Mesa developments to keep an eye on in 2023

Maritza Dominguez, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
Mesa will see many new expansions in the coming year including a coastal-themed development.
Mesa will see many new expansions in the coming year including a coastal-themed development.

Mesa, a sprawling city of more than half a million people, will see the expansion of an Asian food hub, a new internet provider, a growing electric car footprint and a long-awaited beach-style park in 2023.

Here's a look at what to expect with these Mesa developments in the new year.

Mekong Plaza expansion

Mekong Plaza, the hub for Mesa's Asian District, is getting a $10 million expansion. The project is expected to be completed by July, according to a city news release.

As much as 60% of its space has been pre-leased. The dirt lot south of the main building will turn into a retail space big enough for more than a dozen business and restaurants.

Mekong Plaza was transformed to a multi-faceted retail destination in 2008 from an empty Target. The city has focused on branding the area as a destination space for metro Phoenix. To help promote the district, the city set aside $200,000 to be used over the next two years.

Google Fiber

The Mesa City Council approved a development agreement to bring a Google data center to the city's tech corridor.
The Mesa City Council approved a development agreement to bring a Google data center to the city's tech corridor.

Mesa is the first Arizona city to receive Google's internet service Google Fiber. In July 2022, the council voted to allow Google to use the city right-of-way to install its infrastructure on city streets.

Construction is planned to begin in early this year, with the first customers receiving service by the end of 2023.

The service offers two different plans, a $70 per month plan with one gigabit per second of download and upload speed, and a $100 per month plan of two gigabits per second of download speed and one gigabit upload speed.

More Mesa news:Metro Phoenix cities named top travel destinations for 2023

ElectraMeccanica moves headquarters to Mesa

Canadian electric car company ElectraMeccanica announced it will move its headquarters to Mesa. The move expands the city's electric vehicle footprint in the state.

ElectraMeccanica announced in 2021 that it picked the East Valley city for its first U.S.-based manufacturing plant that could result in the creation of 200 to 500 jobs.

The nearly-completed 235,000-square-foot facility in southeast Mesa will have the capacity to produce up to 20,000 vehicles annually, the company said. ElectraMeccanica is committed to fully assemble the SOLO vehicle at the Mesa plant by the tail end of 2023.

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach, a 37-acre surf, shop, gym and multi-use development project, is slated to open in Mesa in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Cannon Beach, a 37-acre surf, shop, gym and multi-use development project, is slated to open in Mesa in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The 37-acre surf and retail project could open in the fourth quarter of 2023 along Power and Warner roads. The mixed use project is expected to include a 55-yard surfing lagoon, shops, restaurants and a hotel. It was recently announced that KTR, an indoor sports playground, will be a tenant at Cannon Beach.

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa/Gilbert and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on Twitter @maritzacdom.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa Developments to watch in 2023