Development Advantages in Downtown Mesa

Downtown Mesa is a $2 billion dollar square mile business district, taking into account private, public, and non-profit land, building improvements, and infrastructure; annual retail sales; and the annual value of professional and personal services provided within downtown.  In round numbers, Downtown Mesa has 7,000 employees, 3,000 residents, and more than 11,000 daily visitors who come downtown to shop, play, learn, and to do business.  Other advantages to developing in downtown Mesa include:

• One-stop shop planning services

• Over $200 million in public/private investment since 1997

• 250 commercial property owners and 450 businesses and establishments

• A Town Center Concept Plan establishing an Urban Village Concept

• One of eight major employment zones in Mesa

• A $14 million streetscape improvement project

• Linear pedestrian friendly Main Street with abundant free parking

• A City Council Advisory Board dedicated solely to downtown development

• An established Arts and Cultural District with a confluence of major unique destinations

• Five National Register historic districts

• Minutes away from two major freeways

Downtown Mesa: An Economic Generator

Downtown Mesa has proven to be an economic generator--$263.7 million in taxable retail sales occurred in downtown Mesa in 2005, generating more than 5.3 million in sales tax revenues (City 1.5% tax and State revenue sharing downtown portion).  Additionally:

• An estimated $7.4 million in net revenues were generated in Downtown Mesa in 2005 (based on downtown sales tax and utility revenues). 

• $38.3 million public revenues were produced in downtown Mesa in 2005 based on six generators--sales tax, State sales tax revenue sharing, property tax, City utilities, building permits and impact fees, and City downtown facilities revenues. 

Source: DMA memo dated 2/22/06