Location
Mesa Proving Grounds is located at the southeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth Roads. The property has been annexed into the City of Mesa in November 2008. Mesa Proving Grounds is situated northeast of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and the ASU Polytechnic campus. The property is accessible by U.S. 60 and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway.

History
Since 1953, General Motors Desert Proving Grounds operated at this location to test vehicles for durability, vehicle handling, water and dust intrusion and emissions in a hot weather climate. At its peak, it employed more than 1,000 employees. In 2000, General Motors announced its intentions to close the Proving Grounds and relocate its hot weather vehicle testing facility. In 2004, 1,800 acres of the site were sold to Pacific Proving LLC. In 2006, the remaining 3,200 acres were sold to DMB and General Motors has moved their operations to Yuma, Arizona.

Status
Mesa Proving Grounds is the last significant, privately owned, contiguous land holding in the southeast Valley. For more than 18 months, DMB worked with the local community and the City of Mesa to develop an appropriate long-term plan for the site. After an extensive community outreach effort, the City of Mesa approved a major General Plan Amendment, and rezoned the property to Planned Community District in November 2008.