By VERNON ROBISON
The residents of Mesquite received a shower of good news last week. At a City Council meeting held on Tuesday, Feb. 23, a trio of long-anticipated new development projects; and a host of other visionary possibilities; were dropped right into the laps of the general public.
Firstly, the Mesquite Trails RV Park, a project brought forward by the Hafen Family, proposed a beautiful facility for visitors and ‘winter-ers’ to the Virgin Valley. This is not the average jam-packed RV campground. The project features lawns, common areas, a stylish clubhouse, coveted pickleball courts, a large swimming pool and more. This park will be a jewel in the crown of an already beautiful neighborhood. In last week’s meeting, members of the council and many of the public praised the Hafens for listening to them and being responsive to the neighbors’ wishes in the designs. That positive relationship with the developer was refreshing. The approvals for the project went smooth-sailing through the council.
Next, was a proposal from a developer to build a workforce housing project on a parcel of city land near the downtown Mesquite area. The developer was asking for an agreement to purchase the property from the city at a reduced price in return for an assurance that residential units would be built there. The answer to the request was a resounding ‘yes!’ Council members hailed the agreement as good for the city, filling a dire need of housing for a growing workforce. This clear strategic purpose brought a unanimous vote of approval from city leaders.
Finally, and perhaps most monumental of all, was a new downtown concept brought by Dixie Leavitt and his various development entities. Now this one was a real dream-come-true for Mesquite’s heretofore drab and dilapidated “downtown” block! From this kind and wealthy “uncle”, the Virgin Valley community will inherit a suddenly revitalized downtown center with commercial shops; upscale, downtown housing; and beautiful, green spaces – all topped off with a pioneer heritage theme. No doubt this remarkable gift will set the stage for a new and vibrant future for the center of the City.
If all that was not enough, Mesquite residents also heard that there is likely much more of the same to come. Bill Edmiston, an economic development consultant contracted to help the City with its downtown redevelopment, gave a bright and cheery report to the Council last week. He spoke of the flurry of interest that the Dixie Leavitt project was bringing to the downtown area. He spoke of coffee shops, pubs, food halls, restaurant chains and more that had already expressed interest, provided the Leavitt downtown project comes to fruition.
“I think, in view of my past experience, that we are on the cusp of good things for Mesquite at this point in time,” Edmiston reported.
It was a tremendously positive meeting with a feeling of forward motion and optimism for the future. The City leaders and staff should be commended for their vision and follow-through.
Of course, it is important to note that all of this good news didn’t just suddenly fall upon Mesquite magically, like pennies from heaven. No, it has come due to tremendous effort, leadership and vision over many years. It is the result of countless people and groups looking into the future with a positive outlook and a unified vision for Mesquite. City leaders have gone out seeking and engaging good developers who could bring these attractive concepts to the City. When the time was right, they came!
They came because of the City’s positive attitude about growth. They came because of a consistent vision and a clear purpose. City leaders are enthusiastic and hopeful about the City growing in a planned, sensible and attractive way. And let’s face it, that kind of enthusiasm is contagious.
Does that mean that everything goes? Is it a greedy attitude of ‘no holds barred’ growth that reigns in Mesquite nowadays? Of course not. The Mesquite fathers have been quite selective about the projects that come along. And they have been careful to make sure that the projects are aligned with their carefully conceived strategic goals.
So it is completely normal when they ask pointed questions of developers like City Council member Brian Wursten did with the Leavitt project last week. It was okay for him to want to cover the bases and to ensure that all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. It is okay to hold developers to a high standard in keeping with a carefully crafted and unified vision.
But beneath all of those tough questions and all of those high standards there must always be a fundamental sincerity. There must always be a genuine desire to bring good development in; never an underlying, ulterior motive to keep it out. There must be a positive culture of ‘yes’ where change is embraced and welcomed; rather than an instinctual attitude of ‘no’ and a deep suspicion of anything new.
The City Of Mesquite stands as a model of how to attract respectable developers with high-quality projects. City leaders and staff have set forth a clear strategic plan with four simple “pillars”. They hold fast to those pillars and regularly refer back to them, keeping them top-of-mind in all their decisions.
They have held them up as a guiding light for any and all who would bring a development project to town. This is the standard!
No doubt, the City of Mesquite has many faults. But identity crisis is not one of them. Mesquite has come to grips with what it is. And everyone knows what the City wants to be when it grows up. It is clear to the staff, clear to the elected officials, clear to residents; and most importantly it is crystal clear to developers.
There is purpose, resolve, predictability and optimism in that clarity. That positive energy is what draws the best from developers to the City. It brings opportunities like the Dixie Leavitt downtown project, the Mesquite Trails RV park project. And, no doubt, it will bring many more positive and prosperous changes to the City in the future.
