21-unit Eden Village for individuals experiencing homelessness planned in Mesa
Eden Village will be a tiny-home community where the chronically homeless live in a permanent, supportive housing environment.
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
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The property is 1.57 acres and was created by the assembly of five individual, contiguous parcels. Eden Village will be constructed on the east side of the 0 to 200 blocks of North Alma School Road in Mesa.
City of Mesa
Rooftop solar panels will provide a portion of the community’s electrical requirements. Each of the 21 units are to have a kitchen, living area, bathroom and bedroom.
A development incentive permit has been approved for a 21-unit Eden Village multiple-residence project north of Main Street on the east side of Alma School Road in Mesa that will provide permanent homes for those experiencing homelessness.
Eden Village will be a tiny-home community where the chronically homeless live in a permanent, supportive housing environment, according to an Eden Village of Arizona Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089943473693.
Rick McClellan, executive director for La Mesa Ministries, said the homes will also be for people with disabilities or who are low-income.
“The chronically homeless can surely qualify for this community as long as they have a disability and an income,” he said Sept. 5 in an email.
“The two main qualifications to be a resident at Eden Village is they need to have a disability and an income with a cap. It is permanent supportive housing and will operate as any other apartment complex with leases and regulations and monthly rent payments. Rent will be $400 per month and our ministry will subsidize the operations,” he said.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 Sept. 4 as part of a consent agenda with other items to approve the permit for deviations from development standards. Absent were Vice Chair Shelly Allen and board members Nicole Lynam and Gerson Barrera.
Deviations sought include a reduction in parking. There will be 20 parking spaces provided, nine that will be covered, instead of the required 28 spaces and 21 covered, Staff Planner Chloe Durfee Daniel said during a study session prior to the meeting.
“For the site plan the project is proposing 10 duplexes and one single unit for a total of 21 dwelling units. They are also providing a community garden for both the residents as well as public spaces are available to rent. There is a community center for the residents on the south side of the site,” she said.
Sean B. Lake and Sarah Prince of Pew & Lake PLC are the applicants. Harriet Munguia is the owner.
Rooftop solar panels will provide a portion of the community’s electrical requirements. Each of the 21 units are to have a kitchen, living area, bathroom and bedroom, according to a written project narrative from Lake and Prince.
“Outdoor amenities will include an approximately 9,000-square-foot community garden, a dog run, an open space with tables and BBQs. The community garden will be available to the residents and will also have plots available for rent to the larger community,” it states.
The seven-member Board of Adjustment conducts public meetings to hear and decide requests for variances, special-use permits and interpretations of the city of Mesa zoning ordinance and sign code. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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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