By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
A collection of dusty vacant lots in downtown Gilbert’s Heritage District may hold the key to the historical area’s future as the town considers the next phase of redevelopment in the once-blighted neighborhood.
About three dozen graduate students in Arizona State University’s real-estate development program last Friday unveiled their vision for a dense urban oasis in downtown Gilbert, with high-density housing and public-gathering spaces injecting new life into one of the town’s oldest neighborhoods.
Redevelopment efforts in the Heritage District, a roughly half-mile stretch along Gilbert Road from Juniper Avenue to Elliot Road, began about two decades ago. In recent years, the area has seen a noticeable reduction in blight and renewed interest from the business community.
The Heritage District is now home to a popular lineup of restaurants that includes Joe’s Real BBQ and Postino East and destinations like Hale Centre Theatre and the Gilbert Farmer’s Market.
Along with investing millions of dollars into downtown infrastructure improvements, Gilbert has gradually acquired more than 50 acres in the district and last year asked the ASU students to weigh in on how the public land might best be developed.
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