The city of Mesa may soon see the construction of a long-planned and much talked-about auto mall.
The mall, a series of car dealerships, is set for the southeast side of the Mesa and has been embraced by city leaders due to the simple fact that such businesses generate substantial local sales tax revenue.
The site in question measures 89 acres and is bordered by the intersection of Williams Field and Signal Butte roads on the north side of the site, and Arizona State Route 24 to the south.
Work on the building of Route 24, otherwise known as the Gateway Freeway, is scheduled to begin this fall and has been regarded as an important component in the subsequent development of the auto mall.
Members of the Mesa City Council have now given their approval to a rezoning of the site from residential to general commercial in order to get the project underway.
The project belongs to Mesa-based developer Signal Butte 24, and is part of a larger 251-acre planned area development.
According to city documents, the site will first require extensive infrastructure work, including the building of storm drains, sidewalks, gutters, curbs, and street lights, before the first dealership property is built, most likely still several years from now.
Research has shown that auto malls, or the clustering together of several auto dealerships in one defined area, creates a shopping destination for buyers that helps not only the dealerships themselves, but such related businesses as body shops and car washes.
The dealerships typically comprise large parking lots, with an average building size of around 21,000 square feet, including interior show rooms, body shop and parts departments, and garage and office space.
By Garry Boulard
