Tucson Development Thread

[ZonaRealtor2021]

I truly hope not but then again everything In Tucson seems to get watered down or not built, so if this does go through which it should because it’s the Univeristy of Arizona. I think it’s going to be the same plan since that’s what they used in the article and stressed it was gonna be for students and synergy they’re closing 600 beds on the campus as well overtime so I believe the bed count will stay the same.

Maybe because the U of A actually cares about architecture and building something great they will re-think the design and go back to the original or do something even better???

Let’s hope bc downtown is a disaster. We will never get nothing above eight stories unfortunately.

Originally Posted by AZ71

I bet you they'll scale it down.

[southtucsonboy77]

It's in the early planning stages, but the City/El Pueblo are proposing a 5-story low-income housing project on the SW corner of Speedway and Stone. The generic description states Phase 1 of 2...so hopefully Phase 1 does not include the vital large parcel on the exact corner of Speedway/Stone.

There's approx. 8 parcels total...with Ash Ave. splitting the site right down the middle. Back in 2022 there was a 6-story project proposed, but it did not go very far.

I envision another dreaded elongated structure and/or complex development that has spread across the metro area. Can't ignore the positives of low-income housing and infill...that location has been blighted and vacant for way too many years now. But with the City's new "push" for density, the sprawled 3- to 6-story development is not the way to go for every proposal, especially in the urban core. My preference would be that they would stop with these endless buildings. Build up and save space for another project.

[AZ71]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

It's in the early planning stages, but the City/El Pueblo are proposing a 5-story low-income housing project on the SW corner of Speedway and Stone. The generic description states Phase 1 of 2...so hopefully Phase 1 does not include the vital large parcel on the exact corner of Speedway/Stone.

There's approx. 8 parcels total...with Ash Ave. splitting the site right down the middle. Back in 2022 there was a 6-story project proposed, but it did not go very far.

I envision another dreaded elongated structure and/or complex development that has spread across the metro area. Can't ignore the positives of low-income housing and infill...that location has been blighted and vacant for way too many years now. But with the City's new "push" for density, the sprawled 3- to 6-story development is not the way to go for every proposal, especially in the urban core. My preference would be that they would stop with these endless buildings. Build up and save space for another project.

Yes another missed opportunity. Especially with it being directly across the street from Pima CC. I'd rather have a nice looking student housing building with some height. Its sad the city hasn't instilled some beautification on Speedway from I-10 to UA which will pass right by this. As the primary entrance to UA from the freeway you'd hope the city would want to at least make this look like a vibrant city and not empty parcels of land and rundown infill projects. But again...no one is steering this ship (of our city) in any direction towards prosperity.

[combusean]

Tbf, I've never seen a community college have any synergy developments or student-focused housing anywhere I've seen one with the exception of rural campuses like Eastern Arizona College. They're usually just commuter campuses for working adults or students who still live at home. They're not quite like universities which tend to lag in dorm building and sprout dense student housing or have college town retail catering to a captive audience.

I would even go as far to say this is a quite appropriate development as providing educational opportunities is a great way to lift people out of poverty and the lower income residents could just walk to campus.

[AZ71]

Originally Posted by combusean

Tbf, I've never seen a community college have any synergy developments or student-focused housing anywhere I've seen one with the exception of rural campuses like Eastern Arizona College. They're usually just commuter campuses for working adults or students who still live at home. They're not quite like universities which tend to lag in dorm building and sprout dense student housing or have college town retail catering to a captive audience.

I would even go as far to say this is a quite appropriate development as providing educational opportunities is a great way to lift people out of poverty and the lower income residents could just walk to campus.

I understand what you're saying and I partly agree. I just think some of the low income housing has some of the worst architecture that will only harm beautification efforts....not that there are any efforts at all. But if we get another 5 story box with security metal fence like their last low income development...its just an unbecoming look.

[combusean]

What the hell?

They shouldn't be doing that at all. Most of the doubly loaded buildings in the Valley have parking lots in back.

If they're forced to put it in the center of the lot because of setback and parking requirements that's on Tucson. The codes really need to be updated if they're going to be constructing urban buildings like this.

In my ideal world this would have also been caught in site plan review if the building or planning department wasn't insane.

[andrewsaturn]

The Stone and Speedway apartment complex with 120 units looks like it will have parking in the back. These are preliminary designs from a Nov 2025 presentation.






Construction is expected June 2027- Early 2029.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6...7051/Meeting+Presentation_2025-11-24.pdf

[azsunsurfer]

Originally Posted by AZ71

I understand what you're saying and I partly agree. I just think some of the low income housing has some of the worst architecture that will only harm beautification efforts....not that there are any efforts at all. But if we get another 5 story box with security metal fence like their last low income development...its just an unbecoming look.

Wow for such a “progressive” city as Tucson this is truly disgusting!

[AZ71]

Saw this post on Reddit comparing Tucson's skyline from 1986-2025 or so to Austin, TX from 2014-2024. So only a decade compared to Tucson's 40 years. Looks about right as One South Church is being built so that was about 1986. And then you can see The Flin Apts downtown built so that was 2022/2023.

Its somewhat depressing to me. In 40 years we haven't had much built downtown in my opinion. A lot of lower-to-mid-rise buildings I guess have filled in. And you can see UA in the background with some growth. But downtown is unimpressive in my opinion.

[ZonaRealtor2021]

So Im sure I am not the only one but I was driving around the city and DT this past weekend and was very surprised to notice the apartment project going up across Congress and next to the West End & Sentinel buildings. Reason being per news article from the Arizona Daily Star from last year the developers of the annex, are in a huge legal battle, allegedly for fraud and misappropriation of funds has also been discussed on this thread before, those two pieces of land being included in that lawsuit. It was stated that because of the issues going on that they would not be developed. I wonder what change and how these micro apartments got approved so quickly.


Also was able to make it downtown Tucson the other night and take some nice pictures of the Arizona hotel completely under construction if you didn’t know and was just passing through Tucson on the I 10 one would think it is a new building under construction. It looks really cool at night time, I have high hopes that this does turn out to be a Hyatt Regency and a decent project overall! Hopefully, we get better renderings soon.

[andrewsaturn]

The Arizona Daily Star published an important article discussing the Rio Nuevo board and its lack of effort to support affordable housing projects in its district. Here are some points about the challenges the RN District faces for supporting affordable housing:

- For the downtown area, affordable housing projects are at odds with the AZ State legislature because legislature requires RN projects to generate sales tax and affordable housing does not.

- Affordable housing could include a mixed-use development, however, most developers are not familiar with retail portions due to the fact of it being considered risky.

- Downtown parking could be a challenge for mixed-use projects if people think it is inconvenient and parking is not on the premises. (Imo, downtown has always been about parking in garages and walking around anyways).




Also mentioned in the article:

A project in Los Angeles where an affordable housing project was approved with a COSTCO on the ground retail portion. That project was expensive, but COSTCO is a profitable business. That sort of project in downtown Tucson would be challenging to lure for sure.

The Stone and Speedway apartment is moving forward and will have a non-profit fresh food and meat market. (This is not RN district)



ADS article is pay walled:

https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber...l#tracking-source=article-related-bottom

[ZonaRealtor2021]

So the last RN meeting, they had three people in the industry who touched on how difficult it is to get affordable housing projects going. One of the most pressing issues is land. There isn’t much land within the RN district that RN could help assist with affordable housing also the way the tax credits work is another huge barrier and challenge, I don’t have very much hope for housing in the district even if it is market rate because of the challenges with land cost and availability, I am no expert in this however I’m not sure what Tucson can do to help facilitate housing shortages not only within the district and downtown but throughout the city, it’s shocking with all the new apartments that are getting built how much it is costing to build..

ALSO IN THE LAST RN MEETING THE OBIE GROUP WAS ONCE AGAIN ON THERE THE FACT THAT THEY NEED SO MUCH GAP FUNDING. I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER NORVILLE SITUATION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BUILD OR THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP ON MODIFYING THE PLANS. THIS COMPANY HAS NO MONEY TO BUILD THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS!

Originally Posted by andrewsaturn

The Arizona Daily Star published an important article discussing the Rio Nuevo board and its lack of effort to support affordable housing projects in its district. Here are some points about the challenges the RN District faces for supporting affordable housing:

- For the downtown area, affordable housing projects are at odds with the AZ State legislature because legislature requires RN projects to generate sales tax and affordable housing does not.

- Affordable housing could include a mixed-use development, however, most developers are not familiar with retail portions due to the fact of it being considered risky.

- Downtown parking could be a challenge for mixed-use projects if people think it is inconvenient and parking is not on the premises. (Imo, downtown has always been about parking in garages and walking around anyways).




Also mentioned in the article:

A project in Los Angeles where an affordable housing project was approved with a COSTCO on the ground retail portion. That project was expensive, but COSTCO is a profitable business. That sort of project in downtown Tucson would be challenging to lure for sure.

The Stone and Speedway apartment is moving forward and will have a non-profit fresh food and meat market. (This is not RN district)



ADS article is pay walled:

https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber...l#tracking-source=article-related-bottom

[AZ71]

The entire Rio Nuevo board needs ousting. Somehow its impossible to build residential in this city while other cities are going gangbusters with housing, real estate development, residential towers. Ironic since The Flin, Rendez Vous, Ari on 4th has all been built. Ever thought maybe its the lame developers of Tucson who cant get funded? Stop awarding parcels of land to Tucson developers! They also chose wrong with Obie from Eugene for 75 E Broadway? You even see this theme with all Tucson leadership. Look who they chose to run Old Tucson. They're horrible and are running that place into the ground and ignoring its movie location history. There is just no ability to choose proper developers in this town.

[andrewsaturn]

I honestly hope it doesn't work out with OBIE companies; however, it seems like they are committed to the project. I think on the bright side of the current 75 E Broadway project is that it will have about 12 Retail spots which our downtown needs more of in the core. Also, OBIE said in the meeting that the color will not be white but will be similar to the other buildings adjacent.

[andrewsaturn]

Casino Del Sol Vahi Ta'am update: looks like the buildings to the north are being demolished. Courtesy of BGBOYDPHOTO:

Fly-through video here:
https://www.threads.com/@bgboydphoto

[AZ71]

I'm glad those buildings are coming down at the Casino. I never heard plans to tear them down. Makes the location much more substatial if designed right. Would be really nice to put a nice sized hotel there. That entire area really needs revitalization and maybe this will do it. Wish they'd take out the other buildings around the Sonic on the NE portion of it so the Casino has the entire triangle shape land area. Outdoor concert venue would be nice like Casino Del Sol Asa Amphitheater or something similar. Maybe something smaller and indoor.

[andrewsaturn]

Some more new housing in planning and being developed near downtown Tucson. These developments are on St. Mary's Rd near the new Maclovio Barraza Parkway. Honestly, these should be multistory housing...

Construction is proposed to begin for June 2027, and these are preliminary photos of what could be built:









Presentation slides:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6...esentation_Main+%26+Davis_2026-02-11.pdf

[andrewsaturn]

The Hyatt Regency hotel on 181 W. Broadway is currently undergoing construction and renovation. No big news, but some photos of some possible signage placements for the hotel shown here.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lozu3_Nh3nY&t=956s

[OcotilloTea]

All of these buildings are at least two floors, but the architects tried to make the second floor blend better with the one story buildings in existing neighborhoods due to the public input.

I was at the public meeting for this back in December when I lived in Barrio Anita and I think that what the City is proposing is a slam dunk for these neighborhoods, that is, as long as these renderings are accurate.

There were a shocking amount of NIMBYs in the Barrio Anita crowd, I always felt that these huge empty lots were a draw for vagrancy, and filling them with quality and much needed affordable housing will make the neighborhood safer.

Originally Posted by andrewsaturn

Some more new housing in planning and being developed near downtown Tucson. These developments are on St. Mary's Rd near the new Maclovio Barraza Parkway. Honestly, these should be multistory housing...

Construction is proposed to begin for June 2027, and these are preliminary photos of what could be built:









Presentation slides:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6...esentation_Main+%26+Davis_2026-02-11.pdf

[AZ71]

I'm shocked this huge area of empty land/parking lots and the University Facilities Dept hasn't been redeveloped into housing of some kind. Its strange cause the city GIS says its owned by TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRIC NO 1 OF PIMA COUNTY. The school system needs money. Sell it and build.