The City of Mesa is investing in the future of its core districts through Redevelopment Areas (RDAs), targeted zones designed to encourage private investment, improve infrastructure, and enhance the quality of life.

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What is a Redevelopment Area (RDA)?

A RDA is a specially designated area of the city identified by Mesa City Council as needing revitalization. These areas show signs of aging infrastructure or underused land — and present prime opportunities for growth.

RDAs allow the City to:

• Unlock access to certain federal revitalization funds
• Establish area-specific development plans
• Enable financial tools like the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) tax program to lower project costs

Mesa's Current RDAs

Mesa currently has four active RDAs, covering strategic areas across the city:

• Town Center RDA (est. 1999)
• Southwest RDA (est. 2016)
• East RDA (est. 2017)
• West RDA (est. 2017)

Together, these RDAs make up Mesa’s Central Business District (CBD), a key designation that enables economic development tools such as GPLET.

Why Locate in a Redevelopment Area?

RDAs offer unique advantages to businesses, developers, and community organizations:

• Eligibility for GPLET, a tool to reduce property tax burden
• Federal funding access for renovation, infrastructure, and neighborhood enhancements
• Streamlined City support and coordination
• Public-private investment opportunities aligned with City goals

RDAs are not labels on specific properties, they’re pathways for area-wide revitalization and growth.

Understanding Mesa’s Central Business District (CBD)?

Mesa’s CBD is a contiguous area that includes all four RDAs. It creates a unified zone where developments may qualify for special support programs — such as:

• Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET)
• Strategic infrastructure investments
• Business assistance and redevelopment planning

How Does Mesa Designate an RDA?

Mesa follows a transparent, public process to define and adopt a Redevelopment Area:

1. Data Gathering & Parcel Survey
2. Community Outreach & Engagement
3. City Council RDA Designation
4. Drafting of the Redevelopment Plan
5. Planning & Zoning Board Review
6. City Council Adoption of the Plan
7. Ongoing Plan Implementation

Mesa RDAs are shaped by local input and focused on long-term impact.

According to ARS § 36-1471, an area must show a “predominance of blight.” This can include:

• Faulty or inadequate street layout
• Unsafe or unsanitary property conditions
• Deterioration of buildings or site improvements
• High rates of tax delinquency
• Obsolete or irregular subdivision platting
• Conditions that pose fire or safety hazards
• Fragmented property ownership

❗Mesa does NOT label individual properties as blighted. RDAs reflect overall area conditions, not individual parcels.

Explore Opportunities in Mesa’s Redevelopment Areas

If you’re a developer, business owner, or investor looking to activate space in an RDA, Mesa is ready to support your vision.

Contact the Office of Economic Development

_08052025