Town Center RDA
Historic Roots. Creative Core. Modern Momentum.
The Town Center Redevelopment Area sits at the heart of Mesa’s identity — the site of the city’s founding in 1878 and the anchor of its historic downtown. Guided by a long-term redevelopment vision established in 1999, Town Center has seen transformational investment that preserves historic character while advancing walkable mixed-use development, adaptive reuse, and cultural vitality. Today, downtown Mesa blends legacy with momentum, anchored by arts and cultural institutions and strengthened by transit connectivity to Phoenix, Sky Harbor International Airport, and major employment and education centers.
Arts & Culture Core: A regional destination anchored by major arts institutions, live entertainment, and a robust calendar of events that drive consistent foot traffic.
Street-Level Energy: A walkable mix of restaurants, breweries, shops, and experiential retail supports an active day-to-night downtown environment.
Arts & Innovation Education Hub: Anchored by the ASU MIX Center, the Town Center RDA connects education, creativity, and innovation in support of a dynamic arts and cultural economy.
Why Invest
The Town Center redevelopment area offers investors the rare opportunity to participate in a downtown with real momentum and long-term upside. Anchored by ASU’s growing presence at the MIX Center, increased housing density, and a thriving entertainment, dining, and shopping scene, downtown Mesa continues to attract residents, visitors, and creative talent. As the cultural center of the community, Town Center redevelopment projects can be more complex but they also deliver outsized value, benefiting from established demand, strong public investment, and a district identity that cannot be replicated elsewhere in the region.
Area Highlights
Mesa’s Town Center (downtown Mesa) stands apart as a place where cultural experiences, creativity, and community converge. The Town Center offers an energy shaped by artists, students, entrepreneurs, and residents alike. Its walkable streets, historic architecture, and locally driven dining and retail scene create an experience that feels both rooted and evolving — a downtown defined not by replication, but by character.
Redevelopment Tools Available
Mesa offers a suite of redevelopment tools designed to reduce project risk and support catalytic investment in targeted areas. Depending on project scope and location, tools may include Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), infrastructure participation, site-specific agreements, and access to state and federal funding programs. These tools are applied strategically to support projects that align with community goals, strengthen market feasibility, and accelerate redevelopment momentum.
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