By Gary Nelson
The Arizona Republic
For decades, downtown Mesa has been the civic equivalent of Sominex.
Any other American city of nearly a half-million people would have an urban center teeming at night with people popping in and out of bars, restaurants and shops.
But the heart of Mesa lost its vibe years ago when far-flung malls took away shoppers and when Main Street was supplanted as a major highway by the U.S. 60, also known as the Superstition Freeway.
Downtown merchants and the city have fought back with art shows, a monthly Friday- night street fair and other events. But the city center still lacks the critical mass needed for sustained activity.
Now, the city is trying a new tack: creating a downtown “entertainment district” aimed at making it easier for bars and nightclubs to set up shop in a neighborhood soon to be served by light rail and four private liberal-arts colleges.
The City Council unanimously approved the idea Monday night despite opposition from a downtown charter school.
It’s believed to be the first use of a new state law that allows cities to nullify a state-imposed, 300-foot buffer between schools and churches on one hand and bars and nightclubs on the other.
