Tucson Development Thread

[andrewsaturn]

Downtown Tucson is continuing to add local shops in 2024. Roadrunner coffee is the latest. They have 3 coffee shops around town already. Here is a story from KGUN9 (link):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLHfjadUQE

[andrewsaturn]

Will we see more information and designs of the new casino being built by the Pasqual Yaqui Tribe in 2024? This is kind of a unique project close to Downtown Tucson. The project site is at the old Century 16 theaters near I-10/Grant which is now demolished. The new casino may be visible from I-10 and it will be less than 10 min from Downtown, so we could only imagine the benefits of having a casino nearby for downtown Tucson. The parcel is 40 acres and will be built in two phases.

Phase one: Casino, parking garage, and 3 food and beverage outlets.
Phase two: Hotel with conference center and 2nd parking garage.

There are no renderings yet but hopefully this year we see some more information.


(Photos courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star)

[andrewsaturn]

On January 5th Bill Buckmaster held a show with Fletcher McCusker as a guest. Here is a tiny recap with a few noteworthy info:

-Fletcher thinks we could add another 2-3k apartments in 2024.
- 55 Scott ( former 75 E Broadway) has contracted with a hotel.
- Rio Nuevo is currently talking to 70 different restaurant operators
-It would cost the city $50 Million/mile to extend the streetcar. So the streetcar was afforded by an Obama stimulus.
-100% occupancy rate in apartment living downtown so out of state developers are looking to build here.

FYI, It was a little irritating listening to the show since it seemed Fletcher got some push back from the other guests with downtown being a destination spot etc. Also, they keep mentioning and laughing at the fact the old Rio Nuevo was dreaming of a rainbow bridge which would have been a unique feat of the city if done right like the Seattle needle or St. Louis Arch.

https://www.buckmastershow.com/2024/01/0...n-tucson-party-goers-love-the-streetcar/

[AZ71]

Originally Posted by andrewsaturn

On January 5th Bill Buckmaster held a show with Fletcher McCusker as a guest. Here is a tiny recap with a few noteworthy info:

-Fletcher thinks we could add another 2-3k apartments in 2024.
- 55 Scott ( former 75 E Broadway) has contracted with a hotel.
- Rio Nuevo is currently talking to 70 different restaurant operators
-It would cost the city $50 Million/mile to extend the streetcar. So the streetcar was afforded by an Obama stimulus.
-100% occupancy rate in apartment living downtown so out of state developers are looking to build here.

FYI, It was a little irritating listening to the show since it seemed Fletcher got some push back from the other guests with downtown being a destination spot etc. Also, they keep mentioning and laughing at the fact the old Rio Nuevo was dreaming of a rainbow bridge which would have been a unique feat of the city if done right like the Seattle needle or St. Louis Arch.

https://www.buckmastershow.com/2024/01/0...n-tucson-party-goers-love-the-streetcar/

I detest that Bill Buckmaster. He constantly brings up that bridge from 20 years ago...but the fact is it could have been a huge tourist destination. They also make fun of the long ago proposed TCC renovation with the tortoise shell roofs which I thought was cool. And Hyatt or Hilton (one of those) proposed to build a huge skyscraper to bring hotel space next to TCC. Kozachick shot it down because he thought just one hotel would be bad. He's such a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵. All of these people are old school and need to retire.

And personally...$50M a mile isn't that bad if it really connects people to things they frequently. Extend it to El Con/Zoo/Hi-Corbett, Randolph park and it could be very helpful to help build downtown which doesn't and probably never will have a Home Depot, Walmart or Target that El Con could provide. Not to mention all the Sunshine Mile stores that need to become a destination. Wont happen without the trolley.

[Locofresh55]

Originally Posted by AZ71

I detest that Bill Buckmaster. He constantly brings up that bridge from 20 years ago...but the fact is it could have been a huge tourist destination. They also make fun of the long ago proposed TCC renovation with the tortoise shell roofs which I thought was cool. And Hyatt or Hilton (one of those) proposed to build a huge skyscraper to bring hotel space next to TCC. Kozachick shot it down because he thought just one hotel would be bad. He's such a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵. All of these people are old school and need to retire.

And personally...$50M a mile isn't that bad if it really connects people to things they frequently. Extend it to El Con/Zoo/Hi-Corbett, Randolph park and it could be very helpful to help build downtown which doesn't and probably never will have a Home Depot, Walmart or Target that El Con could provide. Not to mention all the Sunshine Mile stores that need to become a destination. Wont happen without the trolley.

I have lived in Tucson a total of 10 years. First time I was here was 2006-2011, I came back in 2019 and have always loved the city. But honestly too many people in positions of power just bleed NIMBY. I keep hearing the argument that Tucson doesn't need to be Phoenix. I agree, however there are so many missed opportunities because we have so many people that can't accept the fact that Tucson is becoming a bigger draw. Tucson is not so sprawled out like Phoenix and we have a lot of natural beauty and wonderful mountains, but we can still have an awesome, modernized city that can appeal to more than nature lovers, college kids and military affiliates. Leaders keeping closed mind about the majority of opportunities will only hurt us in the long run. I hope folks wise up or at the least we can get people in office that will give developments a proper chance. Just my $.02.

[CactusCat]

Ari on 4th, pictures taken on January 8th.

[southtucsonboy77]

Here’s the latest on 75 E. Broadway:
https://tucson.com/news/local/business/r...db57dcc-b65f-11ee-9bd8-efe9bc9848db.html

“The developer is planning a hotel with some mixed-use retail and residential that would be between seven and 13 stories tall.” Geezuz, I hope we can get at least 10 stories. Floor-wise that would still be the most in downtown since ‘86.

[bthom3000]

How do I look up what’s being built around town?

[Sonoran Swami]

I wish it was $95 million for Tucson-Phoenix passenger rail.

Governor Katie Hobbs announces $95 million federal grant for I-10 expansion

https://www.kvoa.com/news/local/governor...7600e4a-b972-11ee-af16-67b75dbfcde4.html

[Locofresh55]

Originally Posted by bthom3000

How do I look up what’s being built around town?

Kaneui has a link showing the map of Tucson development projects. Last update was from Dec 2023. If you search for Kaneui, there is a link on any post to the development projects.

Hope that helps.

[southtucsonboy77]

AZ Public Media breaks ground on new Tucson broadcast center…

https://tucson.com/news/local/business/u...8dca9dc-b957-11ee-9366-c3950057909d.html

[Sonoran Swami]

Gallery: Arizona Public Media breaks ground on new headquarters

https://news.arizona.edu/photos/gallery-arizona-public-media-breaks-ground-new-headquarters

[Sonoran Swami]

As an Outside magazine subscriber, this popped up in a social media feed and I thought it share worthy here. Well placed by Visit Tucson promoting Tucson's status as a great bicycle town.


America’s Best Winter Biking Destination:

https://velo.outsideonline.com/news/americas-best-winter-biking-destination/

[Sonoran Swami]

12th Avenue has so much character. From today:

[Sonoran Swami]

Originally Posted by andrewsaturn

Will we see more information and designs of the new casino being built by the Pasqual Yaqui Tribe in 2024? This is kind of a unique project close to Downtown Tucson. The project site is at the old Century 16 theaters near I-10/Grant which is now demolished. The new casino may be visible from I-10 and it will be less than 10 min from Downtown, so we could only imagine the benefits of having a casino nearby for downtown Tucson. The parcel is 40 acres and will be built in two phases.

Phase one: Casino, parking garage, and 3 food and beverage outlets.
Phase two: Hotel with conference center and 2nd parking garage.

There are no renderings yet but hopefully this year we see some more information.

There's a new article in today's Daily Star on the casino. When I clicked through this morning there was no paywall. That may change:

https://tucson.com/news/local/business/r...8581f40-c08a-11ee-8c5c-471303ec2480.html

A few quotes:

Tucson’s newest casino will have a footprint similar to Casino del Sol, on the city’s west side, with a sportsbook, food court and parking for more than 1,200 cars. The casino floor, at 65,000 square feet, will be accessible from a second-floor escalator where a restaurant and other amenities will be featured. Gaming options will include slot machines, a high-limit room and table games. Aside from the full-service restaurant and food court, the casino will also have a centerpiece bar. The four-level parking garage will have 1,050 spaces and a surface parking lot will have an additional 195 spaces.

And also this:

Yaeger Architecture will be the project architect and Summit Project Management will provide management services. Amaktoolik Studios led the site planning stage of the project.

Van Amburg said the casino and related amenities are the first phase of the project. Phase two plans include a resort and conference center with an additional parking garage, but no details on that are yet firm.

She expects renderings of the new casino to be available for the public to see in the coming months.

[southtucsonboy77]

471 W. Congress has been going thru the City’s development process and has been progressing. On the positive, it’s moving forward; the negative, it’s gone down from 17 floors to 10. It appears in the re-design the 7 floors were shifted to sit on top the parking garage, taking height away and optically elongating the structure.

I’m rusty on posting images, I’ll give it a try on the next post.

[southtucsonboy77]

These images were taken from the Design Package of the development team off of the City's website.

[combusean]

Is there a height limit on the 471 W Congress site? 10 stories is kind of weird when most developers would settle for a 5 over 1 or 2.

[andrewsaturn]

Originally Posted by combusean

Is there a height limit on the 471 W Congress site? 10 stories is kind of weird when most developers would settle for a 5 over 1 or 2.

I believe the current zoning for that area is 300 ft max according to this old article: https://azbex.com/planning-development/17-story-high-rise-planned-in-downtown-tucson-gateway/

[andrewsaturn]

Originally Posted by Sonoran Swami

There's a new article in today's Daily Star on the casino. When I clicked through this morning there was no paywall. That may change:

https://tucson.com/news/local/business/r...8581f40-c08a-11ee-8c5c-471303ec2480.html

A few quotes:

Tucson’s newest casino will have a footprint similar to Casino del Sol, on the city’s west side, with a sportsbook, food court and parking for more than 1,200 cars. The casino floor, at 65,000 square feet, will be accessible from a second-floor escalator where a restaurant and other amenities will be featured. Gaming options will include slot machines, a high-limit room and table games. Aside from the full-service restaurant and food court, the casino will also have a centerpiece bar. The four-level parking garage will have 1,050 spaces and a surface parking lot will have an additional 195 spaces.

And also this:

Yaeger Architecture will be the project architect and Summit Project Management will provide management services. Amaktoolik Studios led the site planning stage of the project.

Van Amburg said the casino and related amenities are the first phase of the project. Phase two plans include a resort and conference center with an additional parking garage, but no details on that are yet firm.

She expects renderings of the new casino to be available for the public to see in the coming months.

They expect to break ground later this year as well. Yaeger Architecture helped design Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and here are some their photos but not saying it will look same.
https://www.yaegerarchitecture.com/projects/hollywood-casino-at-kansas-speedway/