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Photo courtesy of gatewaystudios.com
If Dr. Evil ever set his sights on the local film community in Phoenix, Arizona, he’d still have $825 million to buy all the hairless cats and laser-wielding sharks he wanted. But he may already be too late because if all goes as planned, Avondale and Mesa each will soon be home to their own separate movie studios.
The $100 million Avondale Live, to be located on the corner of Thomas and 99th Ave, and the $75 million Gateway Studios, near Hawes and Germann, are both in the planning phases of development. Facilities would include full production sound stages and support facilities (such as daycares, medical services and hotel amenities, among others.)
What this means for the Valley is a big boost in our economy. The studios together are estimated to produce 1,200 direct and more than 3,000 indirect job openings, as well as the potential for $300 million per year in revenue as the studios hope to lure Hollywood companies to Arizona instead of our New Mexican rivals.
One of the biggest draws for Arizona currently are the close proximity to L.A. and the state tax incentives being offered. (These are set to expire in 2010, but if the studios come to fruition would likely be extended.) There’s even talk of building a new film school and partnering with existing higher education entities that will also help Hollywood studios have faith there will be enough skilled workers to help them qualify for the tax breaks.
Having permanent facilities here would mean the big studios could come to Arizona year round – not just in the winter or when they want to shoot something like looks like the Persian Gulf. And even bigger money could be had if more television shows (and their recurring schedules) take up root here.
Assuming zoning and financing get approved, both projects are slated to begin construction next fall.
And Number Two thought Starbucks was a good investment…
For more information, check out these helpful links:
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/143334
http://www.azcentral.com/business/news/articles/2009/09/22/20090922swv-avonstudios0923-CP.html
