Mesa

Down payment initiative program for Chandler and Mesa

March 25, 2009 By Dean Ouellette Leave a Comment

Housing Our Communities has a down payment assistance program they are currently running in Avondale, Chandler and Mesa. While the program is available the organizers of the program said the current money available is limited and on a first come first serve basis.

The American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI) aims to increase the home ownership rate, especially among lower income households. They also aim to help revitalize and stabilize the communities they are involved in.

How much is available? [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Down Payment Programs Tagged With: ADDI, Avondale, Chandler, down payment assistance, Housing our communities, Mesa

Mesa passes Proposition 300, Gaylord Resort could be boom to economy

March 11, 2009 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

gaylordrednering1 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.

Filed Under: Mesa Tagged With: Economic Development, Gaylord Resort, Mesa, Prop 300

One more look at Mesa’s Proposition 300 for the Gaylord Resort

March 3, 2009 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

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. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mesa Tagged With: Economic Development, Gaylord Resort, Mesa

Prop 300 again, Mesa needs this for home sales

February 5, 2009 By Dean Ouellette Leave a Comment

gaylordrednering1
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.

Filed Under: Mesa Tagged With: Economic Development, Gaylord Resort, Jobs, Mesa

Mesa gets second chance with Gaylord Center

January 20, 2009 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: Mesa Tagged With: Commerce, Gaylord Resort, Mesa, Prop 300

Light Rail is here, but Mesa commuters still will desire more

December 29, 2008 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

My mother with 3 of my kids at rail opening

It is finally here, after years of planning and $1.3 billion, the METRO light rail has finally hit Phoenix and the Valley.

I am one of the few from Mesa who this will benefit. Living in west Mesa I am only a couple of miles from the furthest east stop on the rail, which is Main and Sycamore. Mesa could have really benefited from the light rail if it had gone into east Mesa. East Mesa to downtown Phoenix can be a a tough commute and the light rail could have greatly benefited those who wanted to work in the city, but wanted to live in a more rural area like east Mesa. Downtown Mesa also could have benefited from an expanded rail. With the museums the city has invested so heavily in, Mesa could have used another easy way to get commuters to their hidden treasures.

There is plans to expand the METRO in the coming years and hopefully central and east Mesa will be included in those plans. Until then we will have to just deal with what we have, which is a new clean, quick and convenient way to get to Tempe and downtown Phoenix.

I was one of the estimated 150,000 who braved the chilly (for Central AZ) weather on Saturday to take a crowded ride on the rail. I was happy with what I saw and look forward to using it to get to ASU games, Diamondback games and to Central Phoenix. I know not everyone is thrilled with the METRO project, but I hope the nay-sayers give it a chance before they give up to easily.

Filed Under: Light Rail Tagged With: ASU, Light Rail, Mesa, METRO

Marlborough Mesa Annual Toy Drive

December 8, 2008 By Dean Ouellette Leave a Comment

Santa in Marlborough Mesa

The West Mesa community of Marlborough Mesa will be holding their Annual Toy Drive this Saturday, December 13th from 9-12am. Santa will be in attendance and breakfast will be provided. Please bring an unwrapped toy for the East Valley Child Crisis Center.

The event will be held in the Mesa Marlborough Park at the corner of Wycliff and Peralta.

Filed Under: Charity, Marlborough Mesa Tagged With: Holidays, Marlborough Mesa, Mesa

Do you have a Mesa business, this could be for you

December 4, 2008 By Dean Ouellette Leave a Comment

Mesa AZ

The City of Mesa should receive a lot of credit for the work they have done over the last six months. They have controlled spending, looked at some great opportunities to bring in new revenue streams like the Gaylord Complex and now they are going out of their way to make it easy for Mesa businesses to do business with them.

The City is holding an open house on Tuesday December 9th from 3-6pm called “Mesa: Your Business, Your City.” The goal of the open house is to have more Mesa businesses do business with the City of Mesa. The event will be held in the Mesa City Plaza, 20 E. Main St., room 170.

The event is sponsored by the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Representatives from various City departments, including Purchasing, Economic Development, Police, Fire and Mesa Arts Center will be present to explain the process of what products and supplies are ordered and what they need. Virtually all City departments make purchases and are always looking for new suppliers. The open house provides a great opportunity for Mesa businesses to conduct business with the City and understand the many components of Mesa’s decentralized procurement process.

Filed Under: Economic Development, Economy, Mesa Tagged With: Business, Economic Development, Mesa

Mesa canned goods drive and free pancake breakfast

December 1, 2008 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

Mesa District 5 Councilmember Dina Higgins is inviting her constituents to a free pancake breakfast on Saturday December 6th from 8am-10am. The event will be held at Fire Station 214, 5950 E. Virginia St in Mesa. Higgins is asking those attending to bring a canned good to donate. Those attending will have a chance to talk to their Councilmember as well as other city officials. The canned goods will be donated to the United Food Bank.

Filed Under: Charity, Mesa, Politics Tagged With: Dina Higgins, food drive, Mesa

Gaylord one step closer to moving to Mesa

November 21, 2008 By Dean Ouellette 1 Comment

Gaylord

The Gaylord Entertainment Company has been been talking about building one of they hotel-conference centers in southeast Mesa since earlier this summer. The facility would be built around the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and would bring thousands of jobs to Mesa.

The project received a boost this past week as Gaylord dropped plans on a San Diego location and will concentrate more of its efforts on Mesa. The plans which were announced this summer would build a 1,200 room hotel, a golf course and a retail center. The only thing holding up the project right now is the bed tax. In March voters will have a chance to OK a deal that would rebate the bed tax to the Gaylord resort.

As someone who has stayed at two separate Gaylord locations I can tell you that these resorts and conference centers are first class all the way and would be a welcomed edition to the Mesa economy and real estate market.

Filed Under: Economy, Mesa Tagged With: Economic Development, Economy, Gaylord Resort, Mesa