Largest Mesa office development is proposed near Cubs ballpark

Developers have proposed building 1.35 million square feet of office space on 28 acres near the Chicago Cubs spring training ballpark in Mesa.

The project, called Union at Riverview, would be the largest office development in the city. Mesa Mayor John Giles has touted the quality jobs it would bring to the city.

The proposal calls for four large office buildings flanked by two parking garages on land currently used for Cubs game-day parking and soccer fields, near Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway, next to the Loop 202.

Justin Piper, general manager of the Cubs' spring training operations, said the team supports the project as long as parking concerns are resolved.

The Cubs play at Sloan Park, which opened at Riverview in 2014, and attract the largest following among the 15 Major League Baseball teams in Arizona's Cactus League. The Cubs averaged nearly 14,000 visitors per game this past spring, which is more than double the attendance at most of the ballparks in metro Phoenix.

"Our aim is to protect the guest experience," Piper said.

The Mesa City Council will vote Monday on a deal to sell the cityowned land to developers.

What about Cubs’ game-day parking?

The Cubs parked as many as 3,876 vehicles across Riverview lots in 2018, and there are about 4,000 parking spots available currently, said William Jabjiniak, Mesa's economic development director.

The city, based on its agreement with the team, is responsible for 2,500 parking spaces west of Riverview Drive. All but about 459 spaces will remain once the offices are developed. The city will make up this public parking by paying an estimated $5.16 million for space on the ground floor of the western parking garage, which is being constructed on top of an existing city parking lot, Jabjiniak said.

The Union developers will provide 1,750 parking spaces for city and team use once the office complex is fully built out, according to the city.

The developers will submit an annual parking plan to ensure adequate parking is available through each stage of construction, Jabjiniak said.

Piper said there are "key questions and concerns" the Cubs wants resolved before the development agreement is finalized. One concern is that fans will be confused by the changes in parking over the course of the development.

The city plans to include the Cubs in parking discussions throughout the process, Jabjiniak said.

"At all times, we're going to have adequate parking for the Cubs," Jabjiniak said.

As for the displaced soccer fields, the city is looking to relocate them to a parcel north of McKellips Road and Center Street.

Building in 4 phases

Several investment firms, including Lincoln Property Co., Harvard Investments and Goldman Sachs, are behind the Union at Riverview project.

The developers would purchase the city land in four phases over eight years:

❚ 9.1 acres purchased for an estimated $3.9 million. ❚ 6.7 acres.

❚ 4.1 acres.

❚ 3.6 acres.

The price for each parcel would be determined at the time of the sale with the value adjusted annually and appraisals completed every five years, according to a city presentation to the council.

If the deal is approved by council, developers could purchase each new parcel after meeting construction milestones. For instance, the third parcel can be purchased after construction is completed on the first parcel and work has begun on the second parcel.