(Photo via ASU)
By AZRE
After two and a half years of construction and a $100 million investment by Mesa and ASU, the City and downtown businesses welcome students to ASU’s Media and Immersive eXperience Center (MIX), 50 N. Centennial Way. The state-of-the-art facility opening to hundreds of students in film, video production and digital technology this week will have a tremendous economic impact in downtown. Direct revenue to the City from ASU is estimated to be $7.45 million annually, while indirect economic activity is expected to generate an estimated $9.18 million yearly.
“The opening of the new ASU MIX Center to students this week is an exciting milestone in the evolution of Mesa’s downtown innovation district,” said Mayor John Giles. “This next phase of the partnership between the City of Mesa and Arizona State University is further expanding educational opportunities and adding to a uniquely skilled workforce in our city. The state-of-the-art facility is a game-changer for downtown Mesa, offering programs that will develop technology to impact numerous industries, like gaming, film and design, along with applications that will serve healthcare, aviation and advanced manufacturing.”
Downtown Mesa has seen impressive growth in recent years; attracting significant housing projects, commercial development and new businesses:
•There have been 397 housing units added since 2020. Only 254 were added between 2010-2020
•Four multifamily complexes are under construction totaling 867 market-rate units and $201 million in capital investment
•Seven housing developments are currently in planning totaling 1,868 units
•Three major commercial projects with a combined total of 31,000 square feet are under construction and two more with a combined total of 48,600 square feet are being planned
•There have been 21 new businesses added since 2020 with eight more under lease or development.
