Tucson Development Thread

[kaneui]

I found this article in today's AZ Daily Star. The following is not the whole article, but what struck me is the final two paragraphs:

Josh Brodesky: Manning House opens door to Rio Nuevo's wild ways (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/josh-brodesky-manning-house-opens-door-to-rio-nuevo-s/article_d722cb0a-60db-564d-ad23-a360f8d032bb.html)

Josh Brodesky Arizona Daily Star

Why is Rio Nuevo so interested in the Manning House?

"The thing that is the most interesting about the Manning House is the adjacent four acres," Rio Nuevo Chairman Fletcher McCusker told me. "Rio Nuevo's precise mission is to help launch a downtown hotel. It's literally walking distance to the Convention Center. Our only stated interest is if we could stave off the foreclosure, and find a partner or two not only interested in developing that building, but building a hotel."

McCusker said Rio Nuevo has been approached by outside developers and hotel chains about the site, which is about three-quarters of a mile from the Convention Center, and on the opposite side of its new entrance. McCusker thinks it could accommodate a boutique hotel of maybe 150 rooms.


I'm not sure that location would be viable for a convention center hotel, since part of the argument for building the proposed Sheraton was that meeting planners preferred something closer than the Hotel Arizona. However, any new downtown hotel for business travelers would be a welcome addition.

[Ted Lyons]

I found this article in today's AZ Daily Star. The following is not the whole article, but what struck me is the final two paragraphs:

Josh Brodesky: Manning House opens door to Rio Nuevo's wild ways (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/josh-brodesky-manning-house-opens-door-to-rio-nuevo-s/article_d722cb0a-60db-564d-ad23-a360f8d032bb.html)

Josh Brodesky Arizona Daily Star

Why is Rio Nuevo so interested in the Manning House?

This is a question I've wondered ever since Rio Nuevo, our downtown development agency, held an emergency meeting last week to prevent or delay a Manning House foreclosure.

On its face, a Manning House deal doesn't jibe with state statute restricting new Rio Nuevo spending to a downtown hotel and an arena. And Rio Nuevo already controls a host of struggling properties such as the Fox Tucson Theatre, the Tucson Presidio and the Historic Rialto Theatre, so why add the Manning House to that list?

The Manning House might be a historic downtown property - it's tucked away near North Granada Avenue and West Alameda Street - but it's been in private control for years and floundered. Why would Rio Nuevo, which has its own record of floundering, change that?

"The thing that is the most interesting about the Manning House is the adjacent four acres," Rio Nuevo Chairman Fletcher McCusker told me. "Rio Nuevo's precise mission is to help launch a downtown hotel. It's literally walking distance to the Convention Center. Our only stated interest is if we could stave off the foreclosure, and find a partner or two not only interested in developing that building, but building a hotel."

McCusker said Rio Nuevo has been approached by outside developers and hotel chains about the site, which is about three-quarters of a mile from the Convention Center, and on the opposite side of its new entrance. McCusker thinks it could accommodate a boutique hotel of maybe 150 rooms.

Brodesky is turning into a real turd about downtown and it demonstrates the pitfalls of aligning yourself with one party or another on a local level.

People on both sides of the aisle have interest in developing downtown and that's something for which we should be thankful. As it is, there isn't even significant infighting between the diverse groups that want downtown to succeed; all of the fighting is between those who want it to succeed and those who don't care.

So, to have ADS regularly criticizing the process for the first time in years simply because different, albeit just as committed, people are in charge is disappointing.

[Patrick S]

I'm not sure that location would be viable for a convention center hotel, since part of the argument for building the proposed Sheraton was that meeting planners preferred something closer than the Hotel Arizona. However, any new downtown hotel for business travelers would be a welcome addition.

I agree that this location is not ideal for a convention center hotel (it's 3/4 of mile away from the TCC and on the opposite side of the new main entrance, according to the article), especially if they are only looking for a 150 room boutique hotel, but I also agree with you that any new downtown hotels would be a plus.

[Patrick S]

This article from DowntownTucson.org has some interesting stuff on Peach Properties. It points out some of their current projects downtown. It also talks about their desire to develop the Greenline Project next to I-10. One other last thing of note is that though Peach Property decided not to build student housing (The Armory on E. Broadway) on their land across from Cadence at Plaza Centro, the article points out that they are looking at building a two level garage with 3 stories of market-rate housing above (and that Capstone is interested in the property to build student housing).

PEACH PROPERTIES BEAR FRUIT ALL OVER DOWNTOWN (http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/07/peach-properties-bear-fruit-all-over-downtown/)

By Teya Vitu

Just about anywhere you turn Downtown, Peach Properties has a project on the verge of transforming this or that corner.
Look to Downtown’s northeast corner and you’ll find Peach revitalizing the Warehouse District at their 1 E. Toole and 119 E. Toole warehouses.
Thunder Canyon Brewery, 210 E. Broadway, the 50 E. Broadway proposed restaurant and the vacant lot at Broadway and 5th Streets are all Peach properties soon to add more life to the burgeoning Broadway.
Furthest along is Peach’s Market Inn building, 430 N. 6th Ave., which just this year has seen rejuvenation with EXO Coffee, Old Market Inn Tile and, coming soon, Tap + Bottle.
Peach also has the right to buy the 8.41 acres of city-owned land along Interstate 10 and south of Congress Street, where the temporary Greyhound bus station is located.
2012 is seeing a continual stream of these projects coming to fruition.
…
For the time being, developing the 8.41 acres of freeway frontage road land is out of Schwabe’s hands. He has the right to buy the property from the City, but now he awaits resolution of the City of Tucson and Rio Nuevo litigation, a part of which concerns which entity actual owns this parcel.
Schwabe calls the project “The Greenline” and has brought on Ryan Construction, the same Phoenix firm that built the new UNS Energy Corp. headquarters, to build nine- and four-story with commercial and office mixed uses.
He also plans a 120-room urban boutique-style hotel.
All this would be closer to Congress Street. Plans for the southern half of the property are still more conceptual but will likely include apartments and a new Greyhound terminal.
“The city and Rio Nuevo will determine the direction (of the southern acreage),” Schwabe said. “We’re just trying to take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves,” Schwabe said. “The western gateway is so important to the city. It’s such a dead zone, but it has great potential.”
Peach Properties and Oasis Tucson/Capstone Development were both selected as potential partners with the University of Arizona in response to requests for proposals for student housing along the proposed streetcar route. Peach’s plot at Broadway and 5th Street is across the street from the Oasis/Capstone student housing project, which started construction this month.
Schwabe’s enthusiasm for student housing has cooled off in the past year.
“We got skittish with student stuff,” Schwabe said. “We’re going forward with market-rate residential,” Schwabe said.
He’s planning 170 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units on three levels above a two-level garage. A couple months ago, Schwabe applied for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 221(d)(4) mortgage insurance, which insures lenders against loss on mortgage defaults. Schwabe said it could take up to a year to secure this federal support.
In the meantime, that property could become student housing after all.
“Capstone keeps coming around saying they want to buy that property,” Schwabe said.

[Ted Lyons]

A five-floor building on that big of a lot seems wasteful downtown, especially with no retail. If they added only one floor of retail, It would be immeasurably better. Otherwise, it's a project that belongs in Iron Horse or another fringe neighborhood.

[Patrick S]

NASA has released photos of Tucson in 1965 (http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/78000/78613/tucson_gem_1965234_lrg.jpg), and Tucson in 2011 (http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/78000/78613/tucson_tm5_2011301_lrg.jpg). Here is the link to two articles about the pictures: One on the NASA website (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=78613), and one on Channel 4's website (http://www.kvoa.com/news/nasa-images-capture-tucson-then-and-now/).

[kaneui]

A five-floor building on that big of a lot seems wasteful downtown, especially with no retail. If they added only one floor of retail, It would be immeasurably better. Otherwise, it's a project that belongs in Iron Horse or another fringe neighborhood.

The city shouldn't be approving any new multi-story construction downtown without ground-floor retail; otherwise, they'll be killing the recent redevelopment progress by creating more dead zones with no pedestrian traffic. (Also, any developer would be foolish not to have ground-floor retail on that Peach Property block, with the streetcar going right by it and stops in each direction only a block away.)

[Patrick S]

Rio Nuevo won't pursue Manning House deal (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/rio-nuevo-won-t-pursue-manning-house-deal/article_80080282-d77e-11e1-82fd-0019bb2963f4.html)

by Patrick McNamara

It looks like public ownership of the Manning House in downtown Tucson is off the table, for now.
The Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District decided at its Thursday (July 26) meeting to let die a motion to move forward with a plan to purchase the now closed meeting space at 450 W. Paseo Redondo.
Board Chairman Fletcher McCusker said that despite a legal decision from attorneys at the Arizona Legislative Council that a move to purchase the property was allowable under state statutes that created the Rio Nuevo District, a contrary view of the law among Tucson City Council members and the city attorney created a conflict.
The city and Rio Nuevo are partners in an intergovernmental agreement, and as such the city has much say over Rio Nuevo actions.
"All we were trying to do was create control over the property," McCusker said. "We do not want to own the property or operate a hotel."
The reference to a hotel concerned discussions of possibly converting the property to a boutique-style hotel. That remains a possibility, McCusker said, although without Rio Nuevo spending money to accomplish that.
Instead, he said there has been interest in the property from at least three private hoteliers.

[kaneui]

Tucson's TOD Housing Boom

Ron Schwabe has good reason to be skittish about building more student housing: once the streetcar was greenlighted, national developers swooped in and got their parcels assembled, financing lined up, and projects approved and out of the ground, leaving the smaller local developers behind. (Jim Campbell figured it out and teamed up with Capstone, and thus Cadence is moving forward). And with everything already in the pipeline, student housing may already be overbuilt.

I'm not convinced Peach Properties will be able to get financing for The Greenline project on their own (they're realizing they need that HUD mortgage insurance so they can finance the smaller Armory project). And the same goes for Gadsden and their West End Station proposal in the Mission District (look how long it took them to get the Mercado San Agustin finished).

Nevertheless, the TOD housing numbers are impressive when all the projects being built or announced to date are added up. Between market-rate and student projects, we're looking at new multi-family housing for nearly 5,000 residents:

Student housing projects*
District on 5th (2012) - 776
Cadence (2013) - 456
Junction at Iron Horse (2013) - 196
1020 Tyndall (2013) - 586
Park Ave. (2014) - 500
Memorial Complex (?) - 150
First St. Apts. (?) - 550

Total student: 3,214 residents


Market-rate projects
(some projects estimated at 1.5 residents/unit)
One North Fifth (96U) - 96
Armory Park Apts. (140U) - 140
One East Broadway (39U) - 59
West End Station (239U) - 359
The Greenline (320U) - 480
Depot Plaza (50U) - 75
Monier Apts. (169U) - 254
The Armory (170U) - 255

Total market-rate: 1,718 residents


GRAND TOTAL: 4,932 residents**


*774-bed Retreat at Tucson (2013) omitted as non-TOD project.

**Low-income senior projects at MLK Apts.(68U) and Sentinel Plaza (143U) excluded as residents were displaced then rehoused.

[Patrick S]

The 2011 population estimates are out. I got all these off of Wikipedia (I know, not the best source). The city and metro grew at a moderate rate (the city actually grew faster than the metro, a switch from the last decade where the city grew by 6.9% while the metro grew by 16.2%). Both, though, grew slower than Phoenix and Mesa (and the metro they share) and the state of Arizona. Compared to other southwest cities the city and metro grew slower than all comparable cities except Vegas. (All increases noted are since 2010.)

Tucson: 525,804 (+1.09%) - Metro: 989,569 (+0.95%)
Phoenix: 1,469,471 (+1.65%) - Metro: 4,262,236 (+1.65%)
Mesa: 446,518 (+1.70%)
Arizona: 6,482,505 (+1.42%)

Las Vegas: 589,317 (+0.95%) - Metro: 1,969,975 (+0.96%)
Albuquerque: 552,804 (+1.27%) - Metro: 898,642 (+1.30%)
El Paso: 665,568(+2.53%) - Metro: 820,970 (+2.54%)

[ppdd]

Brodesky is turning into a real turd about downtown and it demonstrates the pitfalls of aligning yourself with one party or another on a local level.

People on both sides of the aisle have interest in developing downtown and that's something for which we should be thankful. As it is, there isn't even significant infighting between the diverse groups that want downtown to succeed; all of the fighting is between those who want it to succeed and those who don't care.

So, to have ADS regularly criticizing the process for the first time in years simply because different, albeit just as committed, people are in charge is disappointing.

Brodesky has no credibility - take everything from him very lightly. Or skip his sensationalist BS all together.

[Patrick S]

Found out about his place from a picture on InsideTucsonBusiness.com. The picture was actually for the other project mentioned (The Place at Creekside), which will be in the 9900 block of east Speedway (between Harrison and Houghton). This project is on W. Broadway by Greasewood.

MC Clark-Wayland Completes Construction on The Place at Canyon Ridge in Tucson, AZ, Adds 116 New Units to Tight Rental Market (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mc-clark-wayland-completes-construction-on-the-place-at-canyon-ridge-in-tucson-az-adds-116-new-units-to-tight-rental-market-162202785.html)


Canyon Ridge is the first of three projects in Tucson to be developed by MC Companies and built by MC Clark-Wayland. The projects will add 468 units to the Tucson market in 2012.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Scottsdale-based MC Companies celebrated the grand opening of their new community The Place At Canyon Ridge. The Place at Canyon Ridge adds 116 units to the Tucson market and is the first project to be completed by the company's newly formed construction division, MC Clark-Wayland. (MCCW)
The Place at Canyon Ridge

Canyon Ridge's location in close proximity to the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, local shopping and the I 10 freeway make it a convenient choice for many. The large, modern apartments have upgraded finishes that include stainless steel appliances, front load washers and dryers, kitchens with center islands, upgraded countertops and larger pantries. Residents have a choice of one and two bedroom apartment homes, with balconies or private patios. The Place at Canyon Ridge includes a spacious clubhouse, fitness center and community pool and spa. MC Residential will manage the community.
Why Tucson?

Tucson resident and MC principal Ross McCallister is well versed in the Tucson economy and its rental needs. "Tucson's demand for quality, affordable apartment community homes has exceeded the current inventory for some time." Noting that less than 2,000 units have been added in the past ten years, Ross continued, "We believe the Tucson economy is strong and there is a high demand for quality rental product. The Place at Canyon Ridge is the first of three projects we are building in Tucson to help meet that demand." The company will open The Place at Creekside Phase One (208 units) and Phase Two (144 units) later this year.

[Ritarancher]

This article from DowntownTucson.org has some interesting stuff on Peach Properties. It points out some of their current projects downtown. It also talks about their desire to develop the Greenline Project next to I-10. One other last thing of note is that though Peach Property decided not to build student housing (The Armory on E. Broadway) on their land across from Cadence at Plaza Centro, the article points out that they are looking at building a two level garage with 3 stories of market-rate housing above (and that Capstone is interested in the property to build student housing).

PEACH PROPERTIES BEAR FRUIT ALL OVER DOWNTOWN (http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/07/peach-properties-bear-fruit-all-over-downtown/)

By Teya Vitu

Just about anywhere you turn Downtown, Peach Properties has a project on the verge of transforming this or that corner.
Look to Downtown’s northeast corner and you’ll find Peach revitalizing the Warehouse District at their 1 E. Toole and 119 E. Toole warehouses.
Thunder Canyon Brewery, 210 E. Broadway, the 50 E. Broadway proposed restaurant and the vacant lot at Broadway and 5th Streets are all Peach properties soon to add more life to the burgeoning Broadway.
Furthest along is Peach’s Market Inn building, 430 N. 6th Ave., which just this year has seen rejuvenation with EXO Coffee, Old Market Inn Tile and, coming soon, Tap + Bottle.
Peach also has the right to buy the 8.41 acres of city-owned land along Interstate 10 and south of Congress Street, where the temporary Greyhound bus station is located.
2012 is seeing a continual stream of these projects coming to fruition.
…
For the time being, developing the 8.41 acres of freeway frontage road land is out of Schwabe’s hands. He has the right to buy the property from the City, but now he awaits resolution of the City of Tucson and Rio Nuevo litigation, a part of which concerns which entity actual owns this parcel.
Schwabe calls the project “The Greenline” and has brought on Ryan Construction, the same Phoenix firm that built the new UNS Energy Corp. headquarters, to build nine- and four-story with commercial and office mixed uses.
He also plans a 120-room urban boutique-style hotel.
All this would be closer to Congress Street. Plans for the southern half of the property are still more conceptual but will likely include apartments and a new Greyhound terminal.
“The city and Rio Nuevo will determine the direction (of the southern acreage),” Schwabe said. “We’re just trying to take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves,” Schwabe said. “The western gateway is so important to the city. It’s such a dead zone, but it has great potential.”
Peach Properties and Oasis Tucson/Capstone Development were both selected as potential partners with the University of Arizona in response to requests for proposals for student housing along the proposed streetcar route. Peach’s plot at Broadway and 5th Street is across the street from the Oasis/Capstone student housing project, which started construction this month.
Schwabe’s enthusiasm for student housing has cooled off in the past year.
“We got skittish with student stuff,” Schwabe said. “We’re going forward with market-rate residential,” Schwabe said.
He’s planning 170 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units on three levels above a two-level garage. A couple months ago, Schwabe applied for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 221(d)(4) mortgage insurance, which insures lenders against loss on mortgage defaults. Schwabe said it could take up to a year to secure this federal support.
In the meantime, that property could become student housing after all.
“Capstone keeps coming around saying they want to buy that property,” Schwabe said.

A nine story building, along I-10, not bad. I noticed on kaneui's post that the Armory has been downsized to 5 stories. I'm disappointing in that, the Armory is a very good looking building at 7 stories I hate seeing it get downsized to 5 stories.

[Ritarancher]

Tucson's TOD Housing Boom

Ron Schwabe has good reason to be skittish about building more student housing: once the streetcar was greenlighted, national developers swooped in and got their parcels assembled, financing lined up, and projects approved and out of the ground, leaving the smaller local developers behind. (Jim Campbell figured it out and teamed up with Capstone, and thus Cadence is moving forward). And with everything already in the pipeline, student housing may already be overbuilt.

I'm not convinced Peach Properties will be able to get financing for The Greenline project on their own (they're realizing they need that HUD mortgage insurance so they can finance the smaller Armory project). And the same goes for Gadsden and their West End Station proposal in the Mission District (look how long it took them to get the Mercado San Agustin finished).

Nevertheless, the TOD housing numbers are impressive when all the projects being built or announced to date are added up. Between market-rate and student projects, we're looking at new multi-family housing for nearly 5,000 residents:

Student housing projects*
District on 5th (2012) - 776
Cadence (2013) - 456
Junction at Iron Horse (2013) - 196
1020 Tyndall (2013) - 586
Park Ave. (2014) - 500
Memorial Complex (?) - 150
First St. Apts. (?) - 550

Total student: 3,214 residents


Market-rate projects
(some projects estimated at 1.5 residents/unit)
One North Fifth (96U) - 96
Old Armory Apts. (140U) - 140
One East Broadway (39U) - 59
West End Station (239U) - 359
The Greenline (320U) - 480
Depot Plaza (50U) - 75
Monier Apts. (169U) - 254
New Armory (170U) - 255

Total market-rate: 1,718 residents


GRAND TOTAL: 4,932 residents**


*774-bed Retreat at Tucson (2013) omitted as non-TOD project.

**Low-income senior projects at MLK Apts.(68U) and Sentinel Plaza (143U) excluded as residents were displaced then rehoused.


We need to find out how many people live within 1/2 a mile of downtown so we can try to influence Target to open a City Target in downtown. U of A students would love that place!

[kaneui]

Starting this week, seniors at the Armory Park Apartments will be vacating their studio units for larger one-bedroom units with balconies at the Mission District's newly completed Sentinel Plaza, as their current building is being sold, probably for conversion to market-rate units:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/SentinelPlaza26-26-12.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/ArmoryParkApartments.jpg
Sentinel Plaza under construction; 8-story Armory Park Apartments
(photos: City of Tucson; armoryparkapartments.com)


First Senior Citizens Set to Move into Sentinel Plaza
By Teya Vitu
Downtown Tucsonan
July 28, 2012

The first wave of senior citizens will start moving into the new Sentinel Plaza low-income senior housing complex on West Congress Street the week of July 31. All 130 seniors should be moved out of the Armory Park Apartments and into the 143-unit Sentinel Plaza by the end of August, said Steven Greenbaum, president of Senior Housing Group, based in Chicago. The move is ahead of schedule as Greenbaum has always talked about fall or September at the earliest. “Everything came together quickly,” he said. “You always build in contingency days.” Armory Park residents will be moved across Downtown in waves of 10 to 15 through August. “I’m just thrilled, most of all, for the residents who will be moving from a 40-year-old apartment complex into an unbelievable nice place,” Greenbaum said.

The seniors mostly are leaving 412-square-foot studio apartments with no balconies at Armory Park, 211 S. Fifth Avenue, for Sentinel Plaza’s 675-square-foot one-bedroom apartments where all but those on the ground floor have balconies. Greenbaum bought the Armory Park Apartments and its federal Section 8 low-income housing subsidies with the intention of building the new Sentinel Plaza and transferring the Section 8 status and extending the status until 2041. He also received a $2.85 million annual low-income housing tax credit from the Arizona Department of Housing that could ultimately be worth as much as $28.5 million over 10 years. That would cover the estimated $25 million to $27 million in construction costs.

Resident rent payments are subsidized by a Section 8 housing assistance payments contract through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Senior Housing bought the land for $250,000 on May 13, 2011, from the city in a three-way escrow closing agreement involving the city and The Gadsden Company, which had the development agreement for that parcel and is developing the surrounding acreage. Greenbaum has a contract to sell the Armory Park Apartments to an unnamed buyer with the sale expected to close by the end of September.


http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/07/first-senior-citizens-set-to-move-into-sentinel-plaza/

[Patrick S]

Starting this week, seniors at the Armory Park Apartments will be vacating their 412 s.f. studio units for 675 s.f. one-bedroom units with balconies at the Mission District's newly finished Sentinel Plaza, as their current building is being sold, probably for conversion to market-rate units:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/SentinelPlaza26-26-12.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/ArmoryParkApartments.jpg
Sentinel Plaza under construction; 8-story Armory Park Apartments
(photos: City of Tucson; armoryparkapartments.com)


First Senior Citizens Set to Move into Sentinel Plaza
By Teya Vitu
Downtown Tucsonan
July 28, 2012

The first wave of senior citizens will start moving into the new Sentinel Plaza low-income senior housing complex on West Congress Street the week of July 31. All 130 seniors should be moved out of the Armory Park Apartments and into the 143-unit Sentinel Plaza by the end of August, said Steven Greenbaum, president of Senior Housing Group, based in Chicago. The move is ahead of schedule as Greenbaum has always talked about fall or September at the earliest. “Everything came together quickly,” he said. “You always build in contingency days.” Armory Park residents will be moved across Downtown in waves of 10 to 15 through August. “I’m just thrilled, most of all, for the residents who will be moving from a 40-year-old apartment complex into an unbelievable nice place,” Greenbaum said.

The seniors mostly are leaving 412-square-foot studio apartments with no balconies at Armory Park, 211 S. Fifth Avenue, for Sentinel Plaza’s 675-square-foot one-bedroom apartments where all but those on the ground floor have balconies. Greenbaum bought the Armory Park Apartments and its federal Section 8 low-income housing subsidies with the intention of building the new Sentinel Plaza and transferring the Section 8 status and extending the status until 2041. He also received a $2.85 million annual low-income housing tax credit from the Arizona Department of Housing that could ultimately be worth as much as $28.5 million over 10 years. That would cover the estimated $25 million to $27 million in construction costs.

Resident rent payments are subsidized by a Section 8 housing assistance payments contract through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Senior Housing bought the land for $250,000 on May 13, 2011, from the city in a three-way escrow closing agreement involving the city and The Gadsden Company, which had the development agreement for that parcel and is developing the surrounding acreage. Greenbaum has a contract to sell the Armory Park Apartments to an unnamed buyer with the sale expected to close by the end of September.


http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/07/first-senior-citizens-set-to-move-into-sentinel-plaza/
I hope they do a major refurbish of the Armory Park Apartments, both inside and out. That building looks incredibly dated and very drab. If they want to attract people to live downtown they're going to have to give people something other than a housing block that looks like it could have been constructed in Cold-War era Russia.

On another note, it's good to see they're starting construction on the Cadence at Plaza Central (they've at least got the old parking lot torn up).

[Ted Lyons]

Man, I hope HSL Properties is the prospective buyer.






















Not.

[Patrick S]

Gadsden announces they're going to build a 4-story, 165 unit apartment building on the west-side, next to a street-car stop - will open in 2014.

Mercado readies for boomlet (http://azstarnet.com/business/local/mercado-readies-for-boomlet/article_368cc8f3-eddd-58e9-9089-40d77d516642.html)
SENIOR HOUSING OPENS; DEVELOPMENT PLANNED IN BUSINESS DISTRICT

Carli Brosseau Arizona Daily Star

Businesses in the Mercado District, at the western end of the modern streetcar route, are preparing for a population boomlet as the jackhammers approach.

Today, seniors who had been living in downtown's Armory Park Apartments begin to move into the new Sentinel Plaza affordable-housing apartments at 795 W. Congress St., just west of the Santa Cruz River.

Volunteers will help move almost all of the 129 Armory Park residents into the six-story building, said Steve Greenbaum, CEO of Chicago-based Senior Housing Group LLC.
Greenbaum's company currently owns both buildings, though he plans to sell the Armory Park structure.
...
Jerry Dixon, Gadsden's chairman, said he expects to start development on other parts of the property after the track construction is finished. Those projects are in the early planning stages, he said.

The development agreement commits Gadsden to a boutique hotel, about 400 market-rate residential units and a mix of affordable housing, office, retail and restaurant space.

As for contributing to the cost of the streetcar tracks' construction, Dixon said, "We feel we very much helped, by building for years already." He said there is no separate payment he plans to make for the track costs.

Gadsden recently inked another deal to bring residents to the west side. It's partnering with Holualoa Companies to develop a 165-unit top-quality apartment complex next to one of the district's streetcar stops, just south of the mercado on Avenida del Convento.

It's to open in early 2014, Dixon said.

Gadsden sold the property for the complex to Holualoa Monier Apartments LLC for $1.685 million in June, county records show.

The four-story complex will likely have underground parking for each tenant and a rooftop pool, Holualoa President Mike Kasser said.

The building is to feature studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments, he said.
Holualoa is the financial partner and is assisting Gadsden with development, Kasser said.

"We're very excited about it," he said. "We're optimistic about downtown."

The optimism is spreading, area home builders say. Inquiries are picking up. There are two homes now under construction, and at least three more on the way.

"In the last six-month period, we've had more inquiries than in any six-month period since the beginning of 2008," said Dante Archangeli, owner of Tucson Artisan Builders, one of four approved builders in the district.

Archangeli has built seven homes there, but he said he gets as many as three times more inquiries about rentals than about homes people can buy.

The planned apartments are "good because there are more people down there, and the more people there are down there, the more demand there is for businesses down there," he said.

"It's a symbiotic relationship."

[Ritarancher]

I noticed the ground has been moved and fences have surrounded the proposed site of Houghton Town Center that was proposed a few years back is that site going to start to come up? Does anybody know if the proposed shopping center in Vail (I-10 and Colossal Cave Road?) is ever coming back?


Sentinel Plaza: I'm glad our seniors have a nice place to live. Sentinel Plaza can provide good transportation (Sun Link) and lots of near by shops and restaurants. It's also conveniently located across the street from the El Rio Clinic, they must love that! :D. I do want to say the building is very nice, it looks shorter than it is if you are looking from interstate 10.

[Patrick S]

I noticed the ground has been moved and fences have surrounded the proposed site of Houghton Town Center that was proposed a few years back is that site going to start to come up? Does anybody know if the proposed shopping center in Vail (I-10 and Colossal Cave Road?) is ever coming back?


Sentinel Plaza: I'm glad our seniors have a nice place to live. Sentinel Plaza can provide good transportation (Sun Link) and lots of near by shops and restaurants. It's also conveniently located across the street from the El Rio Clinic, they must love that! :D. I do want to say the building is very nice, it looks shorter than it is if you are looking from interstate 10.

I went on to the Tucson City Website. It appears as though, yes, the Houghton Town Center is starting to be constructed. The original plan was to have Home Depot become the first store there. I found records from last September, and I found references to Home Depot, but also to Wal-Mart, so I wasn't sure which one is being built there - until I ran across this website: http://www.johnwilsoncommercial.com/SE-Tucson.html, which says it is a Wal-Mart supercenter in a 99,000 sq. feet building (remember the big-box store rule says these stores can't be more than 100,000 sq. feet). This should make the 6th Wal-Mart under development in the area, including the one at Houghton and Golf Links.

[Ritarancher]

I went on to the Tucson City Website. It appears as though, yes, the Houghton Town Center is starting to be constructed. The original plan was to have Home Depot become the first store there. I found records from last September, and I found references to Home Depot, but also to Wal-Mart, so I wasn't sure which one is being built there - until I ran across this website: http://www.johnwilsoncommercial.com/SE-Tucson.html, which says it is a Wal-Mart supercenter in a 99,000 sq. feet building (remember the big-box store rule says these stores can't be more than 100,000 sq. feet). This should make the 6th Wal-Mart under development in the area, including the one at Houghton and Golf Links.

Thanks, I wish it was a Target instead of a Walmart... I don't like their "facts" pages, it just leads to wikipedia articles about Vail, Corona de Tucson and Rita Ranch.

[Patrick S]

Workers removing old bleachers at TCC (http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/19173320/workers-removing-old-bleachers-at-tcc)
By Carissa Planalp
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Workers are removing the 27-year-old bleachers at the Tucson Convention Center.  The deteriorating bleachers were a safety concern for TCC visitors and those who operate the facility. 

A spokesman says this was the perfect time to start the switch.  A BMX bike event will come to the TCC in the next few days, so workers were already going to have to take out the bleachers to make way for a dirt pit.

The old bleachers will be replaced with new automated bleachers.  They will require one person to activate a switch that will cause the risers to open up with the seats already attached.  The whole process may take a couple of hours.  The old risers had to be moved manually.

The new bleachers will arrive by the end of the month with installation to be complete by mid-September.

[Patrick S]

I found a really cool rendering of what the Cadence at Plaza Central (http://www.tucsonaz.gov/SIREPub/cache/2/4074462C2C20CE43925100C33333337373374554544557/455017508022012012852655.tif) will look like once complete on the City of Tucson's website (the picture was too big to put on this page). Here's a link to a whole host of documents about the project (http://www.tucsonaz.gov/PRO/Command?command=SearchSire&Permit_Number=T12CM02060&doc_type=ConstrPlans&doc_id=2344851&calledFromJsp=SireFolderDisplay&SearchButton=View+Files) (the picture from the link above is document 1).

[southtucsonboy77]

Good link Patrick S. Looking at the rendering from that point of view, it does look nice and I can't even tell it's downtown Tucson. However, I still can't get over the 6 stories...can we do a rewind and Capstone and Mr. Campbell do a switch, West University would be happy with the 6 stories and we would be thrilled with the 14...or maybe Mr. Campbell can take the additional 3 stories from the garage and put them on top of the 6? (sigh)

[southtucsonboy77]

On a side note...my buddy from Albq came into town and I gave him a kaneui-style tour of all the recently completed, in progress, and proposed developments and he was quite impressed with Tucson's attempt for density and urbanism. He especially liked the del Sol Hotel, the Unisource Bldg, and the rendering of the Tyndall building (coincindently, the taller buildings). What he wasn't impressed with was the drive from the home I'm renting in Drexel Heights to the home I'm buying in Continental Ranch.

[Patrick S]

I was at Broadway and Camino Seco today and saw that they were tearing down the portion of Berkshire Village that will become the new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market.

I also drove down Speedway, between Camino Seco and Houghton today. That finished and widened road looks really nice. I also happened to see the new apartments at The Place at Creekside. There are many finished buildings, some under construction, and some more empty & cleared land that looks like it may be room for more apartment buildings.

[Patrick S]

Good link Patrick S. Looking at the rendering from that point of view, it does look nice and I can't even tell it's downtown Tucson. However, I still can't get over the 6 stories...can we do a rewind and Capstone and Mr. Campbell do a switch, West University would be happy with the 6 stories and we would be thrilled with the 14...or maybe Mr. Campbell can take the additional 3 stories from the garage and put them on top of the 6? (sigh)

Thanks. I too wish it had been more than 6 stories - I liked the original idea of 2, 13 story buildings in that lot. I also like your idea of switching the new 14 story building going up in the West University neighborhood (though I do support the construction of that building) and the 6th story Cadence. As much as I wish Cadence was going to be more than 6 stories, I am glad to see something, anything, of even a modest height going up on that empty lot.

[Ritarancher]

Thanks. I too wish it had been more than 6 stories - I liked the original idea of 2, 13 story buildings in that lot. I also like your idea of switching the new 14 story building going up in the West University neighborhood (though I do support the construction of that building) and the 6th story Cadence. As much as I wish Cadence was going to be more than 6 stories, I am glad to see something, anything, of even a modest height going up on that empty lot.

Yea, I feel kind of cheated out of our new towers. I wonder why they discarded the first concept, financial problems I guess. Now, it's too late but sometime in the past combining the buildings into a tall building. The developer could have had an extra lot to make a new building but I guess two 6 story buildings will be acceptable.

[Patrick S]

Yea, I feel kind of cheated out of our new towers. I wonder why they discarded the first concept, financial problems I guess. Now, it's too late but sometime in the past combining the buildings into a tall building. The developer could have had an extra lot to make a new building but I guess two 6 story buildings will be acceptable.

Yeah, as I said, it's better than nothing. The only reason I've heard for why they didn't go with the 13 story buildings is that they felt it was out of place to just plop that down on that location, next to the Rialto (it is a pretty small lot). I think that a 13 story building seems more out of place in the West University Neighborhood than it does downtown, but that said, I'm glad both projects are moving forward and under construction. I understand the frustrations of those who live by the new tower under construction in the West University Neighborhood, but living in the center of a major metropolitan area, next to a major state university, one has to expect there are going to be bigger buildings with high densities and many students around the area.

[bleunick]

I found this link (http://www.tucsonaz.gov/sirepub/cache/2/fxljb355f50uitvvavhzh02p/462230308032012112809162.PDF) to the new One East Broadway building. They are also the first to apply for the new GPLET incentive the city is offering, which by state law cannot be formalized until 12 months after the Central Business District was established (April 17, 2012).

[Patrick S]

I found this link (http://www.tucsonaz.gov/sirepub/cache/2/fxljb355f50uitvvavhzh02p/462230308032012112809162.PDF) to the new One East Broadway building. They are also the first to apply for the new GPLET incentive the city is offering, which by state law cannot be formalized until 12 months after the Central Business District was established (April 17, 2012).

Great find. Funny that you put that up today, since this also appeared today on Ch. 13's website. A couple of things I noticed was that the article said it couldn't start until April of 2013 (I assume the required 1 year wait), but the link you provided showed that they want to start construction as early as November of this year. Also, the article said that, "If this one gets approved, others are waiting in the wings." - Interesting.

Tucson test case for new downtown development (http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/19193061/tucson-test-case-for-new-downtown-development)

By Bud Foster(Tucson News Now) -

Tucson is trying something new and if it works, it just might be the answer its been looking for to lure development downtown.

Tucson has long been accused of not being business friendly, but most say this is a step it needs to take to reverse that perception.

Technically its a new incentive process which gives tax abatements and other incentives to businesses which want to expand or grow from the ground up downtown.

It's a central business district concept which has worked in many other cities, including Phoenix.

The state legislature have the city the green light earlier this year.

Under the process, the city will pencil out of the project to make sure it makes money on the deal so as not to violate the state's gift clause.

"It's a step in the right direction," says Ward VI council member Steve Kozachik. "In terms of taxes, tax incentives and jobs."

The first deal the city will consider is a project at Broadway and Stone, adjacent to the Chase Bank Building.

It will be a nine story, 136,000 square foot tower with 36 apartments, 119 space parking garage, retail and office space.,

The cost of the project is about $18 million.

It will be developed by One East Broadway LLC.

The city has already given the project the go ahead through step one of the process.

Step two is moving it to an independent review to make sure the numbers are correct and there is benefit for the city if it gives the tax abatements.
Finally, it would need mayor and council approval.

But this is a fairly easy call. Rob Caylor Construction is well known in Tucson and owns the Chase building. It's vested in downtown.

The new project is along the modern streetcar line which is exactly the kind of development the city hoped for when it approved the streetcar.

If this one gets approved, others are waiting in the wings.

Because of state legislative restrictions, even if the project gets approved, it can't go forward until April, 2013.

The city passed a series of 20 tools, incentives and process changes to provide financial benefit, regulator relief and streamlined development review for developers.

[andrewsaturn]

Has anyone noticed that the streetcar rails kind of curve almost near but not quite at the end of the street on University and also on 2nd street? I went through park and university and drove north. It looks kind of weird and not straight...

[Patrick S]

Has anyone noticed that the streetcar rails kind of curve almost near but not quite at the end of the street on University and also on 2nd street? I went through park and university and drove north. It looks kind of weird and not straight...

I haven't been down that way in a while, or very much since the spring semester ended, so I haven't seen the rails, but I know the route will go down University, north up Park and then down 2nd street. Maybe these are just areas where the route will curve to make the route up and down Park.

[andrewsaturn]

I haven't been down that way in a while, or very much since the spring semester ended, so I haven't seen the rails, but I know the route will go down University, north up Park and then down 2nd street. Maybe these are just areas where the route will curve to make the route up and down Park.

Unless I need to get my eyes checked, but the rails don't curve at the intersection. Actually, there isn't rails in place near the intersection of park and university or park and 2nd at all... The rails end like a hundred feet from where it's suppose to curve at those intersections...I wish I took a picture...

[bleunick]

Unless I need to get my eyes checked, but the rails don't curve at the intersection. Actually, there isn't rails in place near the intersection of park and university or park and 2nd at all... The rails end like a hundred feet from where it's suppose to curve at those intersections...I wish I took a picture...

Yeah I have noticed that too. I assume it has to do with the turning radius of the streetcars... although Im not sure how this is going to work with vehicular traffic sharing the road.

[Thirsty]

Has anyone noticed that the streetcar rails kind of curve almost near but not quite at the end of the street on University and also on 2nd street? I went through park and university and drove north. It looks kind of weird and not straight...

The tracks will run on either side of the loading platforms. They may need to bow out a little to accommodate the stops.

[Anqrew]

the tracks swerve out because the streetcar makes wide turns and needs the extra space to make a complete 90 degree turn.

watch this streetcar simulation from 1:08 to 1:28 to see how the tracks go into the center lane then go back into the travel lane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TDDD6KDGP0

[aznative]

Looks like the Padres' sell was approved by the PCL last week, and will be heading to El Paso in April 2014. El Paso will be building the team a new stadium in their downtown.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_21233018/ep-faces-time-crunch-triple-deadlines

[Patrick S]

Looks like the Padres' sell was approved by the PCL last week, and will be heading to El Paso in April 2014. El Paso will be building the team a new stadium in their downtown.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_21233018/ep-faces-time-crunch-triple-deadlines

Well, like the stadium the Padres play in here in Tucson, Kino Stadium, their new stadium will be built very close to I-10, but, their new stadium will also be built on the edges of downtown. It will be just a couple blocks from the El Paso Union Depot, and close to the El Paso Museum of History, the El Paso Convention & Performing Arts Center, the Abraham Chavez Theatre and the El Paso Museum of Art (which has the El Paso Symphony Orchestra building right behind it).

And we wonder why we can't keep a team here.

[combusean]

El Paso is spending huge amounts of money on the deal, going as far as to demolish their city hall and science center. Taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars to build the stadium and it seems pretty clear the city leadership is deceiving their populace. For the most part, El Pasoans seem oblivious to the devil in the details or don't care. The lack of expressed concern for a science museum's replacement by a stadium seems telling of the attitudes there.

And to their detriment. Stadiums downtown are rarely the economic drivers their supporters purport them to be. If Tucson were awash in cash somehow, an expensive frill like a downtown stadium might in fact be a welcome amenity, but the attendance numbers were far too low to justify the massive expense.

[Ted Lyons]

El Paso is spending huge amounts of money on the deal, going as far as to demolish their city hall and science center. Taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars to build the stadium and it seems pretty clear the city leadership is deceiving their populace. For the most part, El Pasoans seem oblivious to the devil in the details or don't care. The lack of expressed concern for a science museum's replacement by a stadium seems telling of the attitudes there.

And to their detriment. Stadiums downtown are rarely the economic drivers their supporters purport them to be. If Tucson were awash in cash somehow, an expensive frill like a downtown stadium might in fact be a welcome amenity, but the attendance numbers were far too low to justify the massive expense.

QFT.

Minor League baseball stadiums are a crapshoot in terms of returns. Tucson obviously didn't set itself up for success but that doesn't mean TEP would have been a resounding success in a better location.

In an age of dwindling minor league attendance, it's not economically feasible to pump millions of dollars into minor league facilities. The PCL's biggest gainer in attendance figures last year was Memphis, and they only increased over the previous year by 8%. Their average attendance was 7,050 in a stadium that holds 14,384.

That's not a winning scenario in the eyes of most public officials and I don't blame them. Bud Selig can talk up attendance gains all he wants, but those are often based on rigged figures premised on free ticket giveaways and reductions in paid ticket prices. Neither of those options are viable for teams that already charge less than $10 per ticket in the first place.

[kaneui]

El Paso is spending huge amounts of money on the deal, going as far as to demolish their city hall and science center. Taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars to build the stadium and it seems pretty clear the city leadership is deceiving their populace. For the most part, El Pasoans seem oblivious to the devil in the details or don't care. The lack of expressed concern for a science museum's replacement by a stadium seems telling of the attitudes there.

And to their detriment. Stadiums downtown are rarely the economic drivers their supporters purport them to be. If Tucson were awash in cash somehow, an expensive frill like a downtown stadium might in fact be a welcome amenity, but the attendance numbers were far too low to justify the massive expense.


El Paso must really be desperate to spend that kind of money to secure a professional sports team (minor league baseball at that), but it's amazing what some cities will do to prove they are in the "big leagues." On a similar note, we have some serious questions of our own to consider regarding the future of the TCC and arena:

1. With many convention centers underused across the country, would a bigger and upgraded TCC realistically be able to draw enough new events to justify the cost? (Or will the argument be made that a modern convention center is just a basic amenity that any large city should have.)

2. Even if Rio Nuevo and the city commit to redoing the TCC and somehow find the money to finance it, will private developers build the needed hotel rooms to make it viable without any public subsidies? (In most other major cities, that hasn't been the case.)

3. Will a new and larger arena attract enough concerts and events to pay for itself, particularly without an anchor tenant? (Just imagine the fallout in Glendale if the Coyotes leave.)

In light of our ongoing economic challenges, I think the answer to all of the above is, unfortunately, no. And with over $230M spent by Rio Nuevo and little to show for it, voters are unlikely to approve any new bond measures for such projects.

[Patrick S]

El Paso is spending huge amounts of money on the deal, going as far as to demolish their city hall and science center. Taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars to build the stadium and it seems pretty clear the city leadership is deceiving their populace. For the most part, El Pasoans seem oblivious to the devil in the details or don't care. The lack of expressed concern for a science museum's replacement by a stadium seems telling of the attitudes there.

And to their detriment. Stadiums downtown are rarely the economic drivers their supporters purport them to be. If Tucson were awash in cash somehow, an expensive frill like a downtown stadium might in fact be a welcome amenity, but the attendance numbers were far too low to justify the massive expense.
I saw that they are demolishing their city hall and a science center (and I too, was wondering about what this said about their priorities - both choosing sports over culture, the fact that they will be moving their city offices to 2 or 3 separate buildings, and the cost of doing the moving, demolition and building of the stadium), and I understand what you are saying. The point I was trying to make was that if we had built Kino Stadium downtown we might have had a better chance of higher attendance and therefore keeping a team.

I was also trying to show that their downtown has many of the cultural
amenities (History Museum, Performing Arts Center, Art Museum, Symphony Orchestra Building) that a major, successful downtown should have.

As for the attendance numbers, yes, many times these tickets are given away, but now days the real money is in concessions and souvenirs, not in tickets. The point now is to get them in the door, where they will spend the majority of their money.

I'm sad to see them go - a city Tucson's size should be at least host to a AA team, not some independent league team not even affiliated with a major league club.

[Ted Lyons]

1. With many convention centers underused across the country, would a bigger and upgraded TCC realistically be able to draw enough new events to justify the cost? (Or will the argument be made that a modern convention center is just a basic amenity that any large city should have.)

2. Even if Rio Nuevo and the city commit to redoing the TCC and somehow find the money to finance it, will private developers build the needed hotel rooms to make it viable without any public subsidies? (In most other major cities, that hasn't been the case.)

3. Will a new and larger arena attract enough concerts and events to pay for itself, particularly without an anchor tenant? (Just imagine the fallout in Glendale if the Coyotes leave.)

In light of our ongoing economic challenges, I think the answer to all of the above is, unfortunately, no. And with over $230M spent by Rio Nuevo and little to show for it, voters are unlikely to approve any new bond measures for such projects.

Tucson is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the convention center.

I think the gem and mineral show has been pushing for upgrades to the convention center for years on the premise that they might have to relocate if things don't get better. For better or worse, that event alone, tied with the other gem shows, brings in so much money that the city can't just abandon the facility.

But, your point stands that, outside that existing event, simply building a bigger convention center won't bring in future guaranteed revenues.

[Mattic505]

I found these on the Modern Streetcar Facebook Page! Looks like they are keeping their albums fairly up to date!

New Storage Facility

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533215_351272661616034_1566102960_n.jpg

Main Gate

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/428860_350009651742335_1211152460_n.jpg

University

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/430246_351286281614672_1375440755_n.jpg

4th Ave

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578880_342902512453049_712816083_n.jpg

Gutierrez (Cushing St) Bridge

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486470_351270938282873_1416738784_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/582008_351271288282838_1555999595_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558263_351270801616220_1977544911_n.jpg


See more of these great albums Here! (http://www.facebook.com/TucsonStreetcar/photos)
http://www.facebook.com/TucsonStreetcar/photos

[Mattic505]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557216_336782506408751_778201710_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/315312_331566326930369_526361014_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/487892_331566346930367_688459054_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252706_331566366930365_353176054_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/603454_331566403597028_1513344015_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558169_331566446930357_193464713_n.jpg

More on their FB Page.

Check out their FB Page Here! (http://www.facebook.com/thecadencetucson):cheers:

[ComplotDesigner]

...

University

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/430246_351286281614672_1375440755_n.jpg



I was hanging at No Anchovies yesterday and the rails in front at University Blvd. are ready. Matter of time to start paving it.

[Patrick S]

I found these on the Modern Streetcar Facebook Page! Looks like they are keeping their albums fairly up to date!

New Storage Facility

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533215_351272661616034_1566102960_n.jpg
I like this shot - you can see the District on 5th Street in the background.

[Patrick S]

Looks like TMC isn't the only hospital in the area that will be expanding.

Northwest Medical Center plans $50 million expansion (http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/northwestnews/northwest-medical-center-plans-million-expansion/article_1433b59e-e00f-11e1-9c2e-0019bb2963f4.html)

Northwest Medical Center is planning a $50 million operating-room expansion that will include a new surgical wing and renovation of one of its cardiac catheterization labs.
The project is expected to break ground this winter, according to a press release from the medical center, 6200 N. La Cholla Blvd. 
The project will take up to 20 months, according to the press release. Work will be done in phases so medical services won't be disrupted.
It'll add four operating rooms to the hospital, which currently has 12 operating rooms. All of the new rooms will be equipped to do minimally invasive procedures and they'll be bigger than existing operating rooms by an average of 150 square feet.

[Patrick S]

6th Ave. lease picture picks up
'NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL' ATTRACTING RETAILERS TO DOWNTOWN'S EDGE

Carli Brosseau Arizona Daily Star

An area on the edge of Tucson's warehouse district is quietly becoming a commercial hub for creative entrepreneurs.
Several businesses recently leased commercial space there, on the west side of North Sixth Avenue, two blocks from the Fourth Avenue shopping district and just an underpass away from downtown.
"I knew I wanted to be downtown," said Rebecca Safford, a longtime downtown resident who plans to open Tap & Bottle, a bar and craft beer and wine bottle shop, in the area this fall.
She looked at spaces on North Fourth Avenue and on East Congress Street, then saw the storefront she ultimately leased.
"I knew right away that this was the environment I wanted," she said. "I wanted something a little different … I wanted a neighborhood feel."
Customers are already strolling and biking through the area.
Meanwhile, the denizens of this creative outpost are bringing each other comfort and comraderie as well as business.
Safford uses Exo Roast Co., a coffee shop that's also a tenant at 403 N. Sixth Ave., as a virtual conference room while she plans the build-out of the bar.
She and Noel Trapp, Exo's director of education, talk about collaborating on tastings. If he can't get away over the lunch hour, she'll bring him something back.
"It's great to have them because they bring their client base," said Carly Quinn, owner of Old Market Inn Tile Shop. Of this batch of tenants, she has been in the building longest - a year and a half.
Quinn was referring to Margaret and Michael Joplin, who moved their landscape design, glass art and retail businesses into the building this spring.
"The coffee shop opened, and we were just in heaven," Margaret Joplin said, noting that her walk-in business has been growing dramatically. She sells plants, pots, scrap steel and glass garden accents as well as plant-themed textiles and prints.
The coffee shop's May opening accelerated the flow of potential customers for all the tenants.
There's no sign, and there's been no advertising, but coffee lovers and baristas found it and brought their friends back.
The shop is about high-quality and ethically sourced coffee. It highlights social programs associated with the farms it uses; it downplays anything not otherwise highlighting coffee. That means few pastries, no blends, no extra flavors and mild roasts.
"I think Peter (Wilke) said it best: When you do something right and you're passionate and it's honest, people will find you," Trapp said. Wilke, Doug Smith and Chris Byrne together own the 4-year-old roasting company.
They all love history and downtown Tucson. "It's a small town trapped in a big city," Trapp said. "It has the right amount of grit."
The Old Market Inn embodies the history, and the exposed brick walls capture something of the grit.
The business owners suspect the streetcar may result in a commercial area somewhat shinier. Being off the streetcar's immediate route but taking advantage of the buzz about it seems to them a better bet.

Here's the link to the full article: http://azstarnet.com/business/local/th-ave-lease-picture-picks-up/article_b4a49f23-b159-53e4-8244-c670a26e8331.html

[Patrick S]

County rezoning clears path for new Fry’s

Becky Pallack Arizona Daily Star

The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning land near Casino del Sol for a new Fry's shopping center Tuesday.
The plans were held up for months in red tape due to a 5-year-old agreement between Pima County and WalMart.
The rezoning is for 30 acres at the southeast corner of Mark and Valencia roads to allow for a Fry's grocery store and gas station, a day-care center and shops.
The developers are the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Evergreen Development Co.
Before building permits can be issued, the board will need to approve a special development agreement similar to the 2006 agreement between Pima County and developers of a WalMart at Ajo and Kinney, a project which has since been put on hold.

Here's a link to the entire article: http://azstarnet.com/business/county-rezoning-clears-path-for-new-fry-s/article_3ee7db66-e0c9-11e1-a066-001a4bcf887a.html

[kaneui]

Undoubtedly looking ahead to more foot traffic from the modern streetcar and nearly 500 UofA students moving in a few blocks away in 2013, Kade Mislinski will debut a hot dog and milkshake shop open until 3 a.m.--his third business on the same block of Congress St.:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/LulusShakeShoppe-Tucson-1.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/LulusShakeShoppe


Shakin' it up downtown at Lulu's Shake Shoppe
Arizona Daily Star
August 02, 2012

Kade Mislinski just can't seem to slow down - he runs the Hub Restaurant and Creamery, which he opened early last year, the neighboring Playground Bar & Lounge, which opened last fall, and in October he will open Lulu's Shake Shoppe. From the beginning, Mislinski says, "Our whole concept was to do little concepts in the building as much as possible." So Lulu's - named after Mislinski's mother-in-law - will take up a small space facing the parking lot on the south side of the building that houses the Hub and Playground. He's looking at a walk-up window, where you can order such items as shakes, hot dogs and Mexican candy. During the day, the Chocolate Fox whips up gourmet chocolate in the space, and that will continue.

So Mislinski says Lulu's - which launches Oct. 13 - will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Honest. All his ventures remind him of growing up in Tucson, says Mislinski, and are his effort to relive, and update, the good ol' days. "It's about riding your bike to the corner store and buying an ice cream," he says of Lulu's. Prices will top out at $6.70 for a large, extra-thick shake. "I'm raising the bar on fun," Mislinski explains.

[kaneui]

Scheduled for completion in October, over $1M in upgrades to downtown's Ronstadt Transit Center will include reconstruction of the east median island adjacent to the new MLK building, new LED light fixtures and security cameras, enclosed arcade openings with decorative metal fencing, and simplified and enhanced signage:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/RTCsiteplan-Tucson-1.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/RTCarcademockup-Tucson.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/RTCrenovations8-12-Tucson-1.jpg
Construction of east median island - August, 2012
(renders, photo: city of Tucson)


http://dot.tucsonaz.gov/projects/project.cfm?cip=78FA72B4-CD82-6F02-BC9F1F4D502D98AD

[Patrick S]

Hey, Kaneui, where did you get that picture of the new Wal-Mart being built in the Tucson Marketplace @ The Bridges (in your Tucson Development link)? That's a weird looking Wal-Mart.

[kaneui]

Hey, Kaneui, where did you get that picture of the new Wal-Mart being built in the Tucson Marketplace @ The Bridges (in your Tucson Development link)? That's a weird looking Wal-Mart.

It was posted at Inside Tucson Business today. And even Walmart isn't always allowed to use their cookie-cutter design--Flagstaff made them go through four design changes before giving final approval for a new Supercenter there:

http://azdailysun.com/news/supercenter-gets-green-light/article_c027d9c1-a62a-5ab4-bcc8-caf54fbf96c4.html

[Patrick S]

It was posted at Inside Tucson Business today. And even Walmart isn't always allowed to use their cookie-cutter design--Flagstaff made them go through four design changes before giving final approval for a new Supercenter there:

http://azdailysun.com/news/supercenter-gets-green-light/article_c027d9c1-a62a-5ab4-bcc8-caf54fbf96c4.html

Thanks. I had looked at ITB.com today (since most of their new articles are usually put up on the website on Fridays), but I hadn't seen that article. Also, thanks for the link to the Wal-Mart in Flagstaff. It looks like the construction on the one @ the Bridges is more in line with that one. Speaking of the Bridges, have you heard any word on any tenants for the U of A Bio-Science park, anymore retail planning to go in there, or any housing that's supposed to be built there?

I saw on ITB.com that the abandoned apartment complex on Fort Lowell is going to be rebuilt. That's good to know. There's graffiti all over that place and it is just an eye-sore.

[Patrick S]

It appears the city council has approved the building of a 10-story apartment building on the northwest corner of Tyndall and 1st St. This, of course, is in addition to the 14-story building almost adjacent to this currently being built and the 13-story building right next to that one that's planned to start construction next year.

UA-area residents denounce city vote
SAY THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF LOOP IN BUILDING-HEIGHT DECISION

Darren DaRonco Arizona Daily Star

Shameful.

That's how West University residents described the City Council's contentious 4-3 decision to boost building heights by 40 feet in a section of the Main Gate Overlay District despite promising residents in May that heights would be capped at 90 feet.

Well before Tuesday's vote, speakers at a public hearing, and even some council members, spoke of a "compromise" to allow the added building height - a compromise in which the adjacent neighborhood had no input or participation.

"Obviously there were things going on behind the scenes," said West University Neighborhood Association President Chris Gans. "There were a lot of meetings we weren't privy to. We were told it was an open process, but it wasn't."

For months residents have been negotiating with the city and developer over zoning issues in the overlay district.

Residents say tall buildings and new developments could signal the end to their historic neighborhood. The city wants high-density housing along the streetcar route, and developers want to provide it.

In May, residents thought they had won a concession when the council voted to cap the tallest building in the Tyndall Avenue section of the overlay district at 90 feet.

While residents still disliked the rezoning, Gans said at least they had a decent height restriction in place.

But during Tuesday's public hearing on a developer's request to modify the Main Gate zoning restrictions, speakers began mentioning a 130-foot "compromise" for a parcel on the northwest corner of North Tyndall Avenue and East First Street.

Allegations fly

That's when Councilman Steve Kozachik said he became suspicious that a back-door deal took place well before Tuesday's meeting.

"I have been present throughout this entire process and have never heard of this 130-foot number before," Kozachik said. He said it became "obvious" that even as negations with neighbors were going on, "people involved in this deal were working the phones to cut a deal and screw the residents."

After the hearing, Councilwoman Shirley Scott moved to increase the height from 90 to 130 feet. It passed 4-3.

"Shirley, (Councilman) Paul (Cunningham) and the mayor clearly cut a deal," Kozachik said. "The mayor cut this deal with the two council members furthest away from the process. Shirley and Paul knew nothing about these issues."

Scott said Kozachik was "inaccurately portraying" the situation, and there was nothing inappropriate about raising the heights.

"This was justifiable and right," she said.

Scott said developer Bill Viner sent an email before Tuesday's meeting to four council members and the mayor explaining why he needed the added height.

"To me that's not a back-room deal because he reached out to the others," she said
However, he excluded both council members who represent the UA area, which Scott says probably happened because Kozachik and Councilwoman Karin Uhlich refused to communicate with him any further.

The Star obtained an email dated Aug. 5 from Viner to Scott. In it, Viner, who wants to build a high-rise apartment community at the site, explains that the parcel is too small and requires added height in order for the project to be feasible.

Viner said when the council reduced the height from the 159 feet originally approved earlier this year to 90 feet in May, it prevented the project from moving forward.

"We need your support and can make the project work at a compromise height of 130 feet," Viner wrote.

The person who answered Viner's office extension hung up on a Star reporter seeking his comments.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, who cast the deciding vote, said it was the most difficult decision he has had to make since assuming office seven months ago.

He said even though the council voted on May 8 to cap the height at 90 feet, the developer retained the right to ask for a rezoning at any time.

Rothschild said Viner did just that at the public hearing, and requested a height of 130 feet, which would allow for a 10-story building in a neighborhood replete with similar-sized buildings.

He said it seemed like a sensible compromise.

"Given the nature of the planned development, where a 14-story and a 13-story building had already been approved next door, this 10-story request was reasonable," Rothschild said in an email. "The dispute boiled down to the difference between eight and 10 stories."

Here's a link to the entire article: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ua-area-residents-denounce-city-vote/article_c73a2cae-1c46-5a01-be61-777314b4c31b.html

[atbg8654]

It appears the city council has approved the building of a 10-story apartment building on the northwest corner of Tyndall and 1st St. This, of course, is in addition to the 14-story building almost adjacent to this currently being built and the 13-story building right next to that one that's planned to start construction next year.

Is this 3rd high rise from the same developer or different one? Regardless, the surrounding neighborhood needs to upgrade its streets, sidewalks, amenities and overall infrastructure to carry all this new traffic. Is the developer building parking too?

[Patrick S]

Is this 3rd high rise from the same developer or different one? Regardless, the surrounding neighborhood needs to upgrade its streets, sidewalks, amenities and overall infrastructure to carry all this new traffic. Is the developer building parking too?

I think it's from a different developer. This article is the first I've heard about this new development. I went on to the city's website after reading the article and couldn't find any information about this specific development in the development map section. I also read the information about the city-council meeting where this was discussed, and though I found information about the rezoning, again, I didn't find anything about this development.

[kaneui]

Speaking of the Bridges, have you heard any word on any tenants for the U of A Bio-Science park, anymore retail planning to go in there, or any housing that's supposed to be built there?


The UofA has been saying for a few years that they're in talks with various prospective tenants for the planned Bioscience Park, but obviously nothing serious enough to start construction. The remaining retail portion of the Marketplace at The Bridges is probably in the same boat--waiting to sign enough tenant leases before they built out the section between Costco and the new Walmart.

Regarding the Main Gate high-rise vote--I'm not sure where the problem is, as the map of the new Main Gate Urban Overlay District shows that 14 stories are allowed at the NWC of Tyndall and First St., with the height on the rest of the block stepped down to 12 and then 6 stories once you get to Speedway. I realize the city is anxious to show developers that they're more business friendly by getting their projects approved quickly, but not keeping the process transparent and open to public input doesn't exactly build trust in city government--especially when they're asking voters to approve a $100M bond measure in November for road repairs.

[Patrick S]

The UofA has been saying for a few years that they're in talks with various prospective tenants for the planned Bioscience Park, but obviously nothing serious enough to start construction. The remaining retail portion of the Marketplace at The Bridges is probably in the same boat--waiting to sign enough tenant leases before they built out the section between Costco and the new Walmart.

Regarding the Main Gate high-rise vote--I'm not sure where the problem is, as the map of the new Main Gate Urban Overlay District shows that 14 stories are allowed at the NWC of Tyndall and First St., with the height on the rest of the block stepped down to 12 and then 6 stories once you get to Speedway. I realize the city is anxious to show developers that they're more business friendly by getting their projects approved quickly, but not keeping the process transparent and open to public input doesn't exactly build trust in city government--especially when they're asking voters to approve a $100M bond measure in November for road repairs.

The website for the Bridges has an article from the ADS from May of 2010 saying that the park was close to signing an agreement to build apartments that could open this year, but of course, there is no construction underway. I also though I had heard that part of the plan was to build the 10-story hotel that is to be in the south-eastern portion of the bio-science park (north of the Costco) earlier in the process, possibly before even having any tenants for the bio-science park.

[Ritarancher]

Regarding the Main Gate high-rise vote--I'm not sure where the problem is, as the map of the new Main Gate Urban Overlay District shows that 14 stories are allowed at the NWC of Tyndall and First St., with the height on the rest of the block stepped down to 12 and then 6 stories once you get to Speedway. I realize the city is anxious to show developers that they're more business friendly by getting their projects approved quickly, but not keeping the process transparent and open to public input doesn't exactly build trust in city government--especially when they're asking voters to approve a $100M bond measure in November for road repairs.

Can you post a link to the map please? It's great to hear that we're starting to build up. Hopefully some new hotels and office towers will come soon IN downtown (not a mile away), but that's unlikely to happen. The city planned on the streetcar bringing us some new residential buildings and towers, I'd say that so far that has been a mission accomplished. To get new business towers and hotels, the street car would have to be pushed to the airport along Kino Road, with stops at the U of A Science center, the bridges marketplace, Kino Stadium and at Tucson International. The expansion along Kino will help people get to the Science Park, boosting development there, and at Kino Stadium possibly bringing a MLS or a MLB team. Another must for businesses is along Broadway, with stops at every mile to the Park Mall and at many of the large office centers.

[kaneui]

^Here's the map posted by Anqrew on March 21:



Then i found the zoning rules for the Main Gate District. Looks like they plan to get a lot of new development in there.
http://i42.tinypic.com/dowigy.jpg

i also got a link to the company that is in charge of the Main Gate District Planning. Nothing I've found on their website yet, but i assume they will update soon. http://www.shepleybulfinch.com/ and here is the document http://www.tucsonaz.gov/SIREPub/cache/2/3775429C2C20CE43925100C33333337373374554544557/425402003212012025327648.pdf


with this map we now know where all these new developments will be. The Campus Acq. will be on the 14/13 zoned areas on Park/Tyndall.

And Steve Shenitzer and Bill Viner's 14-story student apartment building along First Street, stepping down to 12 stories and six-stories on Speedway.

Mike Noonan's student apartment complex at 714 N. Euclid Avenue will be a four- and six-story complex.

So i wonder what the other properties have planned? Looks like the developers see a lot of potential as they are all building as tall as they are allowed.

[Patrick S]

Can you post a link to the map please? It's great to hear that we're starting to build up. Hopefully some new hotels and office towers will come soon IN downtown (not a mile away), but that's unlikely to happen. The city planned on the streetcar bringing us some new residential buildings and towers, I'd say that so far that has been a mission accomplished. To get new business towers and hotels, the street car would have to be pushed to the airport along Kino Road, with stops at the U of A Science center, the bridges marketplace, Kino Stadium and at Tucson International. The expansion along Kino will help people get to the Science Park, boosting development there, and at Kino Stadium possibly bringing a MLS or a MLB team. Another must for businesses is along Broadway, with stops at every mile to the Park Mall and at many of the large office centers.
If they (and I hope they someday will) expand rail-based mass transit down to TIA, it needs to be light-rail that runs in its own right-of-way, not an extension of the streetcar. By running on the city streets, the streetcar will move too slow to make it effective and a desirable alternative to driving for the longer distance of TIA to downtown.

[kaneui]

A few more interior shots of downtown's newly opened Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink at 101 E. Pennington, after a rehab of the 1906 former mortuary:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/ReillyCraftPizzaDrinkdiningarea-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/ReillyCraftPizzaDrinkbar-Tucson.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/reillypizza

[ComplotDesigner]

:previous:

I've heard good comments about Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink.

1020 Tyndall

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2205/photolhg.jpg

Aloft Hotel

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5489/photo1hs.jpg

Images from saturday 081112.

[kaneui]

The former Monterey Motel on West Miracle Mile has been reborn as Monterey Court--a new art, retail and music venue, including a cafe:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MontereyCourtsign-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MontereyCottages1938-Tucson.jpg
(L) The restored neon Monterey Court sign, which once said "Monterey Motel" before it was changed, also indicates its new focus on retail, the arts and a new cafe.

(R) A 1938 handout photo of the Monterey Court at 505 West Miracle Mile. Originally open in 1938, the court has since morphed a number of times, even operating as a motel along what was then called the Casa Grande Highway, now known as Miracle Mile.


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MontereyCourt-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MontereyCourt-Tucsn.jpg
(L) The front of the newly renovated Monterey Court with the cafe which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kelly McLear and Greg Haver purchased the land in 2011, and have created an artisan haven restoring the casitas into studio spaces, adding a new pavilion, a covered stage, and a new cafe, bar and kitchen.

(R) Water misters keep patrons cool under the pavilion as they dine and listen to the Rafael Moreno Quartet.
(photos: A.E. Araiza, Greg Haver)


http://azstarnet.com/business/local/monterey-court/collection_8d8e5390-e659-11e1-8714-001a4bcf887a.html

[kaneui]

This Tucson Weekly columnist joins a growing chorus of voices, including Councilman Steve Kozachik and radio host John C. Scott, saying that the Marist College is beyond repair, even after the City Council recently voted to spend $1M to shore up the deteriorating three-story adobe building:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollegehistoricphoto-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollege2011-Tucson.jpg
The 1915 Marist College in its heyday; and again in 2011, with three corners badly damaged.
(photos: AZ Public Media, lasertrimman/Flickr)


Even though it's old and made of adobe, the Marist College building may not be worth saving
by Tom Danehy
Tucson Weekly
August 15, 2012

Knowing full well that it might get me permanently barred from the warm, fuzzy wing of the Liberal Club, I must say this about the Marist College building in downtown Tucson:

1. Not all old buildings are automatically historic.

2. Not all historic buildings are automatically deserving of preservation.

The place is a dump, and not all that attractive as dumps go. If a meteor were to hit it, it would do about $200,000 worth of improvements. And, oh yeah, people keep referring to it as "Arizona's only surviving three-story adobe." There's a reason for that—all of the other ones have fallen down already. In the past few weeks, the Tucson Weekly's Tim Vanderpool has done his usual masterful job of explaining the background and specifics of Tucson city government possibly coming to the rescue of the abandoned, crumbling building ("Marist Tempest," July 26, and "Marist Maneuvers," Aug. 9). The people behind the preservation and restoration effort have their reasons, and I don't doubt their sincerity in the matter. I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense.

I do not know everything (or anything, for that matter) about adobe, so I called Robert Barnes, the longtime owner of Old Pueblo Adobe. For quite a long time (until his land along Interstate 10 north of Cortaro Road was taken by eminent domain for freeway expansion), his company manufactured adobe bricks and assisted in the construction of adobe structures throughout Southern Arizona. He says the fact that Marist is a three-story building is more of an oddity than anything else. "The materials to make adobe are plentiful in this part of the world, and it's a good building material. The important thing is that there has always been lots and lots of open land. There was never any reason to build up. This isn't New York or London. In terms of labor and cost, it just never made any sense to build more than a one- or two-story structure."

Then there is the matter of architectural physics. Unlike the modern steel-and-glass structures that utilize cleverly designed truss and support systems to allow them to reach toward the sky, adobe buildings have certain limitations, structurally speaking. "Once you start getting up past a few stories," explains Barnes, "you have to make the bottom floor and the foundation extra-thick to bear the load of the higher floors. It just doesn't make sense. The extra adobe that goes into shoring up the base could be used to build another room in a house or another building altogether."

Further complicating the matter in the case of the Marist building is that, since its rebuilding would be part of a historic-preservation effort, any restoration would have to involve the use of original building materials. (In other words, you couldn't put a metal skeleton inside the building and then resurface the outside to make it look like it did 100 years ago.) Barnes, who is now semi-retired and owns a small cattle ranch outside of St. David, recommends a prudent approach. "When I was still in the adobe business, we bid on some of those proposed projects during the Rio Nuevo frenzy. They had architects who were coming up with things that simply don't exist and aren't possible. It was crazy. "I would recommend that before they go ahead with anything, they spend $25,000 on a detailed assessment of the building and get a solid understanding of the adobe-building code, which is pretty strict. It might save the city a lot of money in the long run."

I wasn't around during the 1960s when the city razed a downtown barrio in the name of urban renewal. When I was growing up around that time in Los Angeles, I heard all the stories of how the money-über-alles crowd had destroyed an entire long-standing Latino community just to put up Dodger Stadium. (On that subject, I recommend Ry Cooder's masterpiece album, Chavez Ravine.) The fact that an entire neighborhood was wiped away, and all we got out of it was the Tucson Convention Center, certainly should give decision-makers pause before they plunge ahead on future projects. But that history should not serve as an automatic and permanent stop sign for reasonable urban-renewal efforts, or as a carte-blanche excuse for preserving every building that managed to stand long enough to get sort-of old.

I occasionally attend Mass at Holy Family Church, about a mile north of downtown. Often at Mass, the reader will mention that there will be a second collection that day for St. Vincent de Paul or the bishop's appeal. I'm always happy to throw in a few bucks. They've never once held a second collection to keep the Marist College building standing; I'm pretty sure they know what would happen if they did. Through all the head-spinning talk of making the Marist building into a three-story restaurant or a boutique hotel comes the main question. The Catholic Church isn't willing to spend one penny on this project. Could it be that, for once, the business side of the church actually knows what it's doing?

[kaneui]

Two more restaurants opening on Congress St. will add to the expanding downtown dining scene:


Coming Soon to Downtown

The owners of restaurant 47 Scott, at 47 N. Scott Ave., and the adjoined cocktail-joint Scott and Co., at 49 N. Scott Ave., are opening another restaurant downtown. Travis Reese says he and Nicole Flowers will be opening their newest restaurant in a space at 256 E. Congress St., where Sharks used to be. Reese said he was still finalizing the name last week, but said it would likely be called Saint House. Both 47 Scott and Scott and Co. have been unequivocal successes, with nods from national food writers and plenty of praise from local diners. We'll have more details next week.

Also coming to downtown is a place called Public Bar, which is under construction at 63 E. Congress St., where motorcycle-shop Knucklehead Alley used to be.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/noshing-around/Content?category=1063774

[Locofresh55]

This Tucson Weekly columnist joins a growing chorus of voices, including Councilman Steve Kozachik and radio host John C. Scott, saying that the Marist College is beyond repair, even after the City Council recently voted to spend $1M to shore up the deteriorating three-story adobe building:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollegehistoricphoto-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollege2011-Tucson.jpg
The 1915 Marist College in its heyday; and again in 2011, with three corners badly damaged.
(photos: AZ Public Media, lasertrimman/Flickr)




Even though it's old and made of adobe, the Marist College building may not be worth saving
by Tom Danehy
Tucson Weekly
August 15, 2012

Knowing full well that it might get me permanently barred from the warm, fuzzy wing of the Liberal Club, I must say this about the Marist College building in downtown Tucson:

1. Not all old buildings are automatically historic.

2. Not all historic buildings are automatically deserving of preservation.

The place is a dump, and not all that attractive as dumps go. If a meteor were to hit it, it would do about $200,000 worth of improvements. And, oh yeah, people keep referring to it as "Arizona's only surviving three-story adobe." There's a reason for that—all of the other ones have fallen down already. In the past few weeks, the Tucson Weekly's Tim Vanderpool has done his usual masterful job of explaining the background and specifics of Tucson city government possibly coming to the rescue of the abandoned, crumbling building ("Marist Tempest," July 26, and "Marist Maneuvers," Aug. 9). The people behind the preservation and restoration effort have their reasons, and I don't doubt their sincerity in the matter. I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense.

I do not know everything (or anything, for that matter) about adobe, so I called Robert Barnes, the longtime owner of Old Pueblo Adobe. For quite a long time (until his land along Interstate 10 north of Cortaro Road was taken by eminent domain for freeway expansion), his company manufactured adobe bricks and assisted in the construction of adobe structures throughout Southern Arizona. He says the fact that Marist is a three-story building is more of an oddity than anything else. "The materials to make adobe are plentiful in this part of the world, and it's a good building material. The important thing is that there has always been lots and lots of open land. There was never any reason to build up. This isn't New York or London. In terms of labor and cost, it just never made any sense to build more than a one- or two-story structure."

Then there is the matter of architectural physics. Unlike the modern steel-and-glass structures that utilize cleverly designed truss and support systems to allow them to reach toward the sky, adobe buildings have certain limitations, structurally speaking. "Once you start getting up past a few stories," explains Barnes, "you have to make the bottom floor and the foundation extra-thick to bear the load of the higher floors. It just doesn't make sense. The extra adobe that goes into shoring up the base could be used to build another room in a house or another building altogether."

Further complicating the matter in the case of the Marist building is that, since its rebuilding would be part of a historic-preservation effort, any restoration would have to involve the use of original building materials. (In other words, you couldn't put a metal skeleton inside the building and then resurface the outside to make it look like it did 100 years ago.) Barnes, who is now semi-retired and owns a small cattle ranch outside of St. David, recommends a prudent approach. "When I was still in the adobe business, we bid on some of those proposed projects during the Rio Nuevo frenzy. They had architects who were coming up with things that simply don't exist and aren't possible. It was crazy. "I would recommend that before they go ahead with anything, they spend $25,000 on a detailed assessment of the building and get a solid understanding of the adobe-building code, which is pretty strict. It might save the city a lot of money in the long run."

I wasn't around during the 1960s when the city razed a downtown barrio in the name of urban renewal. When I was growing up around that time in Los Angeles, I heard all the stories of how the money-über-alles crowd had destroyed an entire long-standing Latino community just to put up Dodger Stadium. (On that subject, I recommend Ry Cooder's masterpiece album, Chavez Ravine.) The fact that an entire neighborhood was wiped away, and all we got out of it was the Tucson Convention Center, certainly should give decision-makers pause before they plunge ahead on future projects. But that history should not serve as an automatic and permanent stop sign for reasonable urban-renewal efforts, or as a carte-blanche excuse for preserving every building that managed to stand long enough to get sort-of old.

I occasionally attend Mass at Holy Family Church, about a mile north of downtown. Often at Mass, the reader will mention that there will be a second collection that day for St. Vincent de Paul or the bishop's appeal. I'm always happy to throw in a few bucks. They've never once held a second collection to keep the Marist College building standing; I'm pretty sure they know what would happen if they did. Through all the head-spinning talk of making the Marist building into a three-story restaurant or a boutique hotel comes the main question. The Catholic Church isn't willing to spend one penny on this project. Could it be that, for once, the business side of the church actually knows what it's doing?

So if the Marist building goes away, what should replace it?? Thoughts???

[Patrick S]

Here's some good news for the local job market. This seems like a small company that is expecting to grow modestly. Most important, these will be relatively high paying jobs.

Medical research firm to move headquarters to Tucson (http://azstarnet.com/business/local/medical-research-firm-to-move-headquarters-to-tucson/article_09d089c0-e7bb-11e1-a09b-0019bb2963f4.html)

Gabriela Rico, Arizona Daily Star

A medical research and technology firm announced this morning it is moving its headquarters to Tucson from Denver, Colo.

The firm, Accelr8 Technology Corporation, plans to fill 65 positions in the next three years. It is unclear how many of those jobs are transfers.

The company says it hopes to add as many as 300 jobs here as it grows. New positions will include engineers, scientists, sales and marketing, as well as finance and manufacturing.

Accelr8 develops detection systems for hospital-acquired infections.

[Patrick S]

Here's another article about that new biotech firm coming to Tucson (from InsideTucsonBusiness.com). This article has info about where they will be located - I was hoping the bioscience park @ the Bridges, but anywhere in Tucson is still a plus.

Biotech firm Accelr8 to move HQ to Tucson (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/biotech-firm-accelr-to-move-hq-to-tucson/article_1227cbf4-e7c2-11e1-9e83-0019bb2963f4.html)
Patrick McNamara

Accelr8 Technology Corporation, a publicly traded firm that develops instruments used for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, announced Thursday it is moving its corporate headquarters to Tucson from Denver.

The announcement made at the offices of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO) was touted by the economic development agency as the kind of firm that will make Tucson a leading hub in the biotech industry.

Accelr8 will build out wet labs and occupy about 15,000 square feet of space in the 180,000 square-foot, four-story Pima County Herbert K. Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road, near the University of Arizona Medical Center - South Campus (formerly Kino Hospital). The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve a lease next week and the company anticipates it can be operational by early next year.

Accelr8 plans to fill 65 positions over the first three years in Tucson with the potential to grow to more than 200 employees later.

Among the headquarters positions are engineers, scientists, sales and marketing, management, finance, quality control and regulatory and manufacturing.

The decision to move to Tucson came after what was described as a multi-state process.

“Accelr8 is developing a revolutionary product in the diagnostics area and we were impressed with the region’s emerging bioscience strength, innovation and support that can help ensure our future success,” Accelr8 President and CEO Lawrence Mehren said in a statement.

Mehren, who became president and CEO in June, formerly was head of global business at Roche Group’s Ventana Medical Systems where he been since 2007.

The company is in development on its BACcel rapid diagnostic system which it says is the first technology able to count and identify dangerous pathogens and their drug resistance expression within the same day of obtaining a patient specimen, rather than waiting two to three days under standard methods. The speed allows for a significant improvement in the treatment of the more than 1.7 million people in the U.S. who contract a hospital acquired infection each year.

Founded in 1982, Accelr8 trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AXK.

“This win shows that Tucson is poised to take off as a region that is attractive to bioscience companies,” said Stephen G. Eggen, chief financial officer for Raytheon Missile Systems and chairman of TREO’s board.

TREO President and CEO Joe Snell noted Accelr8’s arrival is a win for the region it brings the headquarters of a publicly-traded firm in one of the region’s targeted industries. “Accelr8 represents another building block as we emerge as a leading biotech hub,” Snell said in a statement.

[ppdd]

Biotech firm Accelr8 to move HQ to Tucson (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/biotech-firm-accelr-to-move-hq-to-tucson/article_1227cbf4-e7c2-11e1-9e83-0019bb2963f4.html)
Patrick McNamara


More information is in the news release here: http://treoaz.org/Accelr8-Technology-Corporation-Announces-Headquarter-Relocation-to-Tucson-Arizona.aspx

[Ted Lyons]

Two more restaurants opening on Congress St. will add to the expanding downtown dining scene:


Coming Soon to Downtown

The owners of restaurant 47 Scott, at 47 N. Scott Ave., and the adjoined cocktail-joint Scott and Co., at 49 N. Scott Ave., are opening another restaurant downtown. Travis Reese says he and Nicole Flowers will be opening their newest restaurant in a space at 256 E. Congress St., where Sharks used to be. Reese said he was still finalizing the name last week, but said it would likely be called Saint House. Both 47 Scott and Scott and Co. have been unequivocal successes, with nods from national food writers and plenty of praise from local diners. We'll have more details next week.

Also coming to downtown is a place called Public Bar, which is under construction at 63 E. Congress St., where motorcycle-shop Knucklehead Alley used to be.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/noshing-around/Content?category=1063774

The liquor license notice at Saint House listed the name as "Rhumbar." Given the fact that that's the name of several Caribbean-themed bars around the country, I'm glad they changed it.

Also, in re Public Bar, I've heard conflicting reports about who is behind it. One report I read said it was from the people who own Union Public House, which would make sense. But, I also heard it was from the people who own Zen Rock and Sapphire and that wouldn't be so awesome in light of how crappy their businesses look from the street. Regardless, I did hear that the latter group recently bought Vaudeville Cabaret and are putting a new bar in there. That would make more sense because it already has a hideous street presence.

In other downtown news, Adam Borowitz reported the other day about the restaurant at 50 E Broadway owned by Peach Properties. As had been reported before, the theme is well-done Mexican street food. The major update was that the guy who ran the cocktail program at Red Room and who currently runs the program at Wilko is consulting on the menu at this new place. Borowitz reported today about Scott Cummings's microbrewery just off 4th Avenue. The current name on the license is Corbett Brewing. I've heard Cummings hired an experienced homebrewer from Tombstone. We'll see how that goes, but the location is pretty cool no matter what. Finally, I heard a rumor yesterday that a bar/restaurant out of Old Town Scottsdale called El Hefe is looking to take over the old Skrappy's building behind the Rialto block. The existing El Hefe looks like it's run well and would definitely appeal to the influx of college students moving in next door next year.

In non-downtown news, Sam Hughes Championship Dining is undergoing a renovation into a gastropub concept called Social House. The same ownership group will own it going forward. Further up Campbell, a Japanese fusion place called Umi Star is taking over the spot that used to be Cartel Coffee. Their pictures on Facebook make the space look pretty nice and the food is something we've been missing in Tucson based on the plates they've shown so far. Even further up Campbell, a place called Tapas Fusion took over the empty Elle space. I haven't heard much else about that and they don't seem to have an online presence yet.

[Ted Lyons]

This Tucson Weekly columnist joins a growing chorus of voices, including Councilman Steve Kozachik and radio host John C. Scott, saying that the Marist College is beyond repair, even after the City Council recently voted to spend $1M to shore up the deteriorating three-story adobe building:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollegehistoricphoto-Tucson.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/MaristCollege2011-Tucson.jpg
The 1915 Marist College in its heyday; and again in 2011, with three corners badly damaged.
(photos: AZ Public Media, lasertrimman/Flickr)


Even though it's old and made of adobe, the Marist College building may not be worth saving
by Tom Danehy
Tucson Weekly
August 15, 2012

Knowing full well that it might get me permanently barred from the warm, fuzzy wing of the Liberal Club, I must say this about the Marist College building in downtown Tucson:

1. Not all old buildings are automatically historic.

2. Not all historic buildings are automatically deserving of preservation.

The place is a dump, and not all that attractive as dumps go. If a meteor were to hit it, it would do about $200,000 worth of improvements. And, oh yeah, people keep referring to it as "Arizona's only surviving three-story adobe." There's a reason for that—all of the other ones have fallen down already. In the past few weeks, the Tucson Weekly's Tim Vanderpool has done his usual masterful job of explaining the background and specifics of Tucson city government possibly coming to the rescue of the abandoned, crumbling building ("Marist Tempest," July 26, and "Marist Maneuvers," Aug. 9). The people behind the preservation and restoration effort have their reasons, and I don't doubt their sincerity in the matter. I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense.

I do not know everything (or anything, for that matter) about adobe, so I called Robert Barnes, the longtime owner of Old Pueblo Adobe. For quite a long time (until his land along Interstate 10 north of Cortaro Road was taken by eminent domain for freeway expansion), his company manufactured adobe bricks and assisted in the construction of adobe structures throughout Southern Arizona. He says the fact that Marist is a three-story building is more of an oddity than anything else. "The materials to make adobe are plentiful in this part of the world, and it's a good building material. The important thing is that there has always been lots and lots of open land. There was never any reason to build up. This isn't New York or London. In terms of labor and cost, it just never made any sense to build more than a one- or two-story structure."

Then there is the matter of architectural physics. Unlike the modern steel-and-glass structures that utilize cleverly designed truss and support systems to allow them to reach toward the sky, adobe buildings have certain limitations, structurally speaking. "Once you start getting up past a few stories," explains Barnes, "you have to make the bottom floor and the foundation extra-thick to bear the load of the higher floors. It just doesn't make sense. The extra adobe that goes into shoring up the base could be used to build another room in a house or another building altogether."

Further complicating the matter in the case of the Marist building is that, since its rebuilding would be part of a historic-preservation effort, any restoration would have to involve the use of original building materials. (In other words, you couldn't put a metal skeleton inside the building and then resurface the outside to make it look like it did 100 years ago.) Barnes, who is now semi-retired and owns a small cattle ranch outside of St. David, recommends a prudent approach. "When I was still in the adobe business, we bid on some of those proposed projects during the Rio Nuevo frenzy. They had architects who were coming up with things that simply don't exist and aren't possible. It was crazy. "I would recommend that before they go ahead with anything, they spend $25,000 on a detailed assessment of the building and get a solid understanding of the adobe-building code, which is pretty strict. It might save the city a lot of money in the long run."

I wasn't around during the 1960s when the city razed a downtown barrio in the name of urban renewal. When I was growing up around that time in Los Angeles, I heard all the stories of how the money-über-alles crowd had destroyed an entire long-standing Latino community just to put up Dodger Stadium. (On that subject, I recommend Ry Cooder's masterpiece album, Chavez Ravine.) The fact that an entire neighborhood was wiped away, and all we got out of it was the Tucson Convention Center, certainly should give decision-makers pause before they plunge ahead on future projects. But that history should not serve as an automatic and permanent stop sign for reasonable urban-renewal efforts, or as a carte-blanche excuse for preserving every building that managed to stand long enough to get sort-of old.

I occasionally attend Mass at Holy Family Church, about a mile north of downtown. Often at Mass, the reader will mention that there will be a second collection that day for St. Vincent de Paul or the bishop's appeal. I'm always happy to throw in a few bucks. They've never once held a second collection to keep the Marist College building standing; I'm pretty sure they know what would happen if they did. Through all the head-spinning talk of making the Marist building into a three-story restaurant or a boutique hotel comes the main question. The Catholic Church isn't willing to spend one penny on this project. Could it be that, for once, the business side of the church actually knows what it's doing?

TL;DR The author doesn't value the building's history, so he doesn't think it should be saved. That's akin to saying, "I don't like brutalist designs, so every building built in that style should be torn down."

[kaneui]

So if the Marist building goes away, what should replace it?? Thoughts???

If they're not able to save it, I'd say the whole west side of that block should be used for another multi-story, mixed-use project--similar to what is planned for One East Broadway, but with architecture that blends in with the cathedral and other historic structures on the block. With the main entrance facing the TCC, put the Convention & Visitor's Bureau on the ground floor, and maybe a cafe or two, and residential on the upper floors--i.e., more density, eliminating another surface parking lot downtown.

[Patrick S]

El Con Walmart to start construction as appeal deadline passes (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/el-con-walmart-to-start-construction-as-appeal-deadline-passes/article_9565e5f6-e7cb-11e1-84a9-0019bb2963f4.html)

Roger Yohem

Absent any new legal action, neighborhood opposition to a new Walmart Supercenter at El Con Mall likely has ended, clearing the way for construction to begin. There was no legal appeal filed by the Aug. 6 deadline to contest a Pima County Superior Court ruling that allows for construction to go forward.

The El Encanto Estates Neighborhood Association had sought to invalidate a 2000 development agreement between the City of Tucson and the mall’s owners. The July court ruling upheld the mall’s protected development rights and affirmed the Walmart proposal conforms to the city’s zoning regulations.

“We expect to begin construction in the fall once the necessary site work is complete. Grand opening is now projected for late 2013,” said Delia Garcia, media director for Wal-Mart. “We are excited to be part of the continued revitalization of El Con Mall and to offer midtown residents a convenient option for affordable groceries, general merchandise, and pharmacy services.”

The new store is to be built at the west end of the mall, 3601 E. Broadway, replacing a store built in the 1960s, originally as a Levy’s department store. It had been vacant since its last occupant, Macy’s, closed it in 2008.

[Patrick S]

Another new club/restaurant moving in downtown.

New lounge in works downtown (http://azstarnet.com/business/local/new-lounge-in-works-downtown/article_0f6aa554-3c78-53a6-abd1-a44c5dec66d0.html)

Veronica M. Cruz Arizona Daily Star

A new downtown lounge with a focus on local jazz and blues and "life-changing" fries is in the works for the space that formerly housed Vaudeville Cabaret on East Congress Street.

The new club, Voodoo Jack's, is expected to open in the space at 110 E. Congress St. by the end of September, said John Jacobs, a partner in the group Congress Street Clubs, which is also behind Zen Rock and Sapphire Lounge.

Muralist Joe Pagac, known for his works outside the Rialto Theatre and Bookmans, is working on art and decor for the new lounge, Jacobs said.
The club will also feature live music Wednesdays through Saturdays with KXCI helping with the lineups, Jacobs said.

"We partnered with KXCI to identify the ... local music that would be in demand," Jacobs said.

Light fare including goose fat French fries that Jacobs calls "life changing" will be served at the club.

The group has plans to eventually expand into the space next door that used to be Grill and Red Room and possibly open a restaurant or a different bar, Jacobs said.

[Ted Lyons]

Another new club/restaurant moving in downtown.

New lounge in works downtown (http://azstarnet.com/business/local/new-lounge-in-works-downtown/article_0f6aa554-3c78-53a6-abd1-a44c5dec66d0.html)

Veronica M. Cruz Arizona Daily Star

A new downtown lounge with a focus on local jazz and blues and "life-changing" fries is in the works for the space that formerly housed Vaudeville Cabaret on East Congress Street.

The new club, Voodoo Jack's, is expected to open in the space at 110 E. Congress St. by the end of September, said John Jacobs, a partner in the group Congress Street Clubs, which is also behind Zen Rock and Sapphire Lounge.

Muralist Joe Pagac, known for his works outside the Rialto Theatre and Bookmans, is working on art and decor for the new lounge, Jacobs said.
The club will also feature live music Wednesdays through Saturdays with KXCI helping with the lineups, Jacobs said.

"We partnered with KXCI to identify the ... local music that would be in demand," Jacobs said.

Light fare including goose fat French fries that Jacobs calls "life changing" will be served at the club.

The group has plans to eventually expand into the space next door that used to be Grill and Red Room and possibly open a restaurant or a different bar, Jacobs said.

I know I trashed them a few posts back but this is actually a good concept aside from the name. Pagac's and KXCI's involvement are critical to my opinion change. Let's just hope the outward graphics work doesn't use cornball Word fonts and that they actually paint the facade.

[Thirsty]

The Catholic Church isn't willing to spend one penny on this project. Could it be that, for once, the business side of the church actually knows what it's doing?

There is a big problem with that logic. The church needs to have a penny to spend a penny.

A family member who worked for them (before the housing crash) tells me they didn't have the money to keep pace with suburban growth; as in they can't build enought churches to serve the increasingly distant population centers, and the Marist College was put on hold.

Also they seemed to have been pretty insistent on finding a restoration minded owner. So much so that they gave it away.

Afterall, razing the building and selling the property would have helped with their financial woes.

[kaneui]

The official name of the student housing complex under construction at 1020 Tyndall is "Level"--a rather unusual choice for a 14-story tower:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/LevelconstructionAugust2012-Tucson.jpg
construction progress - August, 2012
(photo: Kyle Wasson)


Student housing on the rise throughout Tucson
By STEPHANIE CASANOVA
DailyWildcat.com
August 20, 2012

A 14-story private student housing complex, which will house over 500 students on the corner of Tyndall Avenue and First Street next fall, has brought about more construction to campus and the rearrangement of a long-standing local business, and plans to build more are already underway. Despite some opposition from the surrounding neighborhood, a zoning overlay approved by Tucson’s mayor and council allowed the Chicago-based Campus Acquisitions to start building the housing complex, called “Level,” in May. Construction for the $25 million project is in full swing and should be open by August 2013.

Posner’s Art Store had been at the same location at 1025 North Park Avenue for almost forty years. The store relocated this summer after their landlord sold the property to the Cmapus Acquisitions. While she was initially uneasy about having to relocate, Emily Brown, the store’s owner, said University Boulevard might be a better location for their store. “It looks like an art store,” Brown said. “I really like the look … I think this has much more of the feel of an older business.” Surrounding merchants are also excited to have the art store as it is a destination for many art students, Brown added. Brown also said Campus Acquisitions and the Marshall Foundation, who owns the property Posner’s moved into, have been helpful through the transition. Campus Acquisitions gave the store owners plenty of time to move and kept the back alley clear to make the transition easier. “I think we will bring a lot of business to this area,” Brown said. “I think there’ll be a lot more foot traffic because our business is probably 96 percent students.”

Zakari Tuttle, assistant manager at Josie’s Yogurt located next to the future housing complex said the tower is unnecessary. “It’s another superstructure that we’re not going to use,” Tuttle said. “It’s going to end up sitting half empty.” While he dislikes the view and noise he has to deal with during construction, Tuttle said he does believe the frozen yogurt shop will gain more business from the students who will be living a parking lot away from Josie’s, he said.

Campus Acquisitions, who will have a leasing office on University Boulevard, conducted interviews with hundreds of UA students which helped the developers decide what amenities would be included in the project. A rooftop deck will include a pool, hot tub and grills as well as outdoor yoga, Erin C. Kasper, Campus Acquisitions leasing and marketing director said in an email. Level will also have a business center on its second floor where students can study individually or in groups, Kasper added. The development is one of four private student-housing complexes currently under construction in central Tucson. Many of these projects are being built along the modern streetcar line or a short walking distance from it. Level will be a street away from the streetcar line and Campus Acquisitions is highly supportive of a transit-friendly lifestyle. “We’re thrilled to be a part of the city’s vision and goals for bringing a more transit-friendly lifestyle to residents,” Kasper added. “Level’s location gives students the option to go car-less – something unheard of until now.”

The Retreat, a housing community on Park Avenue and 22nd Street is currently under construction. Another housing option for students next fall will be the Junction, a smaller complex on Ninth Street and Third Avenue. Plaza Centro will have two student-housing buildings in downtown by June 2013 as well. Capstone Development Partners and Jim Campbell, president of Oasis Tucson, have been working together to build a student-housing development called Cadence above 20 thousand square feet of retail east of the Rialto Theatre. An additional three stories of student housing will be built on top of the Parking Garage at Plaza Centro. “Basically you want the retail to make money. You want the student housing to be full,” Campbell said. “And we want the city to be able to collect taxes.”

The $33 million project will begin to go vertical this week, Campbell added. Cadence will be open to students in time for the 2013-2014 school year with 465 beds and amenities such as a swimming pool and a theatre. Capstone Development Partners and Campbell reached an agreement with the city allowing them to hold 190 parking spaces in the garage for Cadence residents. Cadence signed an affiliation contract with the UA allowing the housing complex to use the UA for advertising purposes. While the UA didn’t invest any money into the downtown project, they will add the housing complex to their list of available housing for students, according to Campbell. “We will in essence be treated like we were an on-campus dorm,” Campbell said. “It’s more of a marketing agreement than anything else.”


http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2012/08/student-housing-on-the-rise-throughout-tucson

[Patrick S]

The official name of the student housing complex under construction at 1020 Tyndall is "Level"--a rather unusual choice for a 14-story tower:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/LevelconstructionAugust2012-Tucson.jpg
construction progress - August, 2012
(photo: Kyle Wasson)


Student housing on the rise throughout Tucson
By STEPHANIE CASANOVA
DailyWildcat.com
August 20, 2012

A 14-story private student housing complex, which will house over 500 students on the corner of Tyndall Avenue and First Street next fall, has brought about more construction to campus and the rearrangement of a long-standing local business, and plans to build more are already underway. Despite some opposition from the surrounding neighborhood, a zoning overlay approved by Tucson’s mayor and council allowed the Chicago-based Campus Acquisitions to start building the housing complex, called “Level,” in May. Construction for the $25 million project is in full swing and should be open by August 2013.

Posner’s Art Store had been at the same location at 1025 North Park Avenue for almost forty years. The store relocated this summer after their landlord sold the property to the Cmapus Acquisitions. While she was initially uneasy about having to relocate, Emily Brown, the store’s owner, said University Boulevard might be a better location for their store. “It looks like an art store,” Brown said. “I really like the look … I think this has much more of the feel of an older business.” Surrounding merchants are also excited to have the art store as it is a destination for many art students, Brown added. Brown also said Campus Acquisitions and the Marshall Foundation, who owns the property Posner’s moved into, have been helpful through the transition. Campus Acquisitions gave the store owners plenty of time to move and kept the back alley clear to make the transition easier. “I think we will bring a lot of business to this area,” Brown said. “I think there’ll be a lot more foot traffic because our business is probably 96 percent students.”

Zakari Tuttle, assistant manager at Josie’s Yogurt located next to the future housing complex said the tower is unnecessary. “It’s another superstructure that we’re not going to use,” Tuttle said. “It’s going to end up sitting half empty.” While he dislikes the view and noise he has to deal with during construction, Tuttle said he does believe the frozen yogurt shop will gain more business from the students who will be living a parking lot away from Josie’s, he said.

Campus Acquisitions, who will have a leasing office on University Boulevard, conducted interviews with hundreds of UA students which helped the developers decide what amenities would be included in the project. A rooftop deck will include a pool, hot tub and grills as well as outdoor yoga, Erin C. Kasper, Campus Acquisitions leasing and marketing director said in an email. Level will also have a business center on its second floor where students can study individually or in groups, Kasper added. The development is one of four private student-housing complexes currently under construction in central Tucson. Many of these projects are being built along the modern streetcar line or a short walking distance from it. Level will be a street away from the streetcar line and Campus Acquisitions is highly supportive of a transit-friendly lifestyle. “We’re thrilled to be a part of the city’s vision and goals for bringing a more transit-friendly lifestyle to residents,” Kasper added. “Level’s location gives students the option to go car-less – something unheard of until now.”

The Retreat, a housing community on Park Avenue and 22nd Street is currently under construction. Another housing option for students next fall will be the Junction, a smaller complex on Ninth Street and Third Avenue. Plaza Centro will have two student-housing buildings in downtown by June 2013 as well. Capstone Development Partners and Jim Campbell, president of Oasis Tucson, have been working together to build a student-housing development called Cadence above 20 thousand square feet of retail east of the Rialto Theatre. An additional three stories of student housing will be built on top of the Parking Garage at Plaza Centro. “Basically you want the retail to make money. You want the student housing to be full,” Campbell said. “And we want the city to be able to collect taxes.”

The $33 million project will begin to go vertical this week, Campbell added. Cadence will be open to students in time for the 2013-2014 school year with 465 beds and amenities such as a swimming pool and a theatre. Capstone Development Partners and Campbell reached an agreement with the city allowing them to hold 190 parking spaces in the garage for Cadence residents. Cadence signed an affiliation contract with the UA allowing the housing complex to use the UA for advertising purposes. While the UA didn’t invest any money into the downtown project, they will add the housing complex to their list of available housing for students, according to Campbell. “We will in essence be treated like we were an on-campus dorm,” Campbell said. “It’s more of a marketing agreement than anything else.”


http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2012/08/student-housing-on-the-rise-throughout-tucson
I went to campus to buy books Friday and I had to run over to the bursar office too - so I walked over by the tower. The structure in the picture is the elevator shaft. I also drove downtown and there was metal rebar sticking out of the ground at the Cadence project (I noticed the article says they are going to 'go vertical' this week). The new courthouse looks like its about ready to go above ground too. I also saw the District on 5th St. across the tracks from where I was on Toole Ave. - I wasn't up close, but it looked pretty nice.

[Patrick S]

Area next to state park targeted for mega-project

CRITICS CALL PROPOSAL FOR HOMES, CONDOS IN NATURAL ZONE A BAD FIT

Tony Davis Arizona Daily Star

East of where Tangerine Road dead-ends at Oracle Road, a series of rolling ridges are crowded with mesquite, prickly pear and palo verde.

High above that lies a collection of sheer, twisting, gnarly rock knobs and notches on the Catalina Mountains' Pusch Ridge.

The land, which borders Catalina State Park on three sides, is so scenic and biologically rich that Oro Valley wanted to buy it as open space a few years back, but a deal was never inked. Twenty-two years ago, environmentalists successfully fought an effort to build a shopping center there.

But if a Scottsdale developer's quest is successful, some of the lower-lying ground will become home to the Tucson area's first major desert development in years, with up to 520 upscale homes, condominiums and apartments, plus stores and offices on 108 acres. An official for developer SunChase Holdings Inc., Eric Bose, pledges a "high-quality project" that will be tastefully carried out in harmony with its surroundings.

The time is right for the project because Oro Valley has enough people to make it viable, developers say. The Oro Valley Marketplace shopping center and Oro Valley Hospital are both close by, as is a 535-acre Innovation Park that houses several major employers - all of which justifies the need for more homes nearby, developers say.

But Gayle Hartmann, an environmentalist who led a successful referendum drive that torpedoed a planned shopping center near Catalina State Park in 1990, said last week that she still believes developing the site would be a tragedy.

"I don't care if it's upscale or downscale development,'' said Hartmann. "It's beautiful land and the people of Oro Valley would be better served by adding it to Catalina State Park."

Here's a link to the whole article: http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/area-next-to-state-park-targeted-for-mega-project/article_f1985fa3-e316-5a32-b0b5-cb111320571c.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tram could go from Oro Valley to Mount Lemmon

ORO VALLEY CONSIDERING AERIAL LIFT AS PART OF BIG DEVELOPMENT AT BASE

Tony Davis Arizona Daily Star

A tram from metro Tucson to Mount Lemmon, an on-again, off-again idea for years with various local governments, is on again - sort of - in Oro Valley.

Town officials say a tram would create a vibrant new tourist destination and improve access to the mountain from west of the Catalina Mountains.

They have asked representatives of a proposed development just west of the Catalinas to set aside part of the site to be used as a launching pad for the tram. They have also discussed the tram idea with four University of Arizona and Biosphere 2 officials - and won their enthusiasm for the idea as a way to promote "geotourism," or tourism that makes use of the region's natural, scenic assets.

For now, the tram remains "in the conceptual stage," Town Manager Greg Caton said. Holding back plans are the same two issues that have sunk the ambitious idea before: cost and controversy.

The town has no money or firm cost projection for the project right now. A $50 million estimate "may be on the low end," Caton said.

Here's a link to the whole article: http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/tram-could-go-from-oro-valley-to-mount-lemmon/article_741c2a7f-1cbb-57c6-ad36-78604ec66521.html
---------------------------------------------------
The part I put in bold in the 2nd article, I assume is referring to the project from the 1st article.

[Anqrew]

the sloppiness of the streetcar project is starting to bug me. has anyone else noticed how badly the asphalt looks where it meets the tracks, its all smeared over and not smooth.. tire prints dragging asphalt over the tracks, is this the finished product? will it be fixed later?

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546490_478028252216692_1988560966_n.jpg

[clintjreed]

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/azstarnet.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/10/3104ec99-36fb-58e2-89ac-376c9062ca1e/503477ba4e1f0.preview-620.jpg

"A planned nearly $18 million high-rise residential and commercial project - billed as the first of its kind in downtown - is also on track to become the first beneficiary of a new city tax incentive aimed at spurring development.

Art Wadlund and Rob Caylor, partners in One East LLC, are hoping to capitalize on the upcoming streetcar line.

The two are planning a building called One East Broadway - a mixed-use commercial office, residential and retail complex at 1 E. Broadway, on what is now a parking lot adjacent to the Chase Bank building, and right on the future streetcar line."

[clintjreed]

"A pair of Golder Ranch firefighters hope to begin brewing beer this fall at the former Farmer John meatpacking plant.

Matt Gordon and Jeremy Hilderbrand plan to go before the Tucson City Council next month to try to secure a recommendation for a liquor license that would let them launch their Sentinel Peak Brewing Co. at the former Farmer John’s site at 1102 W. Grant Road near Interstate 10.

That’s where Gordon and four other partners already operate The Slaughter House, a nonprofit haunted house that will be open Thursdays through Sundays during October.

Earlier this year, The Slaughter House partners —Gordon, Bobby Sutton, John Benedict, Joe Benedict and Robert Hudson — created an outdoor amphitheater on the property that can hold as many as 5,000 concert-goers. There have already been a few concerts, and Sutton said they plan to book several a year.

Gordon said Sentinel Peak, which he describes as a nano-brewery, will be a separate venture from The Slaughter House. He and Hilderbrand plan to set up the brewing operation in a space behind Club Carnage. The pair plan to sell its beer to small restaurants around town and to The Slaughter House’s crowd during concerts and special events. The Slaughter House obtains a temporary liquor license for those events, Sutton said.

“There’s a market in Tucson for craft brewing companies,” Hilderbrand said. “Quite frankly, we’re not making huge amounts. We’ll be making up to 90 gallons at a time. We’re going to keep it real small. We’re not going to quit our day jobs. For us, at the end of our firefighter career, hopefully it will be something that we can slip into.”

http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/blogs/caliente-tuned-in/nano-brewery-to-open-at-former-tucson-meatpacking-plant/article_6ca4b63e-ebb7-11e1-b575-0019bb2963f4.html

[kaneui]

Some of the new establishments being added to downtown's dining and club scene:

Fall, 2012

Thunder Canyon Brewery, 210 E. Broadway
- first expansion of the popular Foothills Mall brewpub with bistro fare.


Lulu's Shake Shoppe, 270 E. Congress (serving from a window in the alley)
- opening Oct. 15, a hot dogs, frites, and shakes snack bar from Kade Mislinski, owner of HUB Restaurant and Playground Lounge.


Voodoo Jack's, 110 E. Congress (former Vaudeville Cabaret)
- jazz & blues club, and "life-changing" fries from John Jacobs.


Un-named Mexican restaurant, 50 E. Broadway (historic 1915 building)
- Patricia Schwabe promises cocktails and "flavors from Mexico not yet represented in Tucson."


Winter, 2012-13

Saint House, 256 E. Congress (former Shark's Lounge)
- Caribbean-themed food from the owners of 47 Scott and Scott & Co.


Un-named microbrewery, 417 N. Herbert Ave. (w. of 4th Ave.)
- from Scott Cummings and Corbett Brewing Co.


Public Bar, 63 E. Congress (former Knucklehead Alley motorcycle shop)
- new club from the owners of Zen Rock and Sapphire.

[Anqrew]

the Rialto and Hub Block is really coming together nicely! are there any other spaces left to be filled? just the spot in between HUB and Playground?

[Patrick S]

American Tire Distributors Inc. to open facility here (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/american-tire-distributors-inc-to-open-facility-here/article_bcfdd782-ebd0-11e1-841a-001a4bcf887a.html)

North Carolina-based American Tire Distributors Inc. plans to build a 125,000-square-foot distribution center on Tucson's south side.

According to Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, American Tire Distributors purchased a property at the southwest corner of Valencia Road and Alvernon Way where construction has already begun on the new facility.

TREO also noted that the capital investment in the land, equipment and building is estimated to be $19.5 million.

[Ted Lyons]

Some of the new establishments being added to downtown's dining and club scene:

Fall, 2012

Thunder Canyon Brewery, 210 E. Broadway
- first expansion of the popular Foothills Mall brewpub with bistro fare.


Lulu's Shake Shoppe, 270 E. Congress (serving from a window in the alley)
- opening Oct. 15, a hot dogs, frites, and shakes snack bar from Kade Mislinski, owner of HUB Restaurant and Playground Lounge.


Voodoo Jack's, 110 E. Congress (former Vaudeville Cabaret)
- jazz & blues club, and "life-changing" fries from John Jacobs.


Un-named Mexican restaurant, 50 E. Broadway (historic 1915 building)
- Patricia Schwabe promises cocktails and "flavors from Mexico not yet represented in Tucson."


Winter, 2012-13

Saint House, 256 E. Congress (former Shark's Lounge)
- Caribbean-themed food from the owners of 47 Scott and Scott & Co.


Un-named microbrewery, 417 N. Herbert Ave. (w. of 4th Ave.)
- from Scott Cummings and Corbett Brewing Co.


Public Bar, 63 E. Congress (former Knucklehead Alley motorcycle shop)
- new club from the owners of Zen Rock and Sapphire.

Do we know for sure that Congress Street Clubs is behind Public Bar? They're definitely developing Voodoo Jack's but I don't think anyone knows for sure who is doing Public Bar.

[kaneui]

Do we know for sure that Congress Street Clubs is behind Public Bar? They're definitely developing Voodoo Jack's but I don't think anyone knows for sure who is doing Public Bar.

It may be someone other than Luke Cusack, but I based my entry on your prior post and this note from the Tucson Weekly:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2012/07/20/a-new-bar-is-opening-where-knucklehead-alley-used-to-be

[Ted Lyons]

It may be someone other than Luke Cusack, but I based my entry on your prior post and this note from the Tucson Weekly:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2012/07/20/a-new-bar-is-opening-where-knucklehead-alley-used-to-be

Yeah. I just did some internet stalking and the name on the liquor license application is a guy connected with Zen Rock and Sapphire. I can only hope it's a joint venture.

[atbg8654]

the sloppiness of the streetcar project is starting to bug me. has anyone else noticed how badly the asphalt looks where it meets the tracks, its all smeared over and not smooth.. tire prints dragging asphalt over the tracks, is this the finished product? will it be fixed later?


I was a PM for a asphalt construction company. It looks like the pic is showing the binder layer (base layer) that goes below the surface layer (top layer). You can tell they were rushed doing it-- Im guessing because of UA classes starting. But, nevertheless, it's very sloppy work even if it is going to be surfaced-- you should never smear asphalt on finished concrete because its not going to come off easily.

Ill be down there this weekend, so Ill get a better look at it.

[Patrick S]

I was a PM for a asphalt construction company. It looks like the pic is showing the binder layer (base layer) that goes below the surface layer (top layer). You can tell they were rushed doing it-- Im guessing because of UA classes starting. But, nevertheless, it's very sloppy work even if it is going to be surfaced-- you should never smear asphalt on finished concrete because its not going to come off easily.

Ill be down there this weekend, so Ill get a better look at it.
This may not even be the worst of the problems for the construction of the Modern Streetcar right now.

Broadway to open temporarily; info on buried utilities was bad (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/broadway-to-open-temporarily-info-on-buried-utilities-was-bad/article_94d08b69-e93e-57ba-bde2-076360270881.html)

Darren DaRonco Arizona Daily Star

After nearly three weeks of a disruptive shutdown of Broadway through downtown for streetcar construction, the boulevard is reopening today.

But drivers shouldn't interpret that to mean the inconvenience is over. This is just a reprieve. In a few weeks - city officials aren't sure how many - the barricades will be back up.

It turns out the city's schematics for where underground utilities were located were wrong, which means none of what was designed for the new sewer and water lines fits.

So now the city is filling the hole back in, repaving and heading back to the drawing board to re-design the whole thing.

Streetcar project manager Jesse Gutierrez said that when workers dug the hole, they realized there were too many conflicts with other utility lines for them to maneuver the new pipes around.

"When we got down there, we started finding real old stuff, stuff that wasn't marked or identified on any kind of as-built plan," Gutierrez said. "Basically, private utilities in the past have gone and put in their own ductwork, electric lines and communication lines … and there was no really clear path to go through."

Crews have encountered similar problems throughout the streetcar line but have been able to work around them.

Gutierrez said the way the utility lines were positioned under the stretch of road on Broadway between Church and Stone avenues was the worst section they've seen so far and requires a new approach.

As for why the city's designs were so far off, he said it's because the city didn't start keeping detailed records of where new utility lines went in until about 15 years ago.

And the records the city did keep were often vague and irrelevant.

"We do have information from 30 or 40 years ago, but it says things like the line was placed 10 feet from the curb. Well, that curb has been replaced five times since then," he said. "Yes there is information, but the way we tracked it in the past was not as detailed as we have now. … We have a great system now, but we have to work through what was put in many, many years ago."

Since the city has to realign and regrade both the water and sewer lines, obtain the proper permits and run the plans past Tucson Water and Pima County Wastewater Management before proceeding, Gutierrez expects the redesign to take several weeks to complete.

And that's too long to keep Broadway closed, he said.

"Rather than have the road closed with us just sitting there twiddling our thumbs," Gutierrez said, "we are going to open the road to traffic, minimize the impact to pedestrians and vehicles, and regroup and come back with a better plan."

Once the new plans are in place, the road will be dug up again as they start all over.

Gutierrez said when work resumes, the city hopes to perform the job without shutting Broadway completely down and rerouting traffic.

"Considering everything we did find, it might be very difficult to do it without a full closure, but we are going to try," he said.

Gutierrez said he doesn't know how much the problem will cost to fix, but he said it will be a nominal amount, and the delay won't affect the completion of the streetcar line.

The city planned to repave the road Wednesday, but its efforts were thwarted by rain. Gutierrez said crews will be out early this morning paving the road, and it should be open later in the day.

[Ted Lyons]

This may not even be the worst of the problems for the construction of the Modern Streetcar right now.

Broadway to open temporarily; info on buried utilities was bad (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/broadway-to-open-temporarily-info-on-buried-utilities-was-bad/article_94d08b69-e93e-57ba-bde2-076360270881.html)

Darren DaRonco Arizona Daily Star

After nearly three weeks of a disruptive shutdown of Broadway through downtown for streetcar construction, the boulevard is reopening today.

But drivers shouldn't interpret that to mean the inconvenience is over. This is just a reprieve. In a few weeks - city officials aren't sure how many - the barricades will be back up.

It turns out the city's schematics for where underground utilities were located were wrong, which means none of what was designed for the new sewer and water lines fits.

So now the city is filling the hole back in, repaving and heading back to the drawing board to re-design the whole thing.

Streetcar project manager Jesse Gutierrez said that when workers dug the hole, they realized there were too many conflicts with other utility lines for them to maneuver the new pipes around.

"When we got down there, we started finding real old stuff, stuff that wasn't marked or identified on any kind of as-built plan," Gutierrez said. "Basically, private utilities in the past have gone and put in their own ductwork, electric lines and communication lines … and there was no really clear path to go through."

Crews have encountered similar problems throughout the streetcar line but have been able to work around them.

Gutierrez said the way the utility lines were positioned under the stretch of road on Broadway between Church and Stone avenues was the worst section they've seen so far and requires a new approach.

As for why the city's designs were so far off, he said it's because the city didn't start keeping detailed records of where new utility lines went in until about 15 years ago.

And the records the city did keep were often vague and irrelevant.

"We do have information from 30 or 40 years ago, but it says things like the line was placed 10 feet from the curb. Well, that curb has been replaced five times since then," he said. "Yes there is information, but the way we tracked it in the past was not as detailed as we have now. … We have a great system now, but we have to work through what was put in many, many years ago."

Since the city has to realign and regrade both the water and sewer lines, obtain the proper permits and run the plans past Tucson Water and Pima County Wastewater Management before proceeding, Gutierrez expects the redesign to take several weeks to complete.

And that's too long to keep Broadway closed, he said.

"Rather than have the road closed with us just sitting there twiddling our thumbs," Gutierrez said, "we are going to open the road to traffic, minimize the impact to pedestrians and vehicles, and regroup and come back with a better plan."

Once the new plans are in place, the road will be dug up again as they start all over.

Gutierrez said when work resumes, the city hopes to perform the job without shutting Broadway completely down and rerouting traffic.

"Considering everything we did find, it might be very difficult to do it without a full closure, but we are going to try," he said.

Gutierrez said he doesn't know how much the problem will cost to fix, but he said it will be a nominal amount, and the delay won't affect the completion of the streetcar line.

The city planned to repave the road Wednesday, but its efforts were thwarted by rain. Gutierrez said crews will be out early this morning paving the road, and it should be open later in the day.

I'm pretty sure the same thing happened on the closed portion of Congress a few months back.

[kaneui]

Having started construction in 2001, this 1M+ s.f. power center has just seven development-ready plats remaining:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/kaneui/Tucson-Spectrum.jpg
Tucson Spectrum at I-19 and Irvington
(photo: Phoenix Business Journal)


Tucson Spectrum shopping center sells for $125 million
by Kristena Hansen
Phoenix Business Journal
August 22, 2012

Ohio-based real estate investment trust DDR Corp. (NYSE: DDR) closed a $125.4 million-deal on Wednesday to acquire Tucson Spectrum, one of the largest open-air power centers in the Western U.S., according to the Phoenix office of Lee & Associates, which represented the seller. An affiliate of Phoenix-based Barclay Group and Canada-based Creswin Properties Inc., both private commercial real estate companies, were the sellers of the two-phase project.

The acquisition includes more than 1 million square feet of retail space -- anchored by multiple national brands such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, LA Fitness and PetSmart -- sprawled across a 122-acre property near Irvington Road and Interstate 19. The project is roughly 94 percent leased and also includes seven development-ready plats, one of which is already under construction for an Old Navy location. DDR is already in discussions with other retailers for the remaining sites, said Jan Fincham, a principal with Lee & Associates who helped broker the deal along with Patrick Dempsey. Fincham said Tucson Spectrum is “very dynamic,” and has tremendous spending power because it’s the largest property of its kind that serves three surrounding regions: Tucson, southern Arizona and northern Mexico.


For full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/08/22/tucson-spectrum-shopping-center-sells.html

[Vicelord John]

I'm in Tucson for the weekend. Wow has downtown changed. It really feels like a downtown and we ate at a cool pizza place called Reilly's.

[Ted Lyons]

I'm in Tucson for the weekend. Wow has downtown changed. It really feels like a downtown and we ate at a cool pizza place called Reilly's.

Reilly is solid, especially for being so new. The interior is really excellent and they're supposed to be expanding outdoors in the next few months with a beer garden. That Scott/Pennington intersection is really coming along.

[Patrick S]

Restaurant Depot to cater to independent eateries (http://azstarnet.com/business/local/restaurant-depot-to-cater-to-independent-eateries/article_45400e8a-883b-528e-aa76-96480f838b41.html)

Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star

From waiters' uniforms to Chilean sea bass, independent restaurant owners will soon be able to shop for all of their eateries' needs at a Tucson warehouse.

Construction is under way on Restaurant Depot, a wholesale cash-and-carry supplier headquartered in College Point, N.Y.

The 55,000-square-foot warehouse is being built along the frontage road on the east side of Interstate 10, just south of 22nd Street.

It is expected to open in November, said Ruben Vogel, the company's vice president.
"We carry everything from produce to paper supplies to equipment and cutlery," he said.

Restaurant Depot caters to small, independent restaurant owners, Vogel said, noting that most chain restaurants have national suppliers.

"There are a lot of independents in Tucson," he said. "And that is our niche."

There are two other Restaurant Depots in the state - in Phoenix and Mesa.

"This is a nice complement to what we're doing in Arizona," Vogel said.

Doug Levy, owner of Tucson restaurant Feast, said representatives from Restaurant Depot visited his eatery a few months ago to let him know they were moving into the Tucson market.

"An operation like that is a real boon to Tucson," he said. "We're kind of a second city - we don't merit people carrying the kind of inventory that other cities do."

[Patrick S]

Broadway Plaza sale expected to seed other opportunities (http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/news/broadway-plaza-sale-expected-to-seed-other-opportunities/article_a8c8ff0e-ed55-11e1-918e-0019bb2963f4.html)

By Roger Yohem

In an effort to maximize long-term opportunities in commercial real estate, Larsen Baker has sold the massive 11.7-acre Broadway Plaza complex for $12.7 million to an Ohio-based real estate investment trust.

The center at the northwest corner of East Broadway and Pantano Road has more than 80,000 square feet of space and is anchored by major retailers including PetSmart, Sprouts Farmers Market and Table Talk.

“We sold a solid, stable, mature property because right now, there are many good opportunities for us to buy distressed properties and turn them around. That’s what we’re good at,” said Andy Seleznov, director of leasing for Larsen Baker. “We already have a few properties in line to replace it, that we would go out and buy and fix them up. That creates long-term value.”

The plaza’s four buildings were constructed from 1980 to 1982 and carry addresses from 7701 to 7865 E. Broadway. The plaza was sold by Broadway Powercenter Group LLC, an affiliate of Larsen Baker, 6298 E. Grant Road, to Phillips Edison ARC Shopping Center REIT Inc., Cincinnati.

The plaza’s largest building is about 57,000 square-feet and the smallest is 6,200 square-feet. The two mid-sized buildings are about 10,000 square-feet each. Larsen Baker acquired the plaza in 1997.