Mesa did it! They overwhelmingly passed Proposition 300 which lays the groundwork to bringing in a Gaylord Resort and Conference Center to East Mesa. Not only did Mesa pass the initiative, it passed with 84% voting in favor. While no one wants to overstate what the this could mean to Mesa and the East Valley, I have seen first hand what it did in Texas and Tennessee. Based on those results I am very optimistic it will be a huge success beyond most peoples wildest dreams.
Here is a comment that was recently posted on my blog by a Realtor at MBY Realty in Texas:
I am a realtor in the Grapevine, Texas area, and I also live in Grapevine. The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center opened in our city in 2004. Since then, the economic growth the city has seen is amazing! The Gaylord Texan property is easily the best resort and convention facility in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Our city is now nationally known for the home of this resort. The Gaylord property runs guest shuttles all day every day to our historic main street and shopping malls. They also host huge, months-long summer and Holiday festivities that are attended regularly by thousands from the Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex. Every Christmas season all our friends and family visit their spectacular lights display, and world famous ICE exhibit. Throughout the year they also feature fantastic live shows, music, cooking classes and seasonal events. It goes without saying that having the resort in our city is enjoyable, prestigious, and the economic ramifications have been beyond our best expectations. I don’t think you will find a person in Grapevine, Texas that isn’t happy that Gaylord Resorts chose our city.
I have repeatably looked at Mesa’s Proposition 300 which would create an opportunity to bring in a Gaylord Resort and Conference Center to East Mesa. I have made no secrets my opinion, which is Mesa needs to pass 300 and do everything they can to bring more economic development to the city.
As someone who has stayed at two Gaylord complexes over the last three years, I cannot speak highly enough about the facilities. [click to continue…]
Above is a rendering of what the Gaylord Resort would look like in East Mesa if Proposition 300 passes. I can assure you that this is only half the picture.
As I have mentioned in previous posts I have stayed at two Gaylord Resorts, and while both may have started like this picture represents, they did not stay that way for long. Gaylord’s have a reputation of springing up commerce all around them. Malls get erected, restaurants are built, shopping centers and entertainment opportunities sprout all around the complex up to support the tourists. Yes the Gaylord has all those things and more, but sometimes you just want to get away after being there for a conference all day and this brings even more opportunity and more tax revenue.
Not only will this bring more revenue, it will bring thousands of new jobs and new opportunities for home buyers and sellers alike. Houses in East Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek that currently empty will all of a sudden have new value and a new demand as more people will want to live closer to the new jobs.
Does Mesa need to give up some of the bed tax it would collect from the Gaylord to get it here? Yes, but here is the part you don’t hear often. If there is no Gaylord, there is no bed tax to collect in the first place.
Is this a savior for Mesa? Maybe not, but it will go a long ways towards helping. We lost out on bringing the Cardinals here, and look what it did for Glendale. Let’s not lose out again.
It is not often that I disagree with the Goldwater Institute and agree with the East Valley Tribune, but today is one of those days. Mesa has a great opportunity to make it the go to location in the Southwest for conventions if it lands the proposed Gaylord Resort. The proposed location for the resort is out at the old GM Proving Grounds in East Mesa. The project could help build up not only East Mesa, but also Queen Creek and Gilbert.
In March voters will go to the polls and vote on Proposition 300 which would allow the Gaylord project to keep up to $51 million in hotel bed taxes for tourism marketing, rather than sending the money to the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Mesa would also abate up to $90 million in property taxes for the resort and conference center.
Mesa needs to think long term here. If you have been to a Gaylord Resort (I have stayed at two) you realize what a great opportunity they are for the local economy. Not only do they help the existing businesses, but they spring up dozens, if not hundreds of other businesses in the surrounding area to help support the visitors.
Mesa had an opportunity to bring the Cardinals to their City. They passed up on the opportunity, and we have all seen how that has benefited Glendale. I am sure if voters knew then, what they know now looking at the Glendale complexes, it would have been approved. Mesa cannot afford to lose another opportunity like they have now. They do not come around very often.
Some argue the proposed deal is unconstitutional because the tax breaks are aimed to help one business. I completely disagree. The tax breaks are offered now to help bring in a business that will help the whole community. A break in taxes now will lead to many more millions in revenue in the future. If you are unsure go to the resorts outside of Dallas and outside of Nashville and look at the malls, restaurants and other businesses that are benefiting from the Gaylord resorts there.
