Gilbert woman helps abused kids PAGE 16
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
10
New software sharpens school performance analysis.
GETOUT..............................
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The Hale Theater is rolling out a Broadway hit musical.
FOOD..................................
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At last, cookie dough you can eat safely. COMMUNITY...................... 16 BUSINESS............................. 18 OPINION............................... 21 SPORTS.................................22 GETOUT................................25 CLASSIFIED........................ 28
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Project will bring ‘urban vibe’ to Agritopia BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
NEWS...................................
Look what's coming to Gilbert PAGE 18
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commercial hub for the 166-acre master-planned Agritopia community near Higley and Ray roads is finally moving forward. Gilbert Planning Commissioners last week gave the green light for Agritopia’s Epicenter, which will include 49,038 square feet of ground-floor retail with 320 luxury loft-style residential on top on 21.8 acres. The residential component will range from one-bedroom lofts to three-bedroom units. “I like the project,” said Commissioner David
Cavenee. “It’s a nice addition to the corner. I’m excited to see it come about.” Cavenee said Gilbert doesn’t get a lot of mixed-used development and now has the opportunity for one. The Epicenter’s design review was first approved by the town in 2014 and the main changes of what was approved last week involved architectural design. The slight modifications include additional ground-level pedestrian space and walkways, allowing for retail arcades and sidewalk dining. Applicant Joe Johnston, who came up with the concept for Agritopia on his family farm
land, said he was ready to pull permits on the Epicenter eight months ago but his partner bailed on the project. He has since found a new partner, Streetlights Residential in Phoenix. He praised their architectural expertise and quality and is confident in their ability to develop the mixed-use project. “This capstone project will allow people to have a bit more urban vibe,” he said. The proposal for the urban core calls for four main buildings with three of the buildings connected above the ground-floor level.
see AGRITOPIA page 8
With warmer weather, Survivors celebrate pool threat fears rise BY JIM WALSH AND CECILIA CHAN GSN Staff Writers
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s temperatures begin to soar, drowning prevention advocates are warning that the backyard swimming pool poses about the same threat to toddlers as a loaded gun. Last year in Gilbert, two boys, 2 and 3, drowned in backyard pools. So far this year, there have been two near drownings of children 5 and younger in Gilbert, according to the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. It was unclear if the two involved pools. Although child drownings in Gilbert are no higher than elsewhere in the East Valley, the town stands out for its lack of a law requiring residential pools to have their own fencing or barrier. Most Maricopa County cities require fences around pools, although there are exemptions that allow pool covers and
see DROWNINGS page 6
Josh Critser gets a pat on the back from his little cousin, Jackson Tafoya, after talking about how Baner MD Anderson Cancer helped him beat the dreaded disease. The renown Gilbert hospital celebrated its ninth anniversary last week with a gathering of other cancer survivors. For details, see page 4. (Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer)
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