Tucson Development Thread

[InTheBurbs]

How was the hotel? I was hoping to stay there during my last business trip to Tucson, but the hotel was still a week away from opening. I hope to try it on my next trip.

It was nice. The lobby is very trendy and modern looking. The rooms are a bit small but nicely done. No carpeting in the room, just bare floors, which is different but probably better for hygiene, allergies, etc. Only real complaint is that they could have done better job soundproofing - you can hear the noise from some dance club at night (we were on the north side facing Congress). It wasn't enough to keep us awake, but was annoying. And the noise might get worse when they finish work on Playground. If you like to work in the room, the desk is a bit small and the TV is bolted to the wall and doesn't turn, so it makes it hard to "multi-task". But overall it was a pleasant stay and worth checking out.

We also liked the fact that there were plenty of food options within a block of the hotel - even at 8:00 on Sunday morning.

[exit2lef]

It was nice. The lobby is very trendy and modern looking. The rooms are a bit small but nicely done. No carpeting in the room, just bare floors, which is different but probably better for hygiene, allergies, etc. Only real complaint is that they could have done better job soundproofing - you can hear the noise from some dance club at night (we were on the north side facing Congress). It wasn't enough to keep us awake, but was annoying. And the noise might get worse when they finish work on Playground. If you like to work in the room, the desk is a bit small and the TV is bolted to the wall and doesn't turn, so it makes it hard to "multi-task". But overall it was a pleasant stay and worth checking out.

We also liked the fact that there were plenty of food options within a block of the hotel - even at 8:00 on Sunday morning.

Thanks for the report. I wonder if the dance club is the one in the Hotel Congress, which gives its guest earplugs to deal with the noise issue. The proximity of restaurants is welcome news, as is having the streetcar nearby. When I'm in Tucson, almost all my meetings are at destinations along the streetcar route, so I'd rather just leave the car parked at the hotel.

[farmerk]

New website of Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges (http://optimuscdg.com/projects/tucson-marketplace/) .

[Patrick S]

Interesting article from the Tucson Sentinal. Hard to argue with its logic.

Wooing Amazon not the answer to Tucson's economic troubles (http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/110317_amazon_op/wooing-amazon-not-answer-tucsons-economic-troubles/)

[kmiller5]

Bike share stations are going in around downtown and 4th Ave. I think they look really good!

[farmerk]

Bike share stations are going in around downtown and 4th Ave. I think they look really good!

I like your positive attitude. :tup:

[Obadno]

Popping in from the Phoenix forum. Any renderings/news about the Caterpillar office going in downtown?

[andrewsaturn]

Popping in from the Phoenix forum. Any renderings/news about the Caterpillar office going in downtown?

Hello! we have not received new renderings but here is the link to current ones.

Caterpiller project (http://rionuevo.org/caterpillars-tucson-mining-center/)

[crzyabe]

I heard a rumor that one of the returned proposals for the empty parking lot between 6th and Scott on Broadway included a 20+ story structure.

[Patrick S]

Regents to Consider 2 New UA Capital Projects (http://azbex.com/regents-to-consider-2-new-ua-capital-projects/)

[Ted Lyons]

I heard a rumor that one of the returned proposals for the empty parking lot between 6th and Scott on Broadway included a 20+ story structure.

Cool! I know Peach Properties submitted a proposal, but doubting it was that.

[crzyabe]

Cool! I know Peach Properties submitted a proposal, but doubting it was that.

Any idea on when/if those proposals will become public?

[Ted Lyons]

Any idea on when/if those proposals will become public?

Good question. Since the deadline was mid-October, I hoped we'd see discussion in the public portion of the October Rio Nuevo meeting. Since we didn't, I'd hope we get an update at this month's meeting.

[crzyabe]

Details about the Zoo infrastructure enhancement plans have been released. I did not know it included expanding into a portion of the park on the west side, near the two ponds in Reid Park.

Additional Reid Park Zoo funding passes, what are their plans? (http://tiboaz.biz/2017/11/11/additional-reid-park-zoo-funding-passes-what-are-their-plans/)

[Obadno]

Hello! we have not received new renderings but here is the link to current ones.

Caterpiller project (http://rionuevo.org/caterpillars-tucson-mining-center/)

Awesome! I hadn't seen any thanks!

[kmiller5]

Just heard the Downtown Clifton expansion will likely start next March

[Ted Lyons]

Just heard the Downtown Clifton expansion will likely start next March

Cool. I was wondering what was going on with that. Should be a pretty awesome project. The renderings reminded me of the Pearl Hotel in San Diego.

[crzyabe]

An additional, multi-story student housing project is being proposed for the northwest corner of Speedway and Euclid (the entire block between 1st and Euclid). There will be more details supplied at the Feldman's Neighborhood meeting at 11/28.

[kmiller5]

An additional, multi-story student housing project is being proposed for the northwest corner of Speedway and Euclid (the entire block between 1st and Euclid). There will be more details supplied at the Feldman's Neighborhood meeting at 11/28.

And Feldmans is freaking out, of course

[Thirsty]

Sorry if posted earlier and I missed it.

Non-Stop flights to Austin start January 18, 2018.

ViaAir announces Austin to Oklahoma City, Tucson nonstop flights (http://www.austintexas.gov/news/viaair-announces-austin-oklahoma-city-tucson-nonstop-flights)

Three days a week. Both directions on Thu/Fri/Mon

https://www.flyviaair.com/

[Patrick S]

Casino del Sol to add 150-room hotel, RV park (http://tucson.com/news/local/casino-del-sol-to-add--room-hotel-rv-park/article_f003478a-0549-5bb9-b0a8-2c18e721cc97.html)

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build a 150-room hotel, a recreational-vehicle park and enlarged convention space at its Casino del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center.

The $130 million casino resort, which opened in 2011, is at 5655 W. Valencia Road. It already has a hotel with 215 rooms.

“We have been really fortunate within the last few years at Casino del Sol with our occupancy rates in the upper 90 percent every week,” said Kimberly Van Amburg, the resort’s chief executive officer.

“When we have big events, such as concerts, galas, weddings and conventions, we have to turn people away from the hotel,” said Van Amburg. She said depending on the event, such as the Toby Keith concert last month, about 200 people had to be turned away from the hotel.

She said Mexican artists such as Alejandra Guzman and Gloria Trevi recently attracted concertgoers from Sonora and guests filled up the resort.

The new hotel will help with overflow. It is envisioned to be a family-friendly hotel with a pool area, including a possible water slide. “There is a demand for that kind of experience and it will give us an opportunity to offer different price levels,” said Van Amburg.

She said in many instances families may decide to stay at the new hotel rather than at the resort. The resort prices range from $99 a night in the summer up to $300 at other times of the year. Possible room rates for the new hotel were not yet known.

An additional 150 employees are expected to be hired, and existing part-time employees will go to full time once the hotel is completed. Several hundred workers are expected to be hired to build the hotel, Van Amburg said.

The new hotel may be built on the northwest side of the property, south of Valencia Road. “We have asked the architect to recommend a location close to Casino del Sol that provides the best layout for the hotel. I believe it will be free-standing with a walkway,” the resort CEO said.


The hotel design “may look a bit different but it will be complementary to the resort,” Van Amburg said. The architect for the project is the Cuningham Group in Las Vegas.

She said an architect will give the tribe options of where the RV park will be built. It will have 90 spaces with connections to power and sewer. She said it will have landscaping, picnic and cookout facilities.

The tribe also plans to build an 11,000-square-foot event center next to its other Tucson gaming enterprise, Casino of the Sun at 7406 S. Camino de Oeste, said Van Amburg. The center will provide space for meetings, events and entertainment.

Casino of the Sun also recently added blackjack and offers players game limits as low as $3.

Construction on the new projects is expected to begin in late summer or early fall of 2018.

Tribal Chairman Robert Valencia said the “tribe is honored to have the opportunity to build new accommodations and meeting spaces for guests who visit our properties.”

“These additions will create more jobs and will positively impact our tribe, its members and Southern Arizona,” said Valencia.

The project cost is being withheld because of the bidding process among contractors at this time, Van Amburg said. It is expected to be released in December.

[Patrick S]

UA Tech Park on Tucson's south side is at least a decade out (http://tucson.com/business/ua-tech-park-on-tucson-s-south-side-is-at/article_318c059e-e3db-59e7-ac67-785d7df608ee.html)

As shoppers flock to a bustling shopping center on Tucson’s south side, 240 acres of adjacent land destined to become housing and a tech park sit vacant and will likely remain that way over the next decade.

Tucson Marketplace at The Bridges, off of Interstate 10 and Kino Parkway, has over the last two years become home to Costco, Dave & Buster’s, Walmart, Century Theater and Starbucks.

The undeveloped plot of land to the north is where a University of Arizona Tech Park, hotel, conference center and a housing development were supposed to be built. A document from the Tucson Development Services Department detailing the master plan for the complex, dated February 2007, indicates that the plans are now more than a decade old.

Still, nothing besides Tucson Marketplace has been constructed, despite the installation of streets and utilities.

Richard Fimbres, the city councilman for Ward 5, where The Bridges is located, attributes the lack of development to the 2009 recession. Like many other construction projects, it scattered funds and halted activity for the development.

“Its been slow,” Fimbres said. “We haven’t caught up; we haven’t recovered.”

The future of the housing development — to be built through a partnership between KB Home and Lennar, dubbed 5151 East — is unknown.

“Unfortunately, at this juncture 5151 East, LLC cannot provide a timeline for the Bridges community,” said Craig LeMessurier, a spokesman for KB Home.

As far as the tech park goes, Bruce Wright, the associate vice president for Tech Parks Arizona — developer of the University of Arizona tech parks — is still hopeful it will be developed within the next 10 to 20 years.

Tech Launch Arizona agrees that the recession, played a major role in the development’s delay, but now they are awaiting a corporation to house in the tech park. Once a developer is secured, construction can begin.

The focus, Wright said, is currently on the southern third of the park, known as the “technology precinct.”

From there, Tech Launch Arizona would like to continue developing the remaining three precincts of the park.

The UA’s existing Tech Park at Rita Road has seen success.


Located south of Tucson, it houses over 40 companies and organizations including IBM, Raytheon, and Citi, with 6,000 employees working there. Vail Academy and High School is located on the tech park grounds, and it has a “solar zone,” which generates solar power on 173 acres.

The Western Hills neighborhood association, which has been active in the development of the Tucson Marketplace, has been in contact with University of Arizona President Robert Robbins, who has promised to move the project along quickly, said Association President Willie Blake Jr.

Though progress is a ways away, Blake is pleased with how the area looks now because it was littered with trash before development began.

“When the U of A comes, it’ll put a new face on the whole area,” he said, adding that he’s confident the project will be finished within the next decade.

SUCCESS IS VISIBLE
The delay in the housing and tech park projects is not stopping the Tucson Marketplace from continued growth.

“It’s moving,” Councilman Fimbres said “There’s some things coming that are good.”

A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Discount Tire are in the works.

Frank Egan, an asset manager for Toronto-based Fullerton Properties, which assisted with the development of much of Tucson Marketplace at The Bridges, also expressed delight at how the shopping complex is coming along, while noting that future development will still take a few years.

“I think the success is visible out there now,” Egan said. “We still have, plus or minus, 40 acres to develop.”

While there are currently no other large stores lined up for construction at Tucson Marketplace, the focus in the meantime is on smaller stores, in addition to medical and service-based businesses, Egan said.

Egan expects that the shopping complex will be entirely leased out within the next two to five years. However, he hopes that more large stores and restaurants are on the horizon.

[kmiller5]

http://tucson.com/news/local/neto-s-tucson-velodrome-proposed-for-site-of-tucson-s/article_923ae560-be79-5d40-a2fe-7bda19ba2bdd.html#tracking-source=home-latest-1

He mentions a possible Velodrome on the west side. Of course, he also talks about his imaginary friend so I don't know.

[InTheBurbs]

Tucson to get non-stop flight to Charlotte

https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines...nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/ (https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines-to-open-new-connections-with-nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/)

Flights start February 2018 on 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft

Dep TUS 12:30am Arr CLT 6:18 am
Dep CLT 7:30am Arr TUS 10:04 am

This should definitely opens up more east coast options. But it's a strange time for the departure to Tucson - it doesn't seem to give much opportunity for early morning connections through Charlotte from other cities.

[Obadno]

Tucson to get non-stop flight to Charlotte

https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines...nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/ (https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines-to-open-new-connections-with-nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/)

Flights start February 2018 on 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft

Dep TUS 12:30am Arr CLT 6:18 am
Dep CLT 7:30am Arr TUS 10:04 am

This should definitely opens up more east coast options. But it's a strange time for the departure to Tucson - it doesn't seem to give much opportunity for early morning connections through Charlotte from other cities.

I was just on a flight from Charlotte to Phoenix, the plane was huge and full, about 7pm on a Sunday. It was an A380 and I cannot remember the last time I was on a plane that large that wasn't international.

[Ted Lyons]

Tucson to get non-stop flight to Charlotte

https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines...nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/ (https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines-to-open-new-connections-with-nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/)

Flights start February 2018 on 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft

Dep TUS 12:30am Arr CLT 6:18 am
Dep CLT 7:30am Arr TUS 10:04 am

This should definitely opens up more east coast options. But it's a strange time for the departure to Tucson - it doesn't seem to give much opportunity for early morning connections through Charlotte from other cities.

Gonna guess the return was based on availability at CLT, although there probably are some mid-Atlantic connections that could make that time. The outbound flight is a great development for TIA, though.

[Patrick S]

Tucson to get non-stop flight to Charlotte

https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines...nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/ (https://www.flytucson.com/articles/american-airlines-to-open-new-connections-with-nonstop-tucson-charlotte-flights/)

Flights start February 2018 on 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft

Dep TUS 12:30am Arr CLT 6:18 am
Dep CLT 7:30am Arr TUS 10:04 am

This should definitely opens up more east coast options. But it's a strange time for the departure to Tucson - it doesn't seem to give much opportunity for early morning connections through Charlotte from other cities.
Charlotte is a major banking center in this country and a fast growing metro area. This is really good news. A little worried about the times. Hopefully the flights will attract riders.

[Ted Lyons]

Construction permits were issued last week for the Caterpillar foundation and the full building for The Mark.

EDIT - Looks like the base for the crane is in at The Mark, too.

[Eapiwo]

Amazon HQ2 News
I would say it's impossible for Tucson to get Amazon but luring big companies is a skill worth practicing and refining.

Tucson and Phoenix are given high marks in a combined bid for Amazon.
https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2017/11/22/phoenix-lands-on-cnbcs-list-of-cities-with-best.htm



AZ Daily Star specifics on 3 Southern Arizona bids for Amazon.
http://tucson.com/news/local/pima-county-tries-to-woo-amazon-with--acre-innovation/article_21bee178-f196-5c94-95f2-552e3c2d592c.html



Area Development News
Third home builder, Lennar, joins South East Tucson's La Estancia - Promising Community
https://realestatedaily-news.com/lennar-joins-meritage-richmond-la-estancia-tucson/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=We+do+the+Research+-+You+do+the+Deals%21&utm_campaign=20171107_m142524943_We+Do+The+Research+-+You+Do+The+Deals%21&utm_term=Lennar+Joins+Meritage+and+Richmond+at+La+Estancia+in+Tucson&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BBaVS%2Bsg%2FQ7SguHTb2bnBNg%3D%3D



Job Growth Environment
https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2017/11/16/120113-tech-and-research-park-makes-way-for-aerospace-industry/



West End Downtown
https://tv.azpm.org/p/originals-metro-vid/2017/10/27/119037-episode-161-a-closer-look-at-development-on-tucsons-west-side/

A while back someone had mentioned that a financial company was looking to bring several thousand jobs to Tucson. Are there any updates on this potential rumor? That sure would be a great boost to the region which is struggling to have net positive job growth and a slow rate of population growth.

[Ted Lyons]

A couple of new presubmittal reviews for proposed PADs have been posted on PRO in the past few weeks.

First is the entire building housing Maloney's, The Wreck, etc. plus the old stucco and brick buildings on the corner of 4th and 9th.

https://i.imgur.com/PGmUf5v.png?1

Second is the old Broadway Volvo property. This one is being initiated by the City, presumably so they can issue an RFP at some point.

https://i.imgur.com/N74rta0.png?1

[southtucsonboy77]

Whoa! That's exciting news!

[Thirsty]

West of 4th Ave and South of 5th Street seem like a great spot for higher density infill, but I'm surprised how steep the setback of the 4th ave property is. 160' just 40' from the street.

Is this the direction Tucson is going on 4th Ave? Or is this a special allowance because it is at the end of the block, a sort of gateway to downtown?

[Ted Lyons]

West of 4th Ave and South of 5th Street seem like a great spot for higher density infill, but I'm surprised how steep the setback of the 4th ave property is. 160' just 40' from the street.

Is this the direction Tucson is going on 4th Ave? Or is this a special allowance because it is at the end of the block, a sort of gateway to downtown?

That's currently just the developer's proposed height allowance. I'm skeptical that will happen. The primary structure on that property is a contributing structure to the historic district, too, so I'm not sure what the odds of getting it demolished are.

[kaneui]

A new 15-minute promo video from Rio Nuevo highlights their recent Downtown Now event held on November 1, including a few interviews with downtown developers. A couple items of note:

- The president of Caliber Group says that in addition to their upcoming 125-key hotel at the convention center, they also have an option to build another hotel tower at the TCC with possibly 250-500 rooms.
- Renderings from HSL Properties show their downtown La Placita apartment project is now called The Flin (apparently for the onsite Flin Building, which is to be renovated as a coffee shop).

Also, it looks like the crane is going up today for The Mark student housing project on Broadway: https://ueb.net/webcam31.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_4zjf4KZY&feature=youtu.be

[Ted Lyons]

Looks like demolition is well underway at the Honors College project.

[ComplotDesigner]

Crane at The Mark.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171201/945096616b95ff21d99bfdd9a3db13aa.jpg

[WordChick]

I know Steve Farley is a proponent the 6th Street corridor, but I honestly don't understand it. East of Campbell, it's effectively a dead zone: (1) residents of those neighborhoods are not the target demographic of public transit; (2) residents of those neighborhoods will fight increased public transit through their neighborhoods; (3) residents of those neighborhoods will fight redevelopment in those neighborhoods; (4) redevelopment in those neighborhoods would require rezoning, which would allow for enhanced input from those aforementioned residents. None of those issues exist along the Broadway corridor, which is being redeveloped as is.
I went from downtown to a late lunch meeting at Rincon Market one day. I took the bus. It was crowded but got PACKED by the time all the students at Tucson High got on. I bet a lot of people would rather have their kids on a streetcar than a crowded city bus.

[Ted Lyons]

I went from downtown to a late lunch meeting at Rincon Market one day. I took the bus. It was crowded but got PACKED by the time all the students at Tucson High got on. I bet a lot of people would rather have their kids on a streetcar than a crowded city bus.

Not sure why that would be the case. Also, not sure how that would affect the immutable challenges I previously mentioned.

[southtucsonboy77]

Marana approves construction of homes in Villages of Tortolita (http://www.tucsonlocalmedia.com/news/article_56b75918-c973-11e7-9eb1-974d36854ada.html)

The Marana Town Council approved the construction of up to 1,000 homes in The Villages of Tortolita in exchange for the developer covering upfront costs for improvements to the Marana freeway interchange, an extension to Adonis Road and construction of a new Tortolita freeway interchange.

The council’s approval changes the 2007 Villages of Tortolita Specific Plan to include a new condition that no building permits be issued for the 1,780 acres of land on the east side of the Interstate 10, stretching from south of Marana Road to just north of the Pinal County line, until the Tortolita interchange was constructed.

This development and interchange will stretch the "entrance" of the metro area and add a little more density to the Town of Marana.

[Ted Lyons]

Looks like demolition is well underway at the Honors College project.

Webcam is active, although it's very far away.

[Patrick S]

A couple of new presubmittal reviews for proposed PADs have been posted on PRO in the past few weeks.

First is the entire building housing Maloney's, The Wreck, etc. plus the old stucco and brick buildings on the corner of 4th and 9th.

https://i.imgur.com/PGmUf5v.png?1

Story on KGUN9 about this proposed development.

4th Avenue plan to build apartments, tear down well-known bar (http://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/4th-avenue-plan-to-build-apartments-tear-down-well-known-bar)

[crzyabe]

Vector Space Vehicle Manufacturing Plant has some preliminary images and a fly through

Small-satellite launch company moving ahead with Tucson plant, HQ (http://tucson.com/business/small-satellite-launch-company-moving-ahead-with-tucson-plant-hq/article_193e835b-1439-5a9e-8a10-bda9382b6217.html)

Video Fly Through Of Vector’s Future Tucson HQ & Factory (http://tiboaz.biz/2017/11/30/video-fly-through-of-vectors-future-tucson-hq-factory/)

[Patrick S]

Pima Medical Institute to build campus at site of former Tucson middle school (http://tucson.com/news/local/pima-medical-institute-to-build-campus-at-site-of-former/article_84d8ac1d-73fb-54f8-a307-fce2396077b0.html)

A Tucson-based medical college is bringing a closed middle school in the central city back to life.

Pima Medical Institute has purchased the former Townsend Middle School for $5.6 million and plans to consolidate its Tucson campuses on the new site, along with its executive offices.

“The fact that it’s a middle school has an almost poetic component,” said Fred Freedman, president and CEO of Pima Medical. “It’s a former public school being repurposed for adult education.”

The former Tucson Unified School District building will be preserved and the interior will be remodeled, he said.

A parcel of the campus, where the soccer fields are, will be sold to Summit Development to build medical and office building space for lease.

The school has 17 campuses in eight states. The new site, at 2120 N. Beverly Ave., is near Grant and Craycroft roads.

Six campuses in the Tucson area and 136 employees will be relocated to the site. PMI employs about 1,100 workers nationwide.

Founded in 1972 by Richard Luebke, the school was family-owned and operated for many years and is now privately run.

In a nod to its Tucson beginnings, Pima Medical will use local firms to handle the construction project, Freedman said: Rio West Construction, Seaver Franks Architects, Within Studio Interior Design, Rick Engineerings and Addisigns.

100,000 GRADUATES
Dick Luebke Jr. said the school’s name is used throughout the country and, outside of Arizona, someone always asks, “What’s a Pima?”

He doesn’t think his father ever dreamed the school would grow so large.

“He had very modest ambitions,” said Luebke, who serves as chairman of the board for the school. “His ambition was not to be the biggest, but to do the best job.”

He said the growth has been conservative, in keeping with his father’s principles.

“We don’t borrow money, so we don’t have debt on the books,” Luebke said. “He’d like the idea that when we’re going into these communities we’re providing employment.”

In 2017, Pima Medical graduated its 100,000th student.

The school started with a nursing assistant program and has added specialties over the years and continues to seek opportunities to add more medical-related certifications or degrees.


“The market, the medical community provides a constant need for trained personnel,” Luebke said.

He said the new consolidated Tucson campus came to be because of community support and gave a “tip of the hat” to Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, City Councilman Steve Kozachik and The Planning Center for help getting it approved.

“It’s very exciting,” Luebke said. “It will be great for us to get under one roof.”

The purchase of the former Townsend property took more than two years to complete because of rezoning challenges, said Broker James Marian of Chapman Lindsey Commercial Real Estate Services LLC, who represented PMI on the deal.

“No one ever contemplated this being anything but a school,” he said. “We had to amend the area plan, then we had to rezone.”

Neighbors were very involved and gave feedback on setbacks to minimize traffic into the neighborhoods, Marian said.

The loss of the soccer fields was also an issue, so Marian worked with the Fort Lowell Soccer Club for another location for soccer lights and chose Booth-Fickett Math-Science K-8 Magnet School, near Kolb Road and Broadway.

“It was one of the most challenging deals to work on,” he said. “It was also fun.”

JOB GROWTH
Growth will continue for Pima Medical Institute, which enjoys job-placement rates of 82 percent for its graduates, Freedman said.

“It’s very gratifying to change the course of so many people’s lives,” he said.

Along with the consolidated campus here, PMI will add campuses in Houston and San Antonio next year.

There are currently 8,500 students enrolled in PMI programs, which offer certificates and associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees through its online division.

Fields include dental assistant, phlebotomy, occupational and physical therapy assistant, X-ray technicians, health-care administration and respiratory therapy.

The health-care industry is one of the fastest growing and is projected to add 2.3 million new jobs by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Health-care occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups,” the bureau says. “This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for health-care services.”

[Ted Lyons]

Not much on this month's Rio Nuevo agenda. However, there are two executive session items that might indicate movement on the 6th and Broadway RFP. The first item relates to the option agreement on the lot with Pima County. The second item relates to the RFP itself. That both items are up for discussion tells me RN was satisfied with at least one of the proposals. There'd be no reason to discuss the option agreement otherwise.

[kmiller5]

Not much on this month's Rio Nuevo agenda. However, there are two executive session items that might indicate movement on the 6th and Broadway RFP. The first item relates to the option agreement on the lot with Pima County. The second item relates to the RFP itself. That both items are up for discussion tells me RN was satisfied with at least one of the proposals. There'd be no reason to discuss the option agreement otherwise.

http://rionuevo.org/caterpillar-on-schedule-on-budget-rio-nuevo-board-reflects-on-2017-accomplishments-december-14-2017/

"He (McCusker) also acknowledged that the Board hopes to award the 75 East Broadway project to a developer in January, perhaps the biggest project ever undertaken in downtown Tucson"

[crzyabe]

http://rionuevo.org/caterpillar-on-schedule-on-budget-rio-nuevo-board-reflects-on-2017-accomplishments-december-14-2017/

"Brings (Owls Nest)"

Anyone know what that is? related to Owls Club?

[southtucsonboy77]

http://rionuevo.org/caterpillar-on-schedule-on-budget-rio-nuevo-board-reflects-on-2017-accomplishments-december-14-2017/

"He (McCusker) also acknowledged that the Board hopes to award the 75 East Broadway project to a developer in January, perhaps the biggest project ever undertaken in downtown Tucson"

I was about to share this too...Can't wait to see what it will be. The Ronstandt and Norville projects are taking forever.

[InTheBurbs]

"Brings (Owls Nest)"

Anyone know what that is? related to Owls Club?

I'm assuming it's related to the Brings redevelopment on Scott.

http://rionuevo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brings-Image.jpg

http://rionuevo.org/peach-dabdoub/

[Ted Lyons]

"Brings (Owls Nest)"

Anyone know what that is? related to Owls Club?

Pretty sure they just got the name wrong.

[kaneui]

I suppose I should be flattered that the page of editor Lucinda Smedley's December issue of Trend Report shown on the Rio Nuevo website was lifted nearly verbatim from my Metro Tucson Development Project list (including the project map). However, I don't see any mention of the source of the information, which then became part of her publication that sells for an annual subscription rate of nearly $500. Rather shameless plagiarizing, if you ask me.

http://rionuevo.org/caterpillar-on-schedule-on-budget-rio-nuevo-board-reflects-on-2017-accomplishments-december-14-2017/

[Ted Lyons]

I suppose I should be flattered that the page of editor Lucinda Smedley's December issue of Trend Report shown on the Rio Nuevo website was lifted nearly verbatim from my Metro Tucson Development Project list (including the project map). However, I don't see any mention of the source of the information, which then became part of her publication that sells for an annual subscription rate of nearly $500. Rather shameless plagiarizing, if you ask me.

http://rionuevo.org/caterpillar-on-schedule-on-budget-rio-nuevo-board-reflects-on-2017-accomplishments-december-14-2017/

Wow. Have you emailed her?

[kaneui]

Wow. Have you emailed her?

Haven't yet decided what my approach will be. However, it won't go uncontested; as an editor/publisher, she should know better.

[crzyabe]

Updated concept images of the Trinity 4th Ave proposal

4th Avenue’s Proposed Mixed Use Project – The Trinity (http://tiboaz.biz/2017/12/18/4th-avenues-proposed-mixed-use-project-the-trinity/)

[WordChick]

Do your immutable facts include that the average streetcar rider weekdays is a student and weeknights/weekends people going to events? Do you know how many neighborhoods east of Campbell are rentals to UA students as well as neighborhoods that have kids going to Tucson High? Just adding a perspective to the conversation you started with additional perspective.

[kmiller5]

Came across some renderings for the Cobra Arcade Bar, which started work today. (http://tucson.siretechnologies.com/SIREPub/cache/2/416443C2C32C3925D4533FEC333333737337545425545447/856822012192017015001120.pdf)

Also heard Starbucks signed on to move into the old Wig-O-Rama

[Ted Lyons]

Downtown Tucson Partnership just regrammed an image from a drone photography business called SkyPod Images that's taken a lot of recent photos around UA and downtown. Pretty cool pictures on their IG account (https://www.instagram.com/skypod_images/).

[crzyabe]

There is a mixed-use building, tentatively called the Baffert, planned for the empty Northeast corner of 6th and 18th at the 5 points intersection. Here is the latest rendering:

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/ward6/pics/171127-baffert4.png

[kmiller5]

bookstore-bar sounds awesome! (http://tucson.com/business/work-reveals-historic-facade-of-wig-o-rama-building/article_407b916d-9b7b-54eb-b783-7e1e7b366af8.html#tracking-source=home-latest-1)

[InTheBurbs]

Downtown Tucson Partnership just regrammed an image from a drone photography business called SkyPod Images that's taken a lot of recent photos around UA and downtown. Pretty cool pictures on their IG account (https://www.instagram.com/skypod_images/).

Tucson Aerial (https://www.facebook.com/tucsonaerials/) has some great pictures of Tucson on their Facebook page also, including some shots of downtown from different angles.

This one from the UofA shows the infill along Broadway and East Congress
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26167036_2024681681108091_531872934058076238_n.jpg?oh=f50817060b4c120628c45f2528d77e4e&oe=5AF789D9

Downtown from the south:
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23755133_2006378389605087_1799370263839824807_n.jpg?oh=480925a65f688128308330dcdd66c7d7&oe=5AC25570

[kaneui]

Downtown
2017 saw the completion of the Downtown Motor Apartments (44U), McCormick townhomes (25U), and the AC Hotel. Looking back at my projections from last year, about half of the expected 18 groundbreakings took place, as downtown construction kicked into high gear. Here are the city center projects expected to break ground in 2018:

Winter 2017-18
January 8th Memorial ($4.5M)
Hotel Arizona renovation ($20M)

Spring, 2018
RendezVous Urban Flats (100U)
The Monier ($25M)

Summer, 2018
The Flin ($42.2M)
Downtown Clifton Hotel expansion (20U)
Downtown Links - Phase III ($70M)

Fall, 2018
Moxy Hotel ($24M)
Menlo Park Rowhouses ($3.8M)

2018 will also see the completion of several downtown projects: Seventh Avenue Commons, Mercado San Agustin Annex, City Park, The Westerner/West Point Apartments, West End Station, The Marist at Cathedral Square, the Marist College renovation, and the Caterpillar Tucson Mining Center just after year-end.


UA area
The big news for UA-related projects in 2018 centers around student housing, athletic facilities and the medical campus. Construction on four projects to house more than 2,300 students should be completed before August, 2019, including The Mark (595 beds), Aspire (505 beds), the Honors Village (1,035 beds), and Hub at Tucson III (213 beds).

The $66M of athletic improvement projects to break ground this year include the east side renovations of Arizona Stadium ($25.5M), a new Indoor Sports Center ($15M), Hillenbrand Aquatic Center improvements ($15M), and renovations to Hillenbrand Softball Stadium ($8M).

The medical campus around the UA hospital will see the completion of the Bioscience Research Laboratories ($107.5M), the Health Sciences Innovation Building ($165M), and the near completion of the new hospital tower ($400M), scheduled to open on April 1, 2019.

[somethingfast]

^^ Those pics of Tucson up there are really nice! Was down there earlier in December and was impressed with how lively downtown was on a Saturday night. It's really coming along. Definitely wish they would remodel the "tile" building and build a new 20+ story tower - those two things would really enhance the skyline. But overall Tucson is definitely going in the right direction :cheers:

[Azstar]

Another 5 Points area development.

http://tiboaz.biz/2018/01/04/southern-downtowns-proposed-mixed-use-project-the-flash/

[farmerk]

Tall crane up at corner of Euclid and Broadway.

Tucson, keep it UP! :skyhighmind:

[InTheBurbs]

1960's Silverbell Inn being renovated (http://tucson.com/business/from-motel-blight-to-outta-sight-investor-bringing-back-s/article_706c93e4-6c20-593a-85b2-e783827bf031.html)

A south-side motel with a checkered past is undergoing a major renovation with the goal of attracting more proper clientele.

Located on Silverlake Road, just west of Interstate 10, the Silverbell Inn fell into disarray in recent years and became a hot spot for criminal activity.

When Bryan Coggins found the motel on a Google search, he said he knew he had to have it.

He bought it for $900,000 and is investing about $2.5 million to renovate, upgrade and rebrand.

“I’ve been looking for mid-century modern properties,” Coggins said. “I think Tucson and Palm Springs are the meccas for that construction."

The 28,000-square-foot hotel has 93 rooms, averaging 280 square feet. The property’s new name will be Hotel McCoy — a nod to the McCoy Mountains near the Arizona-California border.

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/tucson.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/c0/fc0c1629-aa4e-5cc1-9205-ef5ff6c7f169/5a2ecaecd7935.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C776
Render: Byran Coggins via ADS

Hotel Website with more info: https://hotelmccoy.com/

[southtucsonboy77]

Travelocity darn near falls in love with the Old Pueblo (https://realestatedaily-news.com/travelocity-darn-near-falls-love-old-pueblo/)

Nice article about the great things we love about our city (and already know)...

[Ted Lyons]

Great news.

Geico to build new corporate office in Tucson, add 700 jobs

http://tucson.com/business/article_2cc94717-7ee4-5b63-a6f0-4e57690a0361.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&id=201408

By Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star
Gabriela Rico
Jan 9, 2018 Updated 10 min ago

The Bourn Companies plans to develop and build a 200,000-square-foot building on 20 acres at The Bridges, near 36th Street and Kino Parkway for the national insurer — one of Tucson’s largest employers with 2,100 workers.

. . . .

Bourn further plans to develop more office space, multifamily units and a community park on an additional 95 acres.

EDIT - The Caterpillar building is 150,000 square feet for comparison.

[southtucsonboy77]

Geico to build new corporate office in Tucson, add 700 jobs

http://tucson.com/business/article_2cc94717-7ee4-5b63-a6f0-4e57690a0361.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&id=201408

By Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star
Gabriela Rico
Jan 9, 2018 Updated 10 min ago



I saw that the actual site of the building will be in the center of The Bridges development...AZ Daily Star should have shared a map/layout of that.

[kmiller5]

Great news.

Geico to build new corporate office in Tucson, add 700 jobs

http://tucson.com/business/article_2cc94717-7ee4-5b63-a6f0-4e57690a0361.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&id=201408

By Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star
Gabriela Rico
Jan 9, 2018 Updated 10 min ago

The Bourn Companies plans to develop and build a 200,000-square-foot building on 20 acres at The Bridges, near 36th Street and Kino Parkway for the national insurer — one of Tucson’s largest employers with 2,100 workers.

. . . .

Bourn further plans to develop more office space, multifamily units and a community park on an additional 95 acres.

EDIT - The Caterpillar building is 150,000 square feet for comparison.

Add another corporate building or two to go with the Tech Park and the city should consider extending the streetcar down there.

[Ted Lyons]

Add another corporate building or two to go with the Tech Park and the city should consider extending the streetcar down there.

To me, that seems like the obvious route to the airport, so I 100% agree.

[Thirsty]

When people talk about expanding the streetcar to the airport, I hope they're misspeaking. I hope Tucsonans are holding out for at the very least a LRT with dedicated ROW.

The streetcar averages 7.8 mph per the SunLink website (http://www.sunlinkstreetcar.com/frequently-asked-questions) From the east end of the line to TUS is 7.3 miles. Roughly the same if starting at Congress/6th. That's 55 minutes from the airport just to link up with the current line. Even if speeds improved going down (presumably) Campbell to the national average of 10 mph, that is still 45 minutes to UA

It is already one of the longest streetcar lines in the US. Any expansion should be in additional connecting lines to create a local system around UA/DT. Any rail beyond that area should be higher speed, fewer stop and not mixed in with vehicle traffic.

[kmiller5]

When people talk about expanding the streetcar to the airport, I hope they're misspeaking. I hope Tucsonans are holding out for at the very least a LRT with dedicated ROW.

The streetcar averages 7.8 mph per the SunLink website (http://www.sunlinkstreetcar.com/frequently-asked-questions) From the east end of the line to TUS is 7.3 miles. Roughly the same if starting at Congress/6th. That's 55 minutes from the airport just to link up with the current line. Even if speeds improved going down (presumably) Campbell to the national average of 10 mph, that is still 45 minutes to UA

It is already one of the longest streetcar lines in the US. Any expansion should be in additional connecting lines to create a local system around UA/DT. Any rail beyond that area should be higher speed, fewer stop and not mixed in with vehicle traffic.

Not misspeaking just very skeptical that the city would invest in a light rail system even if it makes more sense. Seems more likely they would expand what they already have.

I think we all would prefer a system like you describe.

[Patrick S]

Pima Co. approves budget for Phase 1 of Kino South Sports Complex (http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/37177986/pima-co-approves-budget-for-phase-1-of-kino-south-sports-complex)

Pima County has approved $1.5 million to design Phase 1 of the Kino South Sports Complex, which will be located at Interstate 10 and Ajo Way.

The complex, once complete, will be the largest soccer complex in the state with 20 fields and a stadium.

It's thought the complex will draw national and international tournaments and means Tucsonans will no longer have to drive to Phoenix to watch their children in tournament play.

"I think the south side is basically undergoing an economic renaissance," said Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. "The south side is catching up with the rest of the region."

Local business owners will attest to the fact the south side has a long way to go.

"You just have to go to the north side and compare," said Josue Solano, owner All Makes and Models Auto Repair on Benson Highway. "You'll see a big difference."

Solano believes having the complex in their backyard will make a substantial difference in how people perceive the south side.

"Opportunities on this side of town are definitely smaller," he said and agrees it's harder to make a living. "There are not as many opportunities."

Pima County received a lot of criticism for locating Kino Stadium on the south side 20 years ago. But Huckelberry believes time has proven it to be the right decision.

"It was located there to jump start economic development," he said. "I think we can pretty much say that's been a success."

The new complex will include hotel space, retail and a variety of other sports venues such as rugby, basketball and pickle ball.

"This time we're making sure to include opportunities for economic development, said Richard Elias, County Supervisor from District 5 "So it's not an isolated sporting venue and nothing else."

[Tloc]

Don't know if very many of you have seen the "Speedway + Campbell Gateway Project PAD" (http://tucson.siretechnologies.com/SIREPub/cache/2/608179C2C32C3925D4533FEC333333737337545425545447/861925201122018093153862.pdf) but it was revised in October. Not any significant changes or anything new but a cool scroll through. The required neighborhood meeting regarding the redevelopment is in two weeks on Jan 24th -6pm at that Lutheran Church across the way on Campbell. Hopefully the process continues and they stick with the 20 stories.

[Qwijib0]

When people talk about expanding the streetcar to the airport, I hope they're misspeaking. I hope Tucsonans are holding out for at the very least a LRT with dedicated ROW.

The streetcar averages 7.8 mph per the SunLink website (http://www.sunlinkstreetcar.com/frequently-asked-questions) From the east end of the line to TUS is 7.3 miles. Roughly the same if starting at Congress/6th. That's 55 minutes from the airport just to link up with the current line. Even if speeds improved going down (presumably) Campbell to the national average of 10 mph, that is still 45 minutes to UA

It is already one of the longest streetcar lines in the US. Any expansion should be in additional connecting lines to create a local system around UA/DT. Any rail beyond that area should be higher speed, fewer stop and not mixed in with vehicle traffic.

The streetcars themselves are capable of 43mph so there's no reason you couldn't extend the same infrastructure in a dedicated ROW for longer distance people-moving.

[ohhhthatdaniel]

http://tiboaz.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/studentsuccessdistrict22.jpg

http://tiboaz.biz/2017/12/14/university-of-arizonas-planned-student-success-district/

A new picture of the student success district. I like the new landscaping and the shading devices on both sides of Bear Down Gym.

[Ted Lyons]

Looks like the crane is down at the Health Sciences Innovation Building.

[Qwijib0]

http://tiboaz.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/studentsuccessdistrict22.jpg

http://tiboaz.biz/2017/12/14/university-of-arizonas-planned-student-success-district/

A new picture of the student success district. I like the new landscaping and the shading devices on both sides of Bear Down Gym.

I like that they're turning it back into a gym.

[InTheBurbs]

Possible new airline at TIA (http://www.thecoastnews.com/2018/01/15/local-investors-sought-to-help-north-county-airline-take-to-the-skies/)

According to the Coast News, California Pacific Airlines, a start-up, may start flying from Carlsbad, CA to six airports, including Phoenix and Tucson, beginning in April.

CP Air will fly EJ 145 jets with 44 seats rather than the standard 50, as well as EJ 170s with 64 seats rather than 80, providing additional leg room.

They have apparently been trying to get off the ground (literally) for several years, so it will be interesting to see if this time they are successful. Previous reports did not include Tucson as a destination, so this appears to be a new development - or maybe it's a typo :) . But it's worth watching as another possible flight option to So Cal.

[Ted Lyons]

Possible new airline at TIA (http://www.thecoastnews.com/2018/01/15/local-investors-sought-to-help-north-county-airline-take-to-the-skies/)

According to the Coast News, California Pacific Airlines, a start-up, may start flying from Carlsbad, CA to six airports, including Phoenix and Tucson, beginning in April.

CP Air will fly EJ 145 jets with 44 seats rather than the standard 50, as well as EJ 170s with 64 seats rather than 80, providing additional leg room.

They have apparently been trying to get off the ground (literally) for several years, so it will be interesting to see if this time they are successful. Previous reports did not include Tucson as a destination, so this appears to be a new development - or maybe it's a typo :) . But it's worth watching as another possible flight option to So Cal.

A north SD County option would be nice depending on price.

[azliam]

I thought I'd pop in to give some news on a new hotel:

Caliber Hospitality, a division of real estate investment firm Caliber – The Wealth Development Company, today announced plans to build a new 125-room hotel anchored at the Tucson Convention Center. Slated to break ground in late 2018, the hotel development project supports the City of Tucson’s downtown re-visioning plan and need for increased hotel accommodations near the convention center. Caliber Development will serve as development manager and design/builder for the estimated $20 Million project.

The currently unbranded hotel, which will be located in what is now the east-side parking lot, is an asset owned by the Caliber Diversified Opportunity Fund II, LP, a fund that offers accredited investors the opportunity to invest in “middle market” U.S. commercial real estate assets to build wealth through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. Other projects currently participating in the Fund include The Villages at Johnstown, The Eclipse (Scottsdale, AZ) and The Roosevelt (Tempe, AZ) Zero Energy Ready communities. Interested investors can contact Caliber at 480-295-7600 or Invest@caliberco.com.

More: https://azbigmedia.com/caliber-plans-125-room-hotel-tucson-convention-center/

[InTheBurbs]

Geico to build new corporate office in Tucson, add 700 jobs

http://tucson.com/business/article_2cc94717-7ee4-5b63-a6f0-4e57690a0361.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&id=201408

I saw that the actual site of the building will be in the center of The Bridges development...AZ Daily Star should have shared a map/layout of that.

AZPM had a map with their report. (https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2018/1/9/122345-geico-to-expand-to-south-side-tucson-development/)

https://media.azpm.org/master/image/2018/1/9/hero/geico.jpg

[Patrick S]

I thought I'd pop in to give some news on a new hotel:

More: https://azbigmedia.com/caliber-plans-125-room-hotel-tucson-convention-center/
Thanks for the head's up.

This video by Rio Nuevo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_4zjf4KZY&feature=youtu.be mentions this hotel, as well as a possible second hotel at the TCC with up to 500 rooms.

[farmerk]

The 'residential' wing of The Bridges needs to be turned into a condo (mid or high rise) or commercial development.

10 years from now was the estimate by Lennar/KB Home to build houses at that spot.

[Ted Lyons]

The webcam is up for the renovation of the lower east side of Arizona Stadium. Not sure how much we'll be able to see given the confined space, but the scope of the project is pretty broad based on information Steve Kozachik provided in his Ward 6 newsletter this week. They'll be repurposing all of the old dorm rooms on that side of the stadium into concessions, amenities, and a student lounge. They'll also be cutting new walkways into the stadium bowl that access the lounge.

[Patrick S]

Project updates posted on ADOT's website:

Turning the corner on Pima County projects in 2018 (https://www.azdot.gov/media/News/news-release/2018/01/16/turning-the-corner-on-pima-county-projects-in-2018)
Ina Road, Ajo Way interchange projects move toward completion

TUCSON ‒ Removing the bridge that once carried westbound Interstate 10 traffic over Ina Road was the first step in what will be a busy 2018 in the Tucson area for the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Tucson will see the completion of the first phase of renovations at Ajo Way and Interstate 19, the near completion of a new interchange at I-10 and Ina Road and a project to ease congestion at I-10 interchanges serving fast-growing areas east of downtown Tucson.

Ajo Way Interchange RenderingAt Ajo Way (State Route 86), ADOT has created a single-point urban interchange, the third in the Tucson area with a single set of traffic signals controlling all traffic movements. After the first phase of the project is complete this spring, ADOT will prepare for the 18-month second phase of work, which will widen Ajo Way and I-19, create a new Ajo Way bridge over the Santa Cruz River and construct a new Michigan Avenue pedestrian bridge over I-19.

The first phase of the Ajo Way project cost about $40 million, and the second phase is estimated to cost $27 million.

On the last weekend in January, westbound I-10 traffic at Ina Road in Marana will begin sharing the new pavement that now carries eastbound traffic, with a concrete barrier separating the directions of travel. The move will allow construction crews to build the eastern half of the Ina Road bridge and complete the remaining work to widen both I-10 and Ina Road. The project, which also includes a second new bridge carrying Ina Road over the Santa Cruz River, is on schedule for completion in early 2019.

ADOT is overseeing the $128 million Ina Road project, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

East of downtown Tucson, ADOT will continue making improvements to several interchanges to improve traffic flow. In 2017, ADOT added a traffic signal and a right turn bay at the end of the Houghton Road eastbound exit ramp. Beginning this spring, crews will start adding traffic signals at the eastbound 10 exits for Wilmot, Rita and Kolb roads, with the work scheduled for completion before the end of the year. At Rita Road, crews will add a right turn lane on the eastbound exit and a second merging lane for the westbound on-ramp.

[Ted Lyons]

Keep forgetting to post this, but fencing is up around the Hub 3 site, so I assume we'll see demolition begin soon. They recently leased space for their leasing office on 4th Avenue.

[Patrick S]

Tucson.com (the AZ Daily Star) is reporting, “The Rio Nuevo board is expected to green light a redevelopment deal Tuesday, Jan. 23, that will turn a downtown parking lot into one of the tallest buildings in Tucson.

The taxing district board is expected to vote on opening formal discussions with an out-of-town developer to build a 300-foot tall tower on the county-owned property on East Broadway between Sixth and Scott avenues.“

[InTheBurbs]

Keep forgetting to post this, but fencing is up around the Hub 3 site, so I assume we'll see demolition begin soon. They recently leased space for their leasing office on 4th Avenue.

TIBO had an update on HUB III today as well:
http://tiboaz.biz/2018/01/22/student-housing-hub-at-tucson-3-to-begin-construction/

They also had several renders from Antunovich Associates, the architects. Here's one.
http://tiboaz.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hub3-3.jpg

[Patrick S]

Tucson.com (the AZ Daily Star) is reporting, “The Rio Nuevo board is expected to green light a redevelopment deal Tuesday, Jan. 23, that will turn a downtown parking lot into one of the tallest buildings in Tucson.

The taxing district board is expected to vote on opening formal discussions with an out-of-town developer to build a 300-foot tall tower on the county-owned property on East Broadway between Sixth and Scott avenues.“
Here’s the article link: New project could bring one of tallest buildings to Tucson's downtown skyline (http://tucson.com/news/local/new-project-could-bring-one-of-tallest-buildings-to-tucson/article_c20faf4e-0aef-58c7-8c2b-195c5b2d755c.html)

[Ted Lyons]

TIBO had an update on HUB III today as well:
http://tiboaz.biz/2018/01/22/student-housing-hub-at-tucson-3-to-begin-construction/

They also had several renders from Antunovich Associates, the architects. Here's one.
http://tiboaz.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hub3-3.jpg

There's a full collection of renderings back on page 325, FYI.

[Ted Lyons]

Here’s the article link: New project could bring one of tallest buildings to Tucson's downtown skyline (http://tucson.com/news/local/new-project-could-bring-one-of-tallest-buildings-to-tucson/article_c20faf4e-0aef-58c7-8c2b-195c5b2d755c.html)

"Out of town developer" has me both excited and nervous. If this works out, that factor alone (not even considering the height) would be a huge game changer for downtown.

[somethingfast]

^ this would be HUGE. as soon as someone gets some inside info on this, PLEASE post! i'd love to see a new tallest in Tucson but, damn, can't be disappointed in anything over 10 floors going up in the Ol' Pueblo! Plus, it will hide the "bathroom tile" building from the southern view lol.

[fawd]

Wow! 300'. Not bad, Tucson!

[Ted Lyons]

Per Joe Ferguson on Twitter, the out-of-town developer is JE Dunn, which is also working on the Arizona Stadium renovation. They're partnering with Ron Schwabe/Peach Properties, which owns the north side of the block fronting Congress. This is JE Dunn's commercial portfolio: https://www.jedunn.com/expertise-work/corporate-environments/all.

EDIT - I guess the important part of the story is that the RN board unanimously voted to negotiate with JE Dunn/Schwabe to develop the property.

[crzyabe]

EDIT - I guess the important part of the story is that the RN board unanimously voted to negotiate with JE Dunn/Schwabe to develop the property.

Isn't Peach also the developer on the Ronstadt proposal? Do they have the capacity and ability to raise capital for both projects?

EDIT: Never mind, I read that wrong. I see that Dunn is partnering with Peach

[AZcat121]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUQYQnlVAAAdDdO?format=jpg&name=large
New concept.

[Ted Lyons]

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/tucson.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/db/5db69d84-e82a-5291-b870-d7008dff84dc/5a67afafd991f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1451

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/tucson.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/5f/85f707fd-3d9d-5017-b847-38e02526f174/5a67afeb22cfa.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C726

EDIT - Official project name is "75 Broadway." http://tucson.com/news/local/rio-nuevo-gives-ok-for-new--story-office-building/article_ca566ae0-008b-11e8-b964-c3dfacdfcc6a.html?id=201408&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

[Patrick S]

"Out of town developer" has me both excited and nervous. If this works out, that factor alone (not even considering the height) would be a huge game changer for downtown.
Completely agree. After the initial excitement of a building that is above 8 stories downtown - and the second tallest building in Tucson - the thing that caught my eye was out of town developer. That tells me that it's not just locals that think it's a good idea to invest in Tucson, and that maybe we've hit that critical mass people talk about - of employment, of residence, of buzz - in downtown that will continue to sustain and attract new development.

[andrewsaturn]

That's cool! So now we have three proposals for downtown Tucson projects each over $100 million. Ronstadt transit center, Arena site, and 75 Broadway. Could all these projects be built in the same timeframe? Crazy if they all do.

Its certainly going to be a traffic nightmare considering downtown links is going to begin soon and construction on a few new hotels in the heart of downtown
as well. But I'm all for it! This is what is going to make our city stronger, more competitive, and attractive. Keep rollin! :notacrook:

[Eapiwo]

Good looking building we've got here. I am a fan of the little mall they've got themselves going as well. Great addition to the city. It's not as iconic of a design as I'd say 1 S. Church or even the Bank of America towers are but since it's not the city's tallest I don't think that's a huge issue. We need some solid looking towers like this to start giving us a real 'city' feel. Not every tower in San Diego is even half as decent as this one yet the sheer amount of towers they have is impressive. We need that awe factor. Not only do we have amazing landscapes but we are capable of building amazing things too.

https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/rio-nuevo-board-to-discuss-new-high-rise-in-downtown-tucson

Hopefully there are enough tenants to get this baby to 300 feet!:tup::notacrook::cheers:

Also a huge fan of the September 2020 opening. It's probably ambitious but even an early 2021 opening would be nice. Gotta start construction before all the NIMBY's jump on board. It'll probably start long before the Ronstadt and Arena Site, if those ever come to fruition. In the unlikely event that all three are built, it's hard to imagine what could stop the momentum in the city. It won't be a world class downtown but it's going to stand strong to say the least.