City and ASU to study reuse of downtown post office, with consultants to map options and costs
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Summary
Arizona State University and Mesa staff reviewed ASU’s expanding downtown presence and asked council permission to fund consultant work to evaluate reuse of the municipal post office, create as‑built drawings and develop conceptual designs for an interconnected ‘light walk’ linking Mesa Arts Center, the mix
Arizona State University and city staff described progress at the Mesa City Center and requested council authorization on June 26 to fund consultant work that will evaluate reuse scenarios for the downtown post office and create conceptual designs that better connect downtown assets.
ASU planner Rick Neymar and city staff reviewed outcomes from the Media and Immersive Experience Center (the Mix), which opened in fall 2022. Staff reported the Mix is supporting degree and nondegree programs, entrepreneurship and industry engagement: ASU told council it has about 845 students enrolled in Mix‑related degree programs, roughly 65 faculty/staff tied to downtown programming and hundreds of community and entrepreneurship events per year. ASU emphasized that the Mix has become a regional draw for creative‑technology visitors and industry partnerships and that further campus footprint could strengthen downtown economic activity.
The intergovernmental agreement between Mesa and ASU (2018 and updated in 2024) identifies multiple potential ASU development sites in downtown, including the U.S. Post Office property on Center Street, the library parking lot and the municipal building site at 55 North Center. The post office property reverted to city ownership on June 1 and the building is roughly 50+ years old; city staff said no as‑built plans were available and that detailed study is required to assess reuse, including whether a retail postal counter can remain while parts of the building are repurposed.
Staff asked council to authorize a consultant study (including as‑built drawings and conceptual design work) to evaluate options for the post office and for pedestrian and programming connections — a shaded, lit “light walk” — that would link Mesa Arts Center, the Mix and the convention center. Staff estimated the consultant effort could cost up to approximately $500,000 and said they would return with a recommended financing split, a proposed project budget and a timeline; staff also told council they aim to present firm recommendations by the end of the calendar year. Councilors signaled they wanted the city and ASU to move faster on the work.
Separately, staff said the former council chambers is being discussed as a partner site under the IGA; the city would design and construct any improvements and license space to ASU for program use. The 51–55 East Main Street site also drew ASU interest; staff said options include joint city‑ASU development or a city‑led redevelopment with ASU tenancy, and staff will evaluate which path best supports arts and downtown activation.
Council gave direction to proceed with consultant work to explore the post office and related connectivity and programming options and asked staff to return with budget and schedule details.
