Gaylord Entertainment Co. has announced it’s nixing plans to develop a resort center in Chula Vista, CA, similar to one it still has plans for in Mesa, following protracted negotiations with the city and the Port of San Diego.
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said Tuesday he has been reassured by a company official that “this did not lessen their commitment to Mesa.”
“When Geoff Woodward (Gaylord’s vice president of development) called us yesterday to tell us about San Diego, he reassured us it would strengthen the Mesa plans,” Smith said.
In a Gaylord news release announcing the termination of its California plans, the reasons stated for the decision are “prolonged planning and approval processes, a complicated regulatory and legal structure, and excessive off-site infrastructure costs.”
It further states that “the decision regarding the Chula Vista project has no bearing on Gaylord’s other announced development initiatives.”
In a letter to the Chula Vista authorities Monday, Bennett Westbrook, Gaylord’s Senior Vice President, describing the project as “complex and challenging,” cited “enormous infrastructure costs associated with the bayfront redevelopment” as too much to generate “adequate financial returns for Gaylord, the Port and the City.”
The company was dealing with multiple regulatory agencies and also had significant upfront redevelopment infrastructure costs.
Smith said the Mesa deal was easy compared to that because Gaylord only had to negotiate with the city, as also, infrastructure costs on the Mesa Proving Grounds, are lower in comparison.
Westbrook also mentioned conflicting community interests as having been a hurdle. It’s been widely reported that Gaylord ran into negotiation issues with labor unions in California.
In a San Diego Union Tribune article, Port Commission Chairman Michael Bixler of Imperial Beach is quoted as saying “The lesson to be learned is that when you have a billion-dollar project, you can push these things outside the bounds of success and end up with nothing.”
Gaylord, which is known for developing massive convention and hotel properties across the country, plans to build a minimum 1,200-room upscale resort in Mesa, which is being heralded as a panacea for attracting conventioneers and tourism to Arizona and national name-recognition for Mesa.
Roc Arnett, president of the East Valley Partnership, expressed confidence that Mesa voters will agree to give a bed tax incentive for Gaylord and another resort project at the Mesa Proving Grounds in a special election March 10. That money, it’s stipulated, will be used to promote the properties and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway area in east Mesa.
DMB Associates owns the 3,200-acre Mesa Proving Grounds, currently occupied by General Motors. Gaylord bought 5 acres of that land to develop the resort.
“It will be a good economic engine for Mesa, not just for the jobs it brings but the excitement the development will bring to the area,” Arnett said.
Gaylord spokesman Brian Abrahamson said that Gaylord’s Mesa project is still in the early planning stages.
Gaylord cited the California problems pertaining to “prolonged planning and approval processes, a complicated regulatory and legal structure, and excessive off-site infrastructure costs.”
That shouldn’t be a problem in Mesa.
(1) Mesa is largely unplanned. And it shows.
(2) Mesa is likewise unregulated and illegal.
(3) Mesa has no infrastructure to speak of.
NOW WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD SOME RICH GUY AND HIS WIFE SPEND $500-$800 DOLLARS A NIGHT TO GO TO A RESORT IN “MESA, ARIZONA”. ARE THEIR ANY DESIGNER SHOPS LIKE CHANEL, VALENTINO, GUCCI, ETC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? ARE THEIR ANY HIGH PROFILE RESTAURANTS STAFFED WITH FRENCH CHEF’S JUST OFF THE BOAT COOKING “FUSION” AND “TUSCAN” FEASTS? IS THERE A GAMBLING CASINO NEAR BY TO “BLOW” 5-10 THOUSAND DOLLARS? WHAT IS OUT THERE CLOSE-BY THE OLD “MESA PROVING GROUNDS”…YUP, YOU GOT IT….LOTS AND LOTS OF SAGE BRUSH AND A COUPLE OF JACK RABBITS…..BUT, HERE WE GO AGAIN FOLKS……MESA MAYOR SCOTT “WHO NEVER MET A SNAKE-OIL DEVELOPER HE DIDN’T LUV” SMITH AND HIS “RUBBER STAMP” NODDING HEADS CITY COUNCIL WITH THEIR FINGERS ALREADY POISED ON TOP OF THE “YES” VOTE BUTTON………….HEAVEN HELP MESA….MAYOR SMITH AND THE MESA CITY COUNCIL….KEEP DIGGING THAT HOLE DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER….MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL HIT CHINA……..LMAO…ROTF
If the first two comments are all the opponents can muster this thing will pass 80-20.
Since when did Mesa become a tourist place where “HIGH DOLLAR” folks come to? In fact, when does anyone come to visit Mesa? Been here for over 25 yrs….keep moving farther from central city area….BUT the “trash’ keeps moving too. Mesa has lost it…..
Gateway may have a chance…..BUT…..They need high end shopping…restaurants…. a lavish Casino like Las Vegas…..then maybe a Lush Resort……
Mesa does not have any future thinkers…….just the same old same things….
Anybody know if Gaylord is a publicly traded company?
Gaylord cites “excessive off-site infrastructure costs” as one reason for changing its mind about locating in Chula Vista. What’s “excessive”? Here, Mesa taxpayers are picking up the tab on that one.
Beware of Steve. He’s a wholesale dealer of snake oil and his warehouse is well stocked.
You know why they won’t build a Gaylord Converntion center in Page? Because there is no reason to. Same goes for Mesa.
Thanks Ray- you in the market?
Yes they are a publicly traded company.
My My how bright we are. Let me see a huge convention center right next to the largest runways the state has to offer until Luke AFB moves out. Cessna, and other aircraft facilities moving in.
When the Resort comes so will the shopping etc. Besides I have learned that when the people with the uplifted pinkies come in there goes the neighborhood, go to a club in Snottsdale and you don’t know who will approach you in the john. Is it a man or a mouse and the women don’t appreciate a stand up urinal in the ladies room for those who can’t decide.
Growth is finally coming to the East Valley and appreciate it for there are the future jobs. Contrary to what others might write or think they are not all low wage jobs.
They will need sound technicians, electricians, AC engineers, and other high paying trades on staff at all times with a resort/convention center that large.