I have noticed recently a resurgence happening in downtown Mesa. There are new restaurants and activities happening down there that are fun to be involved in. The Independence Day celebration spearheaded by Mayor Scott Smith and sponsored by many local businesses, churches, and service groups was a huge success.
Mesa has recently proposed an innovative plan to help keep the Cubs from moving to Florida. The plan involves creative financing using property bought by the city years ago in Pinal County to secure water rights. The Cubs are interested in expanding their revenue opportunities around their spring training facilities and would like to see a "Wrigleyville" surrounding the facilities with restaurants, shopping, and other related businesses. Site selections have been proposed including near Williams-Gateway airport in far, Southwest Mesa.
Another site is a possibility, which I think makes far more sense for both the City of Mesa and the Cubs organization. For several years a big chunk of land has sat, not only underused, but actually vacant right in downtown Mesa at University and Mesa Drive. In addition, there is a former housing project across University between Center & Mesa Drive that is boarded up and unused. These properties are being held for some type of downtown redevelopment project. I cannot imagine a more fitting project for this downtown Mesa area than a new Wrigleyville surrounding a new baseball stadium. If it is going to be done, it should be done there. The history of the Cubs and the City of Mesa started right near there at Rendesvous Park. The synergy of a developing downtown and a new themed neighborhood would be powerful. There is good freeway access from both the 60 and the 202 freeways East and West and the 101 North to Scottsdale and South to Chandler and beyond. Good bus connections exist from the light rail terminus and the new Wrigleyville might actually give downtown Mesa a destination which would favor extension of the light rail route (a theme for another story).
I hope to start a discussion at this blog in support of this project and specifically for a new Wrigleyville in downtown Mesa.
