By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
As part of its campaign to bring six new hotels to the Arizona market this year, West77 Partners is planning its next hotel—LivAway Mesa Greenfield—on a roughly 4.5-acre site near the NEC of Greenfield and Baseline roads in Mesa.
West77 announced a nationwide LivAway Suites expansion in January. That announcement stated, “Over $250M has been deployed into LivAway Suites locations around the country over the past 18 months, and another $500M will be allocated to new LivAway Suites locations over the next two years – approximately $100M of that is expected to occur in the state of Arizona alone.” The company plans to have all six sites under construction this year.
The site had previously been planned as a 248-room Greenfield Extended Stay America & Marriott StudioRes Dual-branded Hotel. A site plan review and special use permit request were approved for that project by the Mesa Planning and Zoning Commission last April.
The Mesa Design Review Board discussed plans for the new LivAway Suites 126-room, four-story hotel in its March 11 meeting. No action was taken.
According to the submitted narrative, “The project is requesting a special use permit concurrently with the site plan review to increase the allowed height limit from 30 ft to 50 ft to allow the proposed hotel buildings.”
The site is located in a Mixed Use Activity District and Proposed Transit Corridor. Mesa’s General Plan identifies a MUAD as, “Areas of activity, generally larger than 25 acres, that serve the larger community; primarily retail areas and entertainment centers, but often also include offices, multi-residential, and other supporting uses.”
It goes on to say, “The Mixed Use Activity District consists of large format commercial areas and hotels are considered a primary land use in the area. The proposed hotel development is consistent with and advances the goals and objectives of the General Plan.”
Surrounding uses include multistory multifamily, retail, a hospital and other medical facilities.
The developers are requesting a two-lot plat to functionally divide the site into two lots. The hotel will be situated on the east side, with the west reserved for future development. “Shared access, parking and retention facilities will be provided through an agreement that will be put in place with the plat, if required,” the narrative says.
Parking requirements are 126 spaces, with five spaces identified as ADA-accessible. The site plan proposes 137, with seven ADA spaces provided.
Like other LivAway Suites developments under construction in the area, the Mesa Greenfield location does not include a pool among its amenity offerings. Company officials had previously said guest surveys showed minimal demand for the feature, and implementation and maintenance add significantly to costs. (AZBEX; July 19, 2024)
The plan includes a 600SF open-air outdoor space and amenity area with benches and table seating shaded by trees and landscaping.
West77 Partners currently has two other 126-room LivAway Suites hotels under construction in the Valley: one on Alzora Way in Tolleson and another on 99th Avenue in Glendale.
The Mesa site is owned by South Real Estate Group. West77 Partners is the developer. The design firm is BRR Architecture, Inc. KBELL ENGINEERING LLC is the civil engineer. Young Design Group is the landscape planner.
