Construction will begin soon on a new 23-acre development of large aircraft hangars with manufacturing space and ancillary offices at Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport.

The development will offer significant opportunities for new and expanding aviation businesses. A groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 14 marked the project milestone, according to a release.

Davcon Aviation LLC and Mesa Hangar LLC are building the phased project on more than one million square feet of vacant City of Mesa-owned land on the northwest side of the airport. The airport is bounded by McKellips and McDowell roads and Greenfield and Higley roads.

The first phase is expected to be completed by April 2021 with the second phase to be completed by November 2021. The land will be leased from the city for 40 years.

The six-building, $65 million project is to include large aircraft hangar space in addition to ancillary office space, aircraft staging ramp and vehicle parking areas. Hangars will be offered ranging from 3,600 square feet to 14,400 square feet with high ceilings and high, wide doors to accommodate corporate jets and specialized fixed-wing and helicopter uses, the release states.

“Mesa Hangar LLC plans to bring state-of-the-art, energy efficient, solar-powered aircraft hangars, aviation services, aircraft maintenance facilities and offices to the northwest corner of Falcon Field Airport,” Mesa Hangar Manager Randy Hansen said in the release. “This master planned, integrated project will create an incredibly efficient and pleasing place for aviation and aerospace businesses to locate.”

“The current hangar occupancy at the airport is nearly 100%, so these facilities are very much-needed,” Airport Director Corinne Nystrom said. “We are pleased to partner with Davcon Aviation and Mesa Hangar to help attract new business and jobs to Mesa, expand the diverse mix of aviation and aerospace business already located here at the airport, and provide opportunities for existing airport businesses to expand.”

“This Falcon Field project will exceed our competitors’ and customers’ expectations,” David Wakefield, managing partner at Davcon Aviation, said in the release. “It will be a complete aviation development with a new fixed base operator facility, maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities, fuel farm and more. The development creates a more contemporary design for Falcon Field and enhances the entire sense of arrival from the approach along Greenfield Road. It will provide a fresh option for the private aviation industry experience.”

The development allows the City of Mesa to meet increasing demand for hangar space, District 5 City Councilmember David Luna said.

“The City of Mesa appreciates the vision and commitment that Mesa Hangar LLC has demonstrated in making this investment in Falcon Field and Mesa,” Councilmember Luna said in the release. “This project is allowing us to meet increasing industry demand.”

“Falcon Field managers advised the Mesa Hangar, LLC investors that there was an unmet demand for larger energy-efficient service and maintenance hangars at Falcon Field,” HMr. ansen said. “Since leasing available land and beginning the development of this project, we have been pleasantly surprised to find that the demand for quality hangar facilities is much larger than we originally anticipated. We will be accelerating several phases of the project to meet this demand.”

“The Mesa Hangar project will help grow the aviation sector of our economy,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said in the release. “It is a cornerstone of a lot of exciting business expansion occurring in northeast Mesa. Combined with additional aerospace business growth in the City, it demonstrates the strength of Mesa’s workforce, the quality of our infrastructure, and our customer-friendly business environment.”

Falcon Field is the hub of Mesa’s Falcon Business District. It is in an Opportunity Zone designated by the U.S. Treasury Department to spur investment. Emerging companies and investors can participate in the program. Airport tenants may fund improvements or other capital needs in leased space with proceeds from an Opportunity Zone Fund investment, the release states.

To schedule a meeting about pre-leasing and leasing proposed and finished buildings, contact Larry Brow of Leading Edge Real Estate LLC, a specialist in aviation properties, at 480-535-4800 or info@edgeaz.com.

For more information about Falcon Field Airport or to schedule an airport tour, go to falconfieldairport.com or contact Lynn Spencer, economic development project manager, at 480-644-4276 or lynn.spencer@mesaaz.gov.