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August 23, 2004
'Digital Downtown' becoming a reality
Luisa Pawlak
Mesa Legend
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Photos by Rebecca Straughmatt Mesa Legend |
| The construction of the Mesa Arts Center (above) and the proposed MCC downtown campus are part of a plan to revitalize Mesa’s urban core. Downtown Mesa is already home to MCC’s Business and Industry institute (right). The proposed campus would be on Centennial Way in close proximity to the institute. The first phase of development would cost approximately $24 million. That amount would cover 80,000 to 160,000 square feet of college space, including two buildings and 1,500 parking spaces. |
In a maneuver that will prove pivotal in the development of downtown Mesa, the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board and the City Council gathered on August 10, to sign an aspiring “memo of understanding.” The enterprising agreement will pave the way for an innovative new campus, which will incorporate existing resources such as the downtown library and the proposed world-class aquatics complex.
MCC and the City have been engaged for the past two years in joint planning for a downtown campus that will blend education, arts and leisure. “This is indeed historic,” said Governing Board President Linda B. Rosenthal, in reference to the cutting-edge collaboration. “We have never attempted a partnership of this magnitude,” added Bernie Ronan, director of the college’s Center for Public Policy.
The memo depicts a synergized, “digital” downtown campus consisting of four divisions formatted to unite government, business, education and entertainment, with evolving technologies. The memo approximates the cost of the first phase of the development to be about $24 million. The amount would cover 80,000 to 160,000 square-feet of college space with the inclusion of two buildings and parking spaces for up to 1,500 vehicles. Although precise locations for total expansion have not yet been decided upon, the first phase of construction has been planned close to Centennial Way.
This momentous convergence of powers is also expected to revitalize Mesa’s “urban core” and workforce development, as a myriad of individuals would merge to study, work and participate in surrounding endeavors. According to Mayor Keno Hawker, the estimated 10,000 students who would populate the campus could ideally create an impact on downtown businesses.
F. Rockne Arnett, president of the East Valley Partnership concurs, yet envisions precedent-setting statistics. “You talk about getting 5,000 or 10,000 students down there, but I think the number is closer to 20,000.” The main MCC campus is currently crowded with more than 21,000 students. According to MCC President Larry Christiansen, that number is expected to grow to 35,000 by 2020. MCC’s Red Mountain campus is expected to grow from about 3,400 students to more than 15,000 in 2020.
Agenda for downtown
Advanced Technology Center:
Center could include a Network Academy, featuring software development, “cyberforensics” and network security, among others.
Community outreach and partnerships:
Partnerships could include a Life Options Center and an interactive technology center for kids.
Business and Industry Institute:
Would focus on industry partnerships with companies such as Sun Microsystems, Microsoft and Novell.
Extended campus:
Would build upon existing off-campus credit programs and distance-learning courses at other sites. |
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