Legacy Park, Mesa: The East Valley’s Next Hot Spot

Mesa is about to level up. Vestar, the developer and operator behind Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace, has unveiled Legacy Park, a multi-billion-dollar mixed-use destination planned next to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport with direct access from State Route 24 at Williams Field Road. Built in phases over roughly twenty years, the project is projected to deliver about $56 billion in economic output and more than 20,000 jobs, while adding meaningful tax revenue to support City of Mesa services including police, fire, parks, the airport, and other quality-of-life infrastructure.

What’s planned at full buildout

• Retail and dining: approximately 300,000 sq ft of shopping and chef-driven restaurants

• Residential: about 2,500 multifamily homes across phases

• Office and employment: roughly 3.4 million sq ft of Class A office and campus space

• Resort and hospitality: a 600-room resort hotel led by The Athens Group

• Parks and gathering space: a 20+ acre central park anchored by a lake for events and community use

Location highlights

Legacy Park sits at the convergence of Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek within Mesa city limits, adjacent to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The State Route 24 connection at Williams Field Road places the site within quick reach of the Southeast Valley’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, employers, and regional amenities.

Economic impact and timeline

• Economic output: approximately $56 billion over the next two decades

• Jobs: 20,000+ direct and indirect positions across construction and operations

• City support: significant new tax revenues to fund core services and infrastructure

• Timing: phased delivery over ~20 years with an early milestone targeting groundbreaking in 2027

Why it matters for the Southeast Valley

• Jobs and daytime population: millions of square feet of office and hospitality bring high-wage employment and weekday foot traffic that supports local restaurants and retailers

• Lifestyle gravity: the central park, lake, and curated dining create a signature “meet-me-there” destination on the east side

• Track record: Vestar’s placemaking at Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace suggests strong execution and staying power