[Source: David Woodfill, East Valley Tribune] -- A 15-acre shopping center at the northwest corner of Alma School Road and Southern Avenue in Mesa could sit mostly unused for up to a year, city officials said. The Fiesta Village Shopping Center, which dominates a high profile location in the shopping hub anchored by Fiesta Mall, has become a major bone of contention between city officials and the owner, W.M. Grace Development Co. Despite its location, the owner is allowing the plaza to sit empty, creating an eyesore for an otherwise successful retail hub, said Teri Kilgore, interim director in the city’s Office of Economic Development. The empty plaza is drawing the ire of surrounding residents and businesses, too, she said. “We get lots and lots and lots of calls into our office about what’s the city going to do about that property,” Kilgore said. “The answer really is it’s not our property.” Kilgore said company officials became embittered after requesting financial assistance from the city to redevelop the property. “I think we are kind of just at a standoff,” she said. The company declined to comment. [Note: To read the full article, click here. Photo by Tim Hacker.]
