Fiesta Mall in Mesa is set to be no more.
Demolition of the longtime mall is slated to begin Monday. Property owner Verde Investments Inc. is planning new development for the nearly 80-acre site near Southern Avenue and Alma School Road.
“For a long time, Fiesta Mall was a gem in the East Valley, which makes today bittersweet,” said David Leibowitz, a spokesman for Verde on this project. “Though it’s early in terms of what comes next, we know this much for certain: We cannot wait to envision and build a new gem for the Valley, a high-quality development that combines multifamily housing and a range of commercial options at one of the best locations in metro Phoenix.”
Verde Investments has filed zoning changes with the city to move the property from its current limited commercial designation to one called infill district 2, which company officials said remains consistent with the city's general plan.
Nelsen Partners, which has led the redevelopment of several mall projects across the Southwest including Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix, is the project architect.
While Verde officials said the project is still being visualized, the redeveloped Fiesta parcel could include up to 4,000 new apartments and homes, plus retail and commercial components with a strong emphasis on quality design and open space.
The mall has sat dormant for years is is one of several in the Valley that have undergone or will undergo redevelopment. Those projects include Park Central Mall in downtown Phoenix, Paradise Valley Mall and Metrocenter in west Phoenix.
Most recently, the Fiesta Mall site has been linked as a potential landing spot for the Phoenix Coyotes. The team, which left Glendale last year and has been playing at an Arizona State University arena, lost its bid for a new Tempe home after voters rejected a $2 billion development.