District 5 Councilmember Running for Re-Election
David Luna
District 5 Amenities and Quality of Life
David Luna points out that one of his top priorities is to support amenities and the quality of life for residents in District 5, making a commitment to be available and approachable. David is a regular attendee at community events and festivals. He also schedules frequent Luna Landings, enjoyable and educational events for all ages. One of the most popular is his annual Heart Your Health Day, at Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, an exercise event open to all at no cost.
Family amenities include Uptown Jungle Fun Park and Fat Cats (slated to open in 2019). Uptown Jungle is described as an all-inclusive city-style indoor playground targeted for ages 2 through 13. They even have a toddler area for younger children. Fat Cats locations are known for bowling, arcades, glow golf and their movie theaters.
Two of the newer City parks in the area further illustrate his priority for Northeast Mesa, including Desert Arroyo and Desert Trails. Desert Arroyo includes a one-half mile Desert Botanical Walk, a three-quarter mile Explorers Path Loop, for hiking and biking, and a one-half mile paved Discovery Loop connecting the five educational/shaded picnic areas—suitable for children and adults alike. Downloadable guides are available at no charge from the Parks and Recreation Department website. Desert Trails has a series of bike trails, a pump track and a kids’ skills track, which introduces youngsters to mountain biking. The park includes shaded ramadas and restroom facilities.
Current recreation facilities in District 5 are Quail Run Park, the Gene Autry Tennis Center and Red Mountain Multigenerational Center. Quail Run features an off-leash dog park and lighted soccer, baseball and softball fields. It also has a playground, picnic tables and barbecues plus restroom facilities. Gene Autry boasts lighted tennis courts and restrooms.
The Red Mountain Multigenerational Center features a fitness center, group fitness classes, drop-in basketball, indoor rock climbing wall, youth activities and a walking/running track. For the convenience of residents caring for a family member, the East Valley Adult Resource Center and Oakwood Creative Care are located right in the center, offering respite services.
District 5 Businesses, Restaurants, and Development
David continues by sharing the many types of businesses that continue to be sought for District 5. One of the newer retail locations is Longbow Marketplace, whose current occupants are Sprouts, Mod Pizza, Keep It Cut and Verizon. Residents visiting Longbow Marketplace will also notice that the intersection of Recker Road and Preston Street/Longbow Parkway has been converted to a standard intersection. David explained that this is a direct result of input from area residents and businesses.
Northeast Mesa also is home to new restaurants, from casual to fine dining, which adds to the eating-out experience that continues to be an important part of District 5. New offerings include Smashburger, Steak and Stone, What’s Crackin Café, Desert Eagle Brewing Company, Osteria Pasta and Pizza, Board and Batten and The Manor. An In-N-Out Burger is set to open in the near future. Restaurants that continue to thrive include Red White and Brew, D’Vine Bistro and Wine Bar, Pacino’s, Zushi and Nando’s, to name a few.
“As I am out in the community, both in my role as the City Council member representing District 5 and as a candidate for re-election, I am often questioned about some of the new buildings and development taking place in the Falcon Field area,” David Luna said.
Construction of new buildings is the direct result of the strategic plan for the Falcon Field Economic Activity Area (FFEAA), aimed at creating and retaining quality jobs in Northeast Mesa. The FFEAA plan is targeting two specific industry sectors, Aerospace/Aviation Defense and Advanced Business Services, such as banking, financial services and data centers.
One of the biggest drawbacks to creating more jobs is the lack of existing buildings to support large projects sought by companies. An analysis of the 2014 commercial space available in the Falcon Field area found there were 44 buildings under 25,000 square feet and no existing buildings of 50,000 or more square feet.
“We have been working closely with commercial developers to identify appropriately sized parcels of land to accommodate larger buildings,” David explained.
David added that large commercial properties like those built or being developed along Higley Road are the result of these conversations. A City of Mesa Economic Development summary of activity in District 5 showed that 25 total projects have been attracted since 2013, adding more than 1,600 jobs. There currently are 19 aerospace companies in the area, compared to just 10 in 2013. David has been key to seeing this opportunity not only for District 5’s growth, but also for Northeast Mesa’s future.
David encourages District 5 residents to contact him through his LunaforMesa.com website.