The redevelopment of the former location of Mesa’s Fiesta Mall will celebrate and care for women.
Renamed the Palo District, the area will be redeveloped and revitalized to create a “transformative and comprehensive Women’s Health Campus.”
“The Women’s Health Campus is a cornerstone of the entire Palo District vision,” said Vicki Mayo, CEO of Sunny Day Sports, during a Dec. 17 press conference at the site.
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“It embodies exactly what this development is about—creating transformative, future-focused assets that elevate the quality of life in our region, and specifically for women. By anchoring the project with a facility of this significance, we are helping to ensure that Palo District becomes one of the most impactful and forward-looking developments in the Valley.”
Sunny Day Sports owns the Palo District.
The project is in the master-planning phase, with construction expected to begin following city approvals. Mayo expects a 2026 groundbreaking.
Several media outlets have reported that a women’s soccer team venue was tapped for the Palo District. Mayo would not comment.
However, the potential was mentioned in a Sunny Day Sports press release that was distributed at the press conference.
“The Palo District will include restaurants and retail, lodging, office and medical office, multifamily residential, an entertainment district and sports facilities, including the kind of infrastructure that could lead to the site being home to the highest level of men’s and women’s professional soccer,” it read.
Sharon Harper — the chair and CEO of Plaza Companies, a firm that redevelops former mall sites and healthcare campuses. Its portfolio includes SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center and several “award-winning medical offices.” — also spoke at the event.
“This transformative campus reflects Arizona’s commitment to advancing innovation in women’s health and wellness, while serving as a beacon for the forward-looking innovation happening throughout the state,” she said.
Plaza Companies is so excited to serve as the master developer of this exciting new Women’s Health Campus, something that is long overdue, not just in Arizona, but nationwide,” Harper said.
“This includes facilities for performance, training, sports medicine, recovery and multidisciplinary programs informed by the latest research on women’s physiology, complementing the athletic components.
“The development will also include a state-of-the-art women’s pavilion, a medical pavilion dedicated to addressing the full spectrum of women’s health issues.”
The campus is not just a development project, she added. It is a commitment to women.
“By combining world-class medical services with a pioneering women’s sports campus, we are creating a community asset that fills long-standing gaps in care, in research, and in opportunity.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s president and CEO Pam Kehaly said her organization “is very proud to be a partner in Palo District and the exciting new women’s health and sports campus. This campus will break new ground in treating some of the most important health issues facing women today.
“This campus will fill a critical gap by providing comprehensive evidence-based support for women at every age and stage of life. It will provide an opportunity for Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Arizona, through innovative new ways to provide the kind of preventive and responsive care that improves medical outcomes and makes Arizonans healthier.”
She added that the plan includes aging and longevity, health, perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, behavioral health and integrative care, diagnostic, outpatient, and specialty clinics.
“We’re looking forward to continuing our work and creating a healthier future for Arizonans,” she said.
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said she is proud to partner on “this exciting project that will drive meaningful impact across our state and beyond.”
