Downtown Mesa’s GRID Project Is Finally Moving Forward...Here’s What’s Happening

by Jessica Vukobratovich

If you’ve driven down Main Street in downtown Mesa lately and wondered what’s up with that half-finished building near Pomeroy...here’s the scoop.

The GRID was supposed to be a big deal. Back in 2017, the city approved a $75 million, six-story mixed-use project meant to bring housing, retail, and energy to the heart of downtown. But between COVID delays and money problems, construction barely got off the ground. Things dragged on for years until earlier this year, when the city officially called the project in default...and the developers filed for bankruptcy.

Now, there’s finally movement.

New Developer, New Plan

On June 2, Mesa City Council unanimously approved a new deal with Soltrust Main QOZB LLC...a developer with a solid track record in Arizona. They’ve done 12 projects in the state already, including converting a 13-story assisted living facility in downtown Mesa into apartments. The court approved their involvement back in May, and now they’ve officially taken over.

They’re not starting from scratch...but they are making changes.

What’s the Updated Plan?

Soltrust is scaling things back a bit and splitting the project into three phases. Here's what they’re doing:

Phase One – (Needs to be finished in 9 months)

76 micro-apartments
9,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space
13,000 sq. ft. of second-floor commercial space
Public improvements to clean up and complete the site
Crust Italian Eatery has already signed on and plans to open their fourth Valley location here by October

Phase Two –

Still being studied, but likely to include lower-density townhomes

Phase Three –

Plans for 12 row homes plus additional public upgrades

Also worth noting: they’re scrapping the old plan to build housing on top of the Pomeroy Garage. That part’s officially off the table.

What About the Land + Lawsuits?

The city owns the land, but under this new agreement, Soltrust will buy each phase at its appraised value...just under $3 million total. The sale happens in chunks as each phase gets underway.

And all that legal drama? It’s being wrapped up. As part of the bankruptcy settlement, the city is waiving about $774,000 in claims, and all litigation tied to the original developers will be resolved.

Why It Matters

The GRID was supposed to be one of the first major residential projects helping to revitalize downtown Mesa...especially after the light rail came through in 2015. When the original project stalled, it felt like a setback. But with Soltrust stepping in and a new plan in place, the city’s got a second shot to bring real energy, housing, and local business into the area.

If all goes according to plan, phase one will be done in 9 months, and Crust should be open by October. Fingers crossed this is the fresh start downtown Mesa’s been waiting for.