By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
The Mesquite City Council heard presentations about two new developments proposed on empty parcels in the city during a meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
The first of these was a proposal for a series of related businesses to be built on a parcel, currently owned by the city, located at the southwest corner of Falcon Ridge and Hardy Way in Mesquite.
The second project considered was a zone change request in preparation for a new apartment building on Mesquite Blvd., possibly to include mixed-use commercial shops on the ground floor.
Havenwood at Falcon Ridge
Sun City couple Gary Adkisson and Charlotte Ivey presented the first concept to the Council which they called Havenwood at Falcon Ridge. The concept was similar to other ventures that the two had started up in the past in other communities. They expressed a desire to purchase the city-owned parcel of 9.31 acres to create an array of businesses surrounding a large indoor agriculture facility.
The centerpiece of the proposal would be called “Mushroom Madre,” a 10,000 sq. ft indoor facility for growing and harvesting organic mushrooms.
Ivey said that she has been involved in the harvesting, growing and development of mushrooms since her youth, while being raised on a 400-acre farm in Alabama.
The Mushroom Madre operation would be supplemented by a separate 4,000 sq. ft. indoor hydroponic farm that would produce a variety of other vegetables, herbs and plants.
Adkisson explained that these facilities would be state of the art. “We have two of the largest firms that do computer systems for this type of operation,” he said. “Everything is computerized: the water, nutrients, CO2, the air; it is all computerized and digitally monitored for the growing of each one of the different products. It will be the first such project of its scope in Nevada, at this scale and scope.”
Ivey explained that one of the primary markets for these products would be high end restaurants in the resort corridor of Las Vegas as well as client chefs in St. George and Mesquite.
But also, the facility would have a more local element. It would offer a Community Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) program for interested customers in Mesquite. Local residents could subscribe to the CSA and receive boxes of fresh produce on a regular basis.
“Our products would be literally harvested that morning and sold that afternoon for the use of our local CSA members.,” Adkisson said. “So the CSA is very important to us because it is the local support of the community where you can get these products.”
Also included in the first phase of the Havenwood project would be a 6,000 sq. ft age restricted pub-style restaurant called Shutters & Rye which would include an outdoor courtyard venue. The restaurant would offer self-pour wine and craft beer walls. It would also feature signature rye breads and a selection of rye whiskeys. The establishment would serve as a test kitchen, of sorts, for recipe development of mushroom-based dishes.
“We will also offer our very own craft beer,” Ivey said. “And we will have a full service bar featuring our limited edition rye whiskey since that is really one of our passions.”
Adkisson was the designer of the restaurant concepts in the complex. He said that he had developed and operated restaurant concepts throughout the U.S., Asia, China and Britain and has specialized in locally-focused establishments serving niche markets in a community.
Adjacent to this restaurant would also be “A Wisp of Fresh Air Bakery, Deli, Green Grocery & Emporium which would offer craft-baked breads, craft sandwiches, freshly harvested vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and more.
All of these phase one items are planned to be built on the northern end of the parcel, Adkisson said. The buildings would be attractive sporting a stucco exterior with a stone and tile roof facade in an attractive Mediterranean beach style. The building entrances will each be beneath a rotunda which will each access two of the projects being planned, he said.
Three additional phases are envisioned for later on, to develop the remaining acreage of the parcel.
Phase Two would include a 6,000 sq. ft. brew pub featuring a 1920s Prohibition theme. This facility would also include a Members-Only cigar lounge.
Envisioned in Phase Three and Four would be other previously-developed and -owned retail concepts that would be added later.
The Havenwood proposal materials estimated a total capital investment in the project at $10.6 million, with between 20 and 40 jobs created paying about 125 percent of the average hourly wage.
The couple was requesting that the city discount the price of the land for economic development purposes to incentivize the full development of the parcel.
In 2022, when the city council had first targeted the parcel to be sold to a developer, city staff was asked to contract two different firms to provide appraisals on the property. One of these came back with a conclusion of value at $1,010,000 on the parcel. The other valued the property at $700,000.
Council members all expressed support for the concept. Each one said that this parcel was an ideal spot for a venture like this. All thought that it would do a good job of serving a large segment of the community.
Council member Brian Wursten expressed the only concern that he had heard about the concept, though he said that he was almost reluctant to bring it up. He said that a community member had brought it to his attention that the state legislature had engaged in extensive discussions last Spring about decriminalizing hallucinogenic mushrooms in the state.
“Should that ever come down the line, is that something that you would be looking at in any way, shape or form?” Wursten asked.
Ivey quickly responded, “This site would only be interested in culinary mushrooms.”
The matter before the Council was to consider a resolution stating an interest in the Havenwood proposal and to instruct staff to work with the developers on a sale agreement for the property, possibly at a discount to encourage economic development. This agreement would be presented to the council at a later date for final approval.
Councilman Wes Boger made the motion to approve the resolution. It was approved unanimously.
Apartment complex on Mesquite Blvd.
The other new development matter before the council dealt with a zone change request on a privately owned 2.17-acre parcel located at 450 W. Mesquite Blvd. on the site of the former Final Details building.
In a brief introduction to the item, City Planner Richard Secrist explained that the current owner of the parcel was proposing to sell the property to Dixie Leavitt, the same developer currently building the Heritage Park mixed-use project directly across from Mesquite City Hall.
Dixie Leavitt would buy the parcel to build a 4-story multi-family apartment complex, with possible commercial lease space on the ground floor, Secrist said.
To facilitate this sale, the owner was requesting a change to the zoning from General Commercial (CR-2) to a Central Business District (CR-3) zoning. This would allow multi-family housing at densities exceeding other multi-family zones, Secrist said.
“It basically would allow them to build as many housing units as they can provide parking for; as long as they meet the requirements for building setbacks, open space, building coverage and building height,” Secrist said.
The proposal would be to build a complex of 80 dwelling units on the parcel – in either a 3- or 4-story building – on top of 22,380 sq. ft of possible commercial space, he said.
Council members expressed support for this concept as well.
“This is a really good spot for this,” said Boger. “It is just a short walk to the elementary school and Woodbury Park and other spots there. It will be a really good spot for families.”
During the public hearing, some concerns were voiced from neighboring residents about traffic impacts and building heights in the area. But Council members pointed out that, at this stage, it was only a zone change request. Architectural and site planning would still have to be submitted for approval by the Council as the details were worked out, they said.
Wursten made a motion to approve the zone change request. The motion was adopted with a unanimous vote of the Council.
