phone, please contact:

Robert Forrest METRO

101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1300, Phoenix, AZ, 85003 

602-322-4514 phone rforrest@metrolightrail.org

Jerome Wiggins Federal Transit Administration, Region IX

201 Mission St., Ste. 1650, San Francisco, CA, 94105-1831

415-744-2819 phone jerome.wiggins@fta.dot.gov

An electronic comment form is also available at www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa.  Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by contacting Robert Forrest at 602-322-4514/TTY 602-322-4499.

More Mesa Light Rail Info is a post from: Rail Life

We are hearing more about progress on the Mesa light rail extension. Below is a video with Vice Mayor Kyle Jones followed by a recent press release from Metro.

Project design begins with utility engineering

Beginning this fall, METRO will survey the Central Mesa corridor to identify locations of underground utilities and investigate the soil conditions under the future light rail extension. This work is necessary to help develop the project’s design.

Signs of activity began mid-October with the contractor marking the roadway. Work will start on the east end of the line between Hobson and Country Club Drive. Work will continue westward from Country Club Drive to Sycamore between November 24, 2010 and January 3, 2011.

During the work, please expect intermittent traffic restrictions. This work generally involves one truck with cones and/or a directional arrow directing traffic around the work zone. Typically, it will take the contractor approximately one hour to complete the work at any one location. The work will occur during daytime hours. In addition, the contractor will coordinate with the city of Mesa to minimize traffic disruption during any special events in the corridor.

Click here to view the Central Mesa utility engineering factsheet. Visit the project website for additional information.