INSIDE
New Gilbert real estate section
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
COMMUNITY............. 18 Gilbert harpist plans special concert.
BUSINESS......................20 Spencer's gifts Gilbert couple in big way
Gateway Pointe girls are D.C. bound PAGE 19
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Council OKs huge Heritage Square development BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
G
ilbert will sell a 9-acre site downtown for a minimum $5.3 million to a developer who proposes to build offices, a five-story hotel, multi-family housing and two multi-level parking garages. The land sits behind a Burger King in the Heritage District and served as a temporary downtown parking lot until Hearne Plaza Garage opened in March. “We’re super excited to be here,” said Charles Huellmantel, representing the developer, at the council meeting May 16.
“One of the things that excites us about working with the town of Gilbert is they worked hard for the vision of downtown,” he said. “It’s cohesive, it’s long-range, it’s an opportunity to really fit in with what the town has already done and to really expand on that.” Heritage North Partners, LLC, also will pay an additional $350,000 at closing, which the town will used for improvements to the Heritage District, according to the agreement approved unanimously last week by Town Council. The land deal is expected to close on Feb. 4, 2020, according to staff. The town is expected
to go through a process to determine a fair market value of the land, with a minimum $5.3 million selling price. Phoenix-based Heritage North will fund the entire 500,000-square-foot project, located south of Juniper Avenue near Gilbert Road and the Western Canal. The conceptual plan is to include 100,000-square-feet of Class A office space, 25,000-square-feet of retail, a 150-room or 75,000-square-foot boutique hotel and 250 units or 302,000 square feet of multifamily residences.
see DEVELOPMENT page 3
Town seeks to treat This is their week pickleball fever BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
SPORTS........................... 24 Mesquite girls volleyball team triumphant
COMMUNITY.................. 12 BUSINESS......................20 OPINION........................ 22 SPORTS.......................... 24 GETOUT......................... 26 CLASSIFIED................... 29
P
ickleball fever has hit Gilbert. Spurred by a resident’s request and a nationwide steady growth of the court sport, the Parks and Recreation Board is looking to add more courts in town. “I’m passionate about this,” Vice Chairman Robert Ferron said. “The feedback I get is there’s not enough tennis courts and not enough pickleball courts.” Pickleball uses paddles, Wiffle-like balls and a net, sort of like a scaled-down version of tennis. Analyst Jennika Horta told the board last week there were no dedicated pickleball courts in Gilbert and players now share an indoor basketball court at Freestone Recreation Center. Gilbert is the exception when it comes to dedicated pickleball courts in the region, as Mesa and Chandler have opened
see PICKLEBALL page 5
William Field High School seniors Tariah Webber and Samuel Johnson picked up their graduation gear as Higley Unified's seniors prepare to graduate Thursday, May 23 , at Wells Fargo Arena. Gilbert Public Schools also will hold commencement exercises this week. Details: page 12. (Courtesy of Higley Unified)
Assisted Living and Memory Care
For more information call or visit our sales office! WE ARE HERE
Marcia Turner, Ngaio Tracy 480-812-8100 • EternalSpringofGilbert.com
Sales Office: 2335 S Lindsay Rd, Suite #102, Gilbert, AZ 85295