Mesa staff propose $3 million‑a‑year redevelopment pilot to tackle blight and unlock infill

Mesa city staff on Jan. 15 presented a package of programs aimed at speeding private investment in underperforming commercial properties and reducing the public costs of blight. The proposed toolkit includes a vacant‑property registration, a code‑compliance assistance program, a revolving loan fund, targeted commercial activation grants, public infrastructure support and environmental remediation assistance. Staff recommended a $3,000,000 annual pilot over five years and said it will seek federal grants, including an Economic Development Administration (EDA) award, to augment local funding.

Staff framed the effort as a response to long‑term disinvestment. "For the past 2 years, council has identified redevelopment as a key strategic priority of the city," Jeff McVay, manager of Urban Transformation, told the council, describing a cross‑department team and a 30% design for the proposed tools. Angelica Guevara of code compliance described a long‑running enforcement case — the Indy Car Wash property — and said the city’s abatement and related costs already exceed "over $30,000". Guevara…