La Mesita low-income housing for seniors planned in Mesa
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This is a project that is very much needed. We do need to have affordable housing and I think they are doing a design that I think is complementary to the area while still being able to meet that affordability level.”
Low-income senior apartments are to be constructed by nonprofit A New Leaf Inc. on 1 acre north of Main Street and west of Dobson Road in Mesa.
The landscaping and look of La Mesita Phase 4 were discussed at a recent meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board. Absent were Chair Paul Johnson and board members Dane Astle and Justin Trexler.
La Mesita phases 1, 2 and 3 are adjacent to the site, Staff Planner Josh Grandlienard said at the March 14 meeting.
“The site is currently split-zoned between RM-4 and general commercial. There is a concurrent rezone to general commercial with a council use permit and (bonus intensity zone) to allow for the 100% usage of residential uses with office portions for the services provided on site located on the first floor,” he said.
Apartments will be on the second and third floors, Grandlienard said.
“They’re trying to utilize as much of the site as possible so it’s just one structure stacked flat where you have parking located on the first floor with the offices located in front adjacent to Main to help screen that from Main as well as to allow for the development of a second and third floor. They have located an amenity space along that second floor and it is centrally located as well as community spaces throughout multiple floors in order to provide additional open space,” he said.
Earl and Curley is the applicant. A New Leaf Inc., is the owner.
A New Leaf is a nonprofit organization providing a broad spectrum of support services to help individuals and families in need. A previous La Mesita apartments phase was constructed for low-income families and is close to the proposed site, according to turnanewleaf.org.
“(T)his Phase 4 is going to service only seniors and that’s where it’s different from the other phases,” Taylor Earl of Earl and Curley said March 14 to the design review board.
Most of the 54 apartments will be studio units and some are one-bedroom units, he said.
“This is a project that is very much needed. We do need to have affordable housing and I think they are doing a design that I think is complementary to the area while still being able to meet that affordability level,” Earl said.
The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two residents, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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