Inside Mesa

No matter how you feel about the ongoing war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, no matter how you feel about war, as I prepare to take the next three days off for Memorial Day weekend I wanted to first remind everyone of the sacrifices made by those brave men and women who have served and are serving this country.Please don’t forget them this weekend. Some who are serving will not be with their friends and families this weekend, by the pool, at the lake or river, at the family cookout. Some will never come home again having given their life for our freedoms and liberties, not just in current conflicts but those conflicts that have speckled our history.I have a profound sense of gratitude and honor for those who have put on the uniform. My father served in the Navy and his brothers all served during the Korean War. Both of my wife’s grandfathers served during World War II. Her dad’s father serving in the Air Force and her mother’s father served in the Army. I am proud of those from my family who sacrificed life and limb, who surrendered their time to make this country the symbol and envy of the world.So during this weekend please take a moment to honor those individuals who had the courage and the fortitude to face down our enemies, not for glory or for money, but for the simple love and belief that they have for America. May God continue to bless this great nation and may we always keep in our hearts the memories of those who have come before us, those brave souls who stood on the front lines and shielded us. May we never squander or trivialize the sacrifices made on the battlefields and may we remember that all of our freedoms came with a price, a price that meant lives lost so that you can do what you want, say what you want, believe what you want and feel what you want.

It used to be that developers looked to the outer fringes of cities to build new projects and subdivisions.But is there a trend underway to build in the cities? A builder is currently planning on constructing four high-rise condos near Fiesta Mall and in Tempe near University and Rural a group of three investors are planning on a project that will bring over a million square feet of residential and commercial to that site. These projects are not isolated examples. Both Scottsdale and Phoenix have started high rise developments and I’m sure others may be well in the planning stages.With the high cost of energy and city infrastructure strectched to the limit these types of projects make a lot of sense. Buyers are opting to sacrifice the large yard and square footage to gain convience and nearby services.Watch for more developments like these coming online in the future.