by bryan | Oct 24, 2011 | light rail expansion, Mesa City, News & Information
by Gary Nelson – Oct. 22, 2011 Courtesy of The Arizona Republic [Editor’s Note: Light Rail Advisors, the owner of the popular LightRailConnect.com website, endorses smart use of city land and building resources for the development of the Downtown Mesa area] Two decades ago it was the retail centerpiece of a development that was going to transform downtown Mesa. Now, however, it has become such an albatross that some on the City Council think bulldozers might be the only option. The funky building at 51-55 E. Main St. was part of the “Park Place” project in the late 1980s that also included the adjacent midrise office tower and a movie theater. Mesa bought the theater and the 51-55 building as it assembled land for the Mesa Arts Center. The theater was leveled, but Mesa kept 51-55 in hopes it could become a restaurant or some other complement to the arts center. No such luck. Over the past five years, Mesa has had at least three offers to buy and develop the building as a restaurant, but all the deals died. Bill Jabjiniak, Mesa’s economic development director, said interest remains high. Over the past year, 10 interested parties have inspected the building. Five were considering restaurant uses, and the others were looking at retail or arts-related businesses. There also have been numerous phone calls about the property, Jabjiniak said. But the only tenant at present is the Southwest Shakespeare Company, which uses part of the building for rehearsals. Most potential buyers shy away because of parking issues, the cost of redoing the building and uncertainties over light-rail construction, Jabjiniak said. The building’s future is on...
by bryan | Oct 24, 2011 | light rail corridor, News & Information
Phoenix, AZ. October 24, 2011 Information Line. Today the LRA Real Estate Group announced the expansion of their property management division into the important light rail corridor in the Phoenix metro area. The company will initially focus on single family homes for local and out of state investors, but is developing the platform for commercial property management. “This is a natural progression in our service offerings to our clients”, stated Bryan Watkins, the Designated Broker for the firm. He added: “we have calls every month asking about property management options, and felt it was the right time to respond to client requests.” LRA Real Estate manages portfolios of properties in Phoenix, Mesa and Gilbert, and is poised to expand into other metro cities in the next few months. If an investor has questions about the property management service, please call Bryan Watkins @ 480.734.7878 to discuss your unique requirements. LRA Real Estate Group, LLC is a locally owned and operated real estate firm that was formed in 2010 to provide residential and commercial real estate brokerage, consulting, and property management services....
by bryan | Oct 24, 2011 | light rail corridor, light rail expansion, News & Information
Progress on the Mesa light rail extension is underway. Part of the plans call for a 516-space park-and-ride to be constructed as part of the Central Mesa extension. This new park-and-ride lot will be located at the northeast corner of Mesa Drive and Main Street. Look for the changes to take place over the next year or so. Metro is developing plans for the 3.1 mile extension in a design-build concept. The contractor and architect will be selected sometime in the Spring of 2012. Stay tuned. Light Rail Advisors has developed a web and print presence to support the concept of Live, Work, Play in the light rail corridor. We are actively pulling business, cultural and governmental interests together to promote business and growth in the corridor. Our goal is to make it easy to live, work and play near the tracks. For more information, contact Bryan Watkins at 480.734.7878, or Don Mortensen at 602.451.3684....
by bryan | Oct 24, 2011 | Light Rail Business, light rail corridor, News & Information
by Kellie Hwang – Oct. 20, 2011 Courtesy of The Arizona Republic [Editors Note: LightRailConnect endorses downtown Phoenix venues and expects the activity to increase each month as the economy improves] Although about 6 million people come to downtown Phoenix each year to watch sporting events, concerts and theater productions, the streets usually feel empty after 9 p.m. For years, the masses have not been sticking around after the buzzer sounds, the encore ends or the curtain falls. Out-of-towners are often asking Kathy Cline, co-owner of Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, if “this” is downtown Phoenix, she said. “People go to events, buy their food and drinks there, then get in the car and go home. There’s just not that downtown vibe yet.” But with the recent efforts of downtown business owners, entrepreneurs and developers, that is slowly changing. Through better promotion of late-night venues and a new smartphone application that tells users what’s open and what’s hip, downtown leaders are encouraging visitors to linger longer. “Five years ago . . . I would literally watch the wave of people leaving the ballpark, head straight to the parking garages, get into their cars and leave,” said Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Diamondbacks. “Now, the walking patterns are changing. People are going to Stand Up Live or bowling after, and that’s the way downtown should be.” Within a comfortable walking distance of downtown’s biggest venues, about 15 late-night restaurants and bars cater to postevent crowds, staying open past 10, according to the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. The change has come in increments. Some downtown advocates say they still see too many restaurants closing early, and...
by bryan | Oct 24, 2011 | LightRailConnect.com Magazine, News & Information
The latest issue of the premier light rail centered magazine LightRailConnect Magazine just hit the stands this weekend. Featured in this edition is the Celebrity Theater, touted as the ‘Valley’s most intimate venue’ to everyone seeking a night away from the routine and mundane. Also in this copy you will find sections on Arts & Entertainment, Dining, Sports, Jobs, Real Estate & Apartment Rentals as well as Travel. Browse the restaurant reviews, check out the calendar of events and find a like to JOBS in the light rail corridor. The LightRailConnect Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that features the best of the light rail corridor in the Phoenix-Temp-Mesa corridor. You will find your latest copy at over 70 boxes along the prominent locations and light rail stations, as well as restaurants, hotels, motels and visitor centers....
by bryan | Oct 20, 2011 | News & Information, Valley Metro
METRO Ridership Peaks in September Courtesy of Metro Light Rail PHOENIX, AZ — METRO light rail saw record ridership in September 2011 with 1,241,701 total boardings – the highest in the system’s nearly three years of service. Ridership in 2011 is out-pacing records achieved in 2010 by an average of more than four percent. “Our growth in ridership is indicative of quality service,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “When you give residents effective mobility choices and connections to life, they will ride. Our focus has and will continue to be on the customer.” METRO also saw its highest ridership day on record with 60,437 riders on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. The ridership spike was achieved by weekday commuters and special events that included home games for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona State University football. METRO averaged 47,818 daily weekday riders in September; 34,520 daily riders on Saturdays; and 19,887 on Sundays. METRO’s 2020 weekday ridership projection of 48,004, developed during project planning, was also nearly reached. About METRO METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 12.6 million riders in 2010, exceeding the prior year by 11 percent. METRO serves an average of 40,000 riders each weekday while also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by...
