Importance to SoCal
How we are Growing
Baby-Boomers
The Lake = The Draw
EDA Director
Videos
Shops at Lake Havasu
More Initiatives
University
Freedom Bridge
Economic
Residential
Aerial Photos
Shortcomings
Stats
Resources
Lake Havasu City is growing our retail and economic base in ways that our community has never experienced, and upon closer examination of the facts, you will see a progressive attitude by civic leaders who also have a humilty that recognizes our continual needs for improvement, revitalization and beautification, and there is a tangible excitement from them about phenomenal initiatives in place that will transform and shape our future.
On the extreme southern end of Lake Havasu are these pipes which drive water to the Colorado River Aqueduct to Lake Matthews in Riverside, CA – Lake Havasu is important to the Southwest United States
Our importance to Southern California is also a staple for us – it needs water, and Lake Havasu’s 19,300 acre, 211 billion gallons is of critical importance – which makes us important. The Parker Dam (above) created the lake, and the Colorado River Aqueduct taps into it. Part of an intricate dam system, Lake Havasu is promoted to remain at capacity – so during low rain years lakes to our north may experience drops in their water levels while a premium is placed on keeping Lake Havasu at capacity in order to keep the water flowing to those dense populations. Water is truly “golden” here. Of course, a full, clear, desilted lake means year-round recreational fun (and tourism dollars) as a bonus.
What’s truly great about Lake Havasu City is how we are growing – we keep moving forward at our laid back pace, and the growth is “holistic;” that is, most everything seems to be growing at a steady clip (retail, housing developments, our tax base and net tax revenues, our population, modern amenities, commercial and business parks, etc.).
- New plans on the horizon, including the city’s 320 Project, which includes plans to host a four year university, and the Freedom Bridge Initiative, a $100 million project which will connect another bridge to our Island, leave us even more excited about the future.
- What also cannot be ignored is the aging of America. We are emerging as a compelling option for retirees/”Baby-Boomers” mainly from Southern California desiring to leave the congestion and sell their overpriced houses for relative bargains here. Many are having second thoughts about Florida with it’s bugs, humidity, hurricanes and homeowner’s insurance – and its traditional retirement areas are now overpopulated. Many other reasons suggest Lake Havasu City may become a retirement Mecca.
Like Cape Cod, the Finger Lakes of New York, Lake Tahoe, or Hilton Head Island, the water - Lake Havasu, is the draw (and we’re building lifestyle amenities around it), but here you will enjoy no snow, mosquitoes, or hurricanes!
Gary Kellogg
President / CEO
Partnership for Economic Development
(at Partner’s
Point – the proposed location of our new university)
Let’s Talk Economic Development! Gary reviews a site map and discusses our latest achievements & initiatives:
Our 2008 Shops at Lake Havasu Town Centre Mall is a crown jewel for our community and is anchored by a Dillards, JC Penney’s, and Super Wal-mart. Name brand retailers from American Eagle to Michaels have moved in, and more are to follow. And we have a state-of-the-art theater, too.
LHC Industrial Park and Airport Business Park – “Gateway to the Southern California Market:” Pad-ready sites we are marketing to companies/business who desire access to the Southern California markets but want to have lesser costs for property ownership and maintenance, and our labor market is less.
Gary discusses “Big Box” retailers Lowe’s and Home Depot, who are now in our community.
Gary survey’s Partner’s Pointe, the location of our “Havasu 320 Plan,” a 320 acre site with lake frontage that will host a new 4-year university we are aggressively pursuing, a Performing Arts Center, golf course, and new marina!
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The 2008 Shops at Havasu Town Centre & Movie Mega Plex, our 105-acre regional mall, is anchored by a Dillards, JC Penney’s and a Super Wal-mart. Our downtown Main Street (McCulloch Blvd) has charming stores and boutiques, businesses, restaurants, our banks, parks, and City Hall – all are featured in this Online Job Tour.
More Initiatives:
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Transformative initiatives are well past the planning stages and are coming to reality. According to Bill Ullery, the founder of the Havasu Foundation for Higher Education, a four year university coming to Lake Havasu City, after comprehensive surveying and commitments from key principals and colleges, “A four year university coming to Lake Havasu City is an inevitability. It’s now a matter of time.”
Whether it’s Northern Arizona or Arizona State University, the university will have a phenomenal impact on our community, from the highly-educated educators who move here and their cultural offering, to Performing Arts & Cultural Center, ancillary job creation and new vendor businesses, and hundreds of bright minds. The story of our effort to bring a university to Lake Havasu City is inspiring.
Lake Havasu City is committed to the costs of a 2nd bridge from our mainland to the island for traffic and safety reasons. The Freedom Bridge Foundation’s goal is to create and pay for all the enhancements to the entire Freedom Bridge project, which include a Memorial Walk along the channel, and a Freedom Park without any additional costs to citizens via added taxes. The bridge which would be a complement to the London Bridge while being an additional visitor attraction itself – symbols of our founding and of our future! The project has unanimously endorsed by the Lake Havasu City Council, The Arizona State Parks Department, The Arizona State Lands Department, The Convention and Visitors Bureau, and The Partnership for Economic Development.
Commercial
Office Buildings with modern cabling and technology complement
our growing Industrial Parks,
which are being marketing by the Lake Havasu
City Partnership for Economic Development
- Commercial Development at Towne Centre: There is a plan for a development within the regional mall for a commercial node. The grand opening of the mall began in phases in March 2008 with anchor stores and new tenants steadily coming online.
- The Anderson Auto Mall: This 37.4-acre auto mall and commercial development, within the commercial node, will create 12 commercial lots. A new Toyota dealership is proposed for one of the lots. Construction began in 2008.
- Campbell Cove: An 18.74-acre parcel to include a boat dealership and storage facility, campground, convenience store/gas station, and other commercial uses. This complex began phased openings in 2008.
- The Foothills Town Center will provide a total of 137,580 square feet of commercial / retail / residential space dispersed among eleven buildings. The residential component (reflected under residential as Havasu Foothills Estates) will be comprised of 15 second story residential condo units totaling approximately 21,000 square feet. The remaining 116,580 square feet will comprise retail and office type uses.
- Havasu Air Center: This is a new upscale Fixed Based Operation on an 8.11 acre parcel within the Lake Havasu Airport in the A-1 (light agricultural) zoning district.
- Air Industrial Park: This will be a three phase 84-acre industrial park located south of the airport. The property will be subdivided to allow for light industrial uses.
- Sunflower Plaza: This is a new 16,289 square foot commercial retail/office building in the C-1 (limited commercial) zoning district of S. Lake Havasu Avenue.
- 64-unit Hotel: A 64-unit
hotel along N. Lake Havasu Avenue with a 1,500 square foot
restaurant in the northwestern portion of the property and
a 600 square foot retail building in the southwestern portion of
the property. - Millennium Plaza: This is a general development plan for a 4.42 acre property consisting of 88 residential units and 49,000 square feet of commercial use retail/commercial and condominium uses in the area adjacent (south) of the London Bridge.
- New MCC Park: Includes a multi-use path, restrooms, five baseball/softball field fences, four multipurpose fields, four parking areas, a recreation center, a science center and utility extensions.
- SARA Park expansion to include an equestrian area.
Homes of all sorts are available for
new residents, from gated communities, condos, country club living,
and more – check out our Real Estate section
Residential Initiatives (in site planning and/or development):
- Sonoran Hills: A four-phase development with a project area of 14.13 acres. The general development plan proposes 25 buildings with a total of 243 dwelling units, including the main recreation area, clubhouse, pool, and spa.
- Sailing Hawks: A 56-acre Sailing Hawks Planned Development. There are five phases to this mixed residential development, which will include recreation areas, a clubhouse, pool, spa and fitness center, shade structures, and a gated private drive.
- Grand Island Estates: This Island development is a planned subdivision of nine use areas as follows: 5.4 acres – commercial, 6.5 acres – casitas, 11.2 acres – resort, 23.4 acres – single family, 18.9 acres – townhouses, 15 acres – park parcel, 13.8 acres patio homes, 11.6 acres – dual homes.
- Havasu Foothills Estates: A residential/commercial development is currently underway in the eastern limits of the city. The planned development consists of 640 acres which will feature 697 residential units. Phase I is comprised of 225 units, Phase II includes 328 units, and Phase III would accommodate the remaining 144 units.
- River Ranch Villas: A 33-lot townhome development located in the south end of the city.
- Becket House Expansion: This is an expansion of the existing development to include 30 new one-bedroom and 20 new two-bedroom units within the Becket House Planned.
- Outside City Boundaries: North Pointe (Fidence) - A residential project consisting of 650 houses, and Bella Lago Condominium Project - A 240 unit development with recreational amenities, a clubhouse and 30-foot tall watercraft parking area fronting London Bridge Road.
Aerial Photos |
R/UDAT Study |
6 boat manufacturers make their home in Lake Havasu City
Stats:*
The City’s total net assets increased by $21.1 million (7.6 percent) in fiscal year 2007-08 and by $41.8 (17.7 percent) million during fiscal year 2006-07. These increases are explained in the government and business-type activities discussion and are primarily a result of some increased revenues from utility charges for services, state shared revenues and capital grants and contributions and lower than projected expenditures.
- Development stages of major projects during 2007-08 include the Freedom Bridge and Park and the Havasu 320 – a planned development to include a golf course, a four-year university and a performing arts and cultural center.
Economic Factors and Next Year’s Budgets and Rates: Sales Tax: The City’s collection of sales tax revenue comprised 38.7 percent ($17.3 million) of the total General Fund revenues in fiscal year 2007-08. The City’s sales tax rate is currently 2 percent. An additional 1 percent for restaurant/bar activity and 3 percent for transient occupancy is collected for the Tourism/Economic Development Fund. Despite national economic downturns in the late 2000s,the city expects to maintain a sustainable long-term economic outlook which can be attributed to new tenants continually opening at the new regional mall, and continued tourism and major commercial growth in the city limits.
Resources:
“Gateway to the Southern
California Market:” www.lakehavasu.org/businesspark
Partnership
for Economic Development Information
Packet (18 pages – PDF)
www.desertusa.com/colorado/parker_dam/du_parkerdam.html
www.havasufoundation.com/news.htm
www.lakehavasu.org
www.havasufreedombridge.com
* www.lhcaz.gov
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