By Jim Walsh East Valley Tribune
Mesa Mayor John Giles leaves no doubt that he supports the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ plans to renovate its historic 91-year-old Mesa Arizona Temple and revitalize the surrounding area.
When the church’s plans are combined with the city’s proposal for a downtown Arizona State University campus, Giles anticipates a dramatic transformation of downtown Mesa, with several other major projects getting built and light rail fulfilling its promise.
“I am excited about both projects for the same reason. We will look back at this someday as the new beginnings of downtown Mesa,’’ Giles said. “This is reinvigorating and reinvesting in a very strategic, historic neighborhood. I am not the first mayor of Mesa to go to Salt Lake City and urge them to reinvest.’’
