Intel opens factory
Computer chip giant Intel Corp., already Chandler's largest employer by a long shot, opened a $3 billion factory to make next-generation chips that are designed to make laptops speedier and cheaper with less power consumption.The 1-million-square-foot factory in south Chandler's Ocotillo area is making 45-nanometer computer chips that will power laptops, hand-held computers, servers and other mobile devices.
The plant employs about 1,500 workers and is the fourth Intel factory to open in Chandler. Two other factories operate in the Ocotillo area, while the original Intel plant on Chandler Boulevard and Rural Road repairs parts and does other work.
Gateway serves passengers
A renamed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport took its biggest step toward becoming a reliever airport by launching its biggest airline service to date.Allegiant Air, which serves 13 markets from Mesa, is the largest passenger service to operate from the airport, which was Williams Air Force base until the base was closed 14 years ago. The other carrier, Vision Airlines, flies roundtrip to north Las Vegas from the airport.
Allegiant Air logged 3,200 passengers to seven destinations in its first week of operation in late October. Projections call for the airport to serve up to 1.2 million passengers a year at build-out.
Shopping, shopping, shopping
The number of large shopping venues in the Southeast Valley grew.Westcor opened the SanTan Village regional shopping center in Gilbert; Vestar unveiled Tempe Marketplace; and Bass Pro Shops and other shops opened at Mesa Riverview.
SanTan Village, a 1.2 million-square-foot open air mall, opened in late October with more than 85 retailers and restaurants.
The 1.3 million-square-foot Tempe Marketplace made its grand-opening debut in September near the Loop 202 and Loop 101. It features a lineup of big-box stores, an open-air shopping center with entertainment venues called The District and stand-alone retail and restaurant pads. It's Harkins theater touts the state's largest movie screen.
Mesa Riverview opened its biggest tenant - Bass Pro Shops - in June. The store was a mega catch for the 250-acre center, which includes 1.3 million square feet of retail space. Other retailers include Cinemark Theatres, Petco, Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, Wine Expressions and Shepler's Western Wear.
Auto dealers on the move
Mesa continued to lose sales tax revenue as three longtime auto dealers on Broadway Road and one on Main Street moved to new auto malls in Chandler and Gilbert.The Chandler 202 Auto Park at the northwestern corner of the Loop 202-Santan Freeway and Gilbert Road nabbed Honda Cars of Mesa, which was renamed the Santan Honda Superstore of Chandler. It also got Brown and Brown Nissan and Big Two Toyota/Scion. Meanwhile, Henry Brown Pontiac, Buick and GMC on West Main Street headed to the San Tan Motorplex in Gilbert.
In Tempe, the Earnhardt Ford and Mazda dealership, which opened in 1976 on what is considered 20 acres of prime commercial land, relocated to west Chandler.
Adventure park gets nod
Mesa voters overwhelmingly backed a $250 million Waveyard adventure park and mixed-use complex that promises to transform the Riverview Golf Course area in northwest Mesa and lure recreation enthusiasts from throughout the Southeast Valley and possibly elsewhere.Waveyard is a European-themed mixed-use project with an emphasis on outdoor water sports. The project will include a luxury hotel, an indoor water park, retail shops, restaurants, offices and residences.
It is planned to be built where the Riverview Golf Course currently operates, south of the Loop 202-Red Mountain Freeway and east of the Loop 101-Price Freeway. The development will replace the golf course and four ball fields.
Target opening date: 2010.
Casino construction starts
The Gila River Indian Community began building two casinos in the Southeast Valley.The first to break ground was the Lone Butte Casino near Kyrene Road and the Loop 202-Santan Freeway. The site was chosen for a larger, $60 million casino after community members opposed a proposed location at the Santan Freeway and Gilbert Road because they had invested money in a crop irrigation system there.
Chandler residents also were opposed to the original site, saying it would be too close to schools, bring too much traffic and could lower property values.
In late November, the community also started work on a $200 million Wild Horse Pass Casino & Hotel near Interstate 10 and Wild Horse Pass Boulevard.
The project will include a 100,000-square-foot casino plus a 241-room, 10-story hotel with a ballroom, conference facilities, pool, spa/health club, restaurants and covered parking.
It will be more visible from the freeway than the existing Wild Horse Pass Casino about a mile to the southwest. The existing casino will be closed after the new casino is opened in May 2009.
Proving grounds plans form
Years after lofty plans and talk began, developers and business leaders began to solidify their vision for the redevelopment of the 200-acre General Motors Proving Ground.Scottsdale-based DMB Associates wants to begin construction in mid-2009 on a project that could include a massive conference center, amusement park and other attractions.
Details of the project are scant, in large part because developers are shopping their ideas to residents and city leaders at a series of public forums.
Light rail heads east
This was the year of ever-changing construction tie-ups and delays as the 20-mile Metro Light Rail line took shape.About 6.5 miles of light rail run through Tempe and the western edge of Mesa. As expected, construction burdened businesses along the line, which runs southeast from Washington Street in Phoenix by Tempe Beach Park to Mill Avenue, around Sun Devil Stadium and east along Apache Boulevard and Main Street in Mesa to Dobson Road.
Several struggled to stay in business estimated they lost up to 25 percent in revenues because customers avoided construction zones.
But there were also some new signs of life. Developers proposed two large condominium projects in Mesa near light rail, and several near light rail in Tempe continue to move through the development process.
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