A $1.2 million two-story building that housed Maricopa County’s adult-probation offices is to be purchased by the city of Mesa for municipal uses.
Maricopa County recently reconstructed and added space to its facility at Mesa Drive and Baseline Road, has consolidated its staff there and is willing to sell the building at 245 N. Centennial Way, City Engineer Beth Huning said at a June 22 Mesa City Council study session.
The building at one time may have been used by an architect and in 1991 was purchased by the county and used for adult-probation offices, she said.
“The site is pretty small,” Real Estate Supervisor Lisa Davis said at the study session. “The building pretty much takes up the entire site. The parking is provided by a city-owned parking lot adjacent to it.”
The 26,685-square-foot building was built in 1986, she said.
“Although there was an update in 2013, there would still need to be some updates to the interior of the building to accommodate what we need as far as city uses — some removal of walls, ceiling replacement, paint, flooring, (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility,” Davis said.
Additional updates are needed for heating and air-conditioning, plumbing, electric, lighting and fire suppression, she said.
An appraisal done in February for the county shows the building is valued a $1.26 million, she said.
Office space is needed
City Manager Chris Brady said additional municipal office space is needed.
“As the city demand for space continues to grow, finding opportunities kind of in this super block of downtown, we have limited choices,” he said. “We would recommend allowing us to acquire this property.”
If purchased, the money would come from the general fund capital, he said later.
There was no vote by the council but all were in favor of the acquisition.
District 4 Councilmember Jenn Duff said acquiring the building is an economic development opportunity.
“Beyond the office needs that we have and moving people around for the city, whatever buildings we can free up and use for economic development of downtown. There is a demand, there are some proposals of people who have projects and looking for space. So it gives us more options,” she said.
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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