Tucson Development Thread

[ppdd]

Regarding the El Conquistador, I certainly wish it had been saved - it would be a hub of midtown activity. There's really no hub. A great parallel is the Mission Inn in Riverside - total disrepair and nearly torn down, but at the last minute it was saved and restored and it's an absolute treasure.

If you've never seen it, check it out: http://www.missioninn.com/

[technical]

Originally Posted by ppdd

Regarding the El Conquistador, I certainly wish it had been saved - it would be a hub of midtown activity. There's really no hub. A great parallel is the Mission Inn in Riverside - total disrepair and nearly torn down, but at the last minute it was saved and restored and it's an absolute treasure.

If you've never seen it, check it out: http://www.missioninn.com/

Wow!

[Ted Lyons]

Crane's going up at 1020 Tyndall.

[Anqrew]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

Crane's going up at 1020 Tyndall.

awesome, Campus Acquisitions moved it's page on their website from "on the boards" to "under construction" as well.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by Anqrew

awesome, Campus Acquisitions moved it's page on their website from "on the boards" to "under construction" as well.

Also found this pdf of various neighborhood views of the finished project.

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/defau...th_tyndall.pdf

[ppdd]

Other than the streetcar video, a number of really good Tucson videos have been made in the last year or so. These are a huge step up from what's been used in the past. If you haven't seen them, watch and promote:

Business Attraction:
• Video Link

Downtown:
• Video Link

Kino Sports Complex:
• Video Link

Arizona Innovation - 100+ Years of Science and Technology at the University of Arizona
• Video Link

[Patrick S]

I was downtown today and drove by the large hole where they're building the new courthouse. I also was up on Speedway and saw the crane going up for the 1020 Tyndall building (as others have already noted).

Also, congrats to the BAT CATS at the U of A on their NCAA baseball national championship!!!!

[andrewsaturn]

Yes, this may be a little off topic of Tucson development but being that the University of Arizona is an integral part of Tucson and it's development, I want to congratulate the Arizona Wildcats Baseball team for winning the 2012 CWS!! It's great exposure for the university and ultimately Tucson. So Bear Down!

[kaneui]

Another student housing project near the modern streetcar to be ready by August, 2013--this one in the Iron Horse neighborhood:



The Junction at Iron Horse (N. 3rd Ave., btw. E. 9th & 10th Sts.) - three and four stories, 198-bed student housing complex.
Developer: Roy Drachman. Architect: GD&A Architects.
Construction timeline: site demolition in June, construction begins in August.
http://ironhorsetucson.com/post/2332...derings-of-the


(render, map: GD&A Architects)

[kaneui]

Now that the 8th St. drainage construction (Phase I) is finished, Phase II (from I-10 to Church Ave.) of Downtown Links could begin in October, with final project completion expected by 2016:



The St. Mary’s segment is in green, on the left.
(map: City of Tucson)



Downtown Links Work Could Start on St. Mary’s in October
Downtown Tucsonan
June 27, 2012

Behind the scenes, the Downtown Links road corridor project is moving ahead and by October construction could be underway on St. Mary’s Road/6th Street near Interstate 10. Downtown Links is the roadway that will connect the Barraza-Aviation Parkway to Interstate 10 via a roadway along the railroad track that will tie into 6th Street and St. Mary’s.

“The City of Tucson Department of Transportation is very close to going out to bid for the St. Mary’s improvements from I-10 to Church Avenue,” Tucson Department of Transportation Project Manager Tom Fisher wrote in a letter to Downtown Links partners. “Our target month for selecting a contractor is September with construction to begin within the following few weeks. This project will take approximately 12 to 15 months to complete depending on site conditions. We will keep you posted when the contractor has been selected and we are ready to schedule a pre-construction meeting. Last week, the RTA Board approved additional funding to continue design of the remaining segments of the corridor from Church to Broadway. We will be coordinating with HDR Engineering and other members of our project team to initiate the design process once again. We anticipate meeting with the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) in late July or early August to review the whole project and focus on the next tasks.”

Fischer also welcomed two new businesses at 6th Avenue and 7th Street, EXO Roast Company and Old Market Inn Tile Shop. “We welcome these two new businesses to the Downtown Links/Historic Warehouse District redevelopment area,” Fisher wrote. “Please stop by to meet the owners, have some fresh-roasted coffee, and buy some hand-made tiles. And Miller’s Surplus would appreciate your business too. This street corner is coming alive!”


http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/0...marys-october/

[kaneui]

What will be the next chapter for downtown's historic Manning House? The original 1907 Henry Trost-designed home--described as a hybrid of Spanish Colonial, Italian Renaissance and Prairie Style architecture--was built with 12,000 s.f. but eventually grew to 37,000 s.f., sits on 5 of the original 10 acres, and is on the market at $2.5M:




(photos: David Sanders)


Historic Manning House closing as event center, goes up for sale
by Carli Brosseau
Arizona Daily Star
June 26, 2012

One of the go-to spaces to hold events in Tucson, the historic Manning House, has been put on the market. It will host no events after July 11. "It's a competitive business, and we didn't make it," said CEO Colleen Concannon, who founded the events business at the 1907 "Snob Hollow" home almost 16 years ago. "Summer is always difficult, but this one is worst of all." Between the construction of newer meeting rooms, including at the casinos, downtown construction and the sizzling season slowdown, Concannon decided over the past two weeks it was time to move on.

The Concannon family, which owns the downtown property at 450 W. Paseo Redondo, is offering it for $67 a square foot. That amounts to $2.48 million for a 37,000-square-foot building on 5.2 acres. "It's a bargain," Concannon said. "It's like giving it away." The building's period décor and equipment will be sold at a series of yard sales at the property. The sales are slated for Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon beginning July 20 and lasting until everything is gone.


For full article: http://azstarnet.com/business/local/...ffe0f9c05.html

[ComplotDesigner]

1020 Tyndall

Sorry for the window reflection, was riding SunTran

[technical]

Originally Posted by ComplotDesigner

1020 Tyndall

Sorry for the window reflection, was riding SunTran

Ah yes. Such a beautiful site. More cranes!

EDIT ADD: Tucson will have a Google 3D Earth View, http://azstarnet.com/news/local/goog...e51fd8ab1.html . I like it. It helps to see Tucson in a different angle. This would very well add more pressure for more high rise development in Tucson.

[Patrick S]

Fresh off of the U of A's win at the College World Series, some more good baseball news for Tucson:
Tucson Padres confident they’ll stay another year, maybe longer

Despite a losing record, low attendance and a short history, it looks like the Tucson Padres will get another at bat in Tucson next year.
Tucson Padres General Manager Mike Feder is working hard to overcome all of those challenges.
“I’m really confident that the Padres will be here another year,” Feder said.
Although the team is up for sale, there have not been any offers and there are no cities in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) region that have a stadium that meets Triple-A standards. This means that anyone who buys the team would likely have to build an entirely new stadium. ...

You can read the full article here: http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/...9bb2963f4.html

[andrewsaturn]

Originally Posted by Patrick S

Fresh off of the U of A's win at the College World Series, some more good baseball news for Tucson:
Tucson Padres confident they’ll stay another year, maybe longer

Despite a losing record, low attendance and a short history, it looks like the Tucson Padres will get another at bat in Tucson next year.
Tucson Padres General Manager Mike Feder is working hard to overcome all of those challenges.
“I’m really confident that the Padres will be here another year,” Feder said.
Although the team is up for sale, there have not been any offers and there are no cities in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) region that have a stadium that meets Triple-A standards. This means that anyone who buys the team would likely have to build an entirely new stadium. ...

You can read the full article here: http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/...9bb2963f4.html

I like the Tucson Padres! Ever since the UA baseball team, I've been a fan of baseball. I have recently started to go to the Tucson Padres games in support but yes the attendance are very low. They only get over 2000 people to each game (3000 for Thirsty Thursdays) which is obviously awful for a stadium that fits over 10,000.

I was wondering if anyone from the forum, maybe get a group, would like to go to the game on July 3rd. They are suppose to be celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks and whatnot. If you would like to go just send me a message and we'll exchange emails!

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by kaneui

Another student housing project near the modern streetcar to be ready by August, 2013--this one in the Iron Horse neighborhood:



The Junction at Iron Horse (N. 3rd Ave., btw. E. 9th & 10th Sts.) - three and four stories, 198-bed student housing complex.
Developer: Roy Drachman. Architect: GD&A Architects.
Construction timeline: site demolition in June, construction begins in August.
http://ironhorsetucson.com/post/2332...derings-of-the


(render, map: GD&A Architects)

To confirm the construction timeline, demo has definitely been underway for a few weeks. AFAIK, the lot is pretty much cleared now. This'll be a nice project for 9th Avenue, especially considering no significant structures had to be destroyed.

[technical]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

To confirm the construction timeline, demo has definitely been underway for a few weeks. AFAIK, the lot is pretty much cleared now. This'll be a nice project for 9th Avenue, especially considering no significant structures had to be destroyed.

That's a good location being close to the snake bridge (along with it's bike path). The 'Retreat at Tucson' student housing at 22nd/S Park is also cleared (right behind the Valero gas station). Speaking of bike trails, I (with friends and family...I'm a summer visitor) was just at Costco at the Bridges by Kino, the place seemed well planned having bike paths by the road AND by the sidewalks. There's also a Walmart under construction in that development. Tucson is a biking paradise from what I've observed so far. There's even this 'Urban Loop' that's 55 miles surrounding metro Tucson. Amazing!

[Patrick S]

Originally Posted by technical

That's a good location being close to the snake bridge (along with it's bike path). The 'Retreat at Tucson' student housing at 22nd/S Park is also cleared (right behind the Valero gas station). Speaking of bike trails, I (with friends and family...I'm a summer visitor) was just at Costco at the Bridges by Kino, the place seemed well planned having bike paths by the road AND by the sidewalks. There's also a Walmart under construction in that development. Tucson is a biking paradise from what I've observed so far. There's even this 'Urban Loop' that's 55 miles surrounding metro Tucson. Amazing!

You're a summer visitor? Why in the heck would you want to visit Tucson in the summer? I'm just messing with you, I'm glad you come here to visit, it's just that most people come here to visit in the winter, fall, or spring - not the summer. No wonder you're staying thirsty, you're not used to the heat here. Like the radio commercial for Dos Equis says, "He has never broken a sweat, even in a sauna." - maybe you too, are the 'Most interesting man in the world' - maybe your commercial would say, "He has never broken a sweat, even in Tucson in the summer." - Stay posting (on this page) my friend.

[Patrick S]

Some good news for the housing market here in Tucson:

Monthly new home permits highest since 2003

The construction industry continued its slow rebuilding process in May with 214 new home permits, the most since 243 permits in March 2003. Year-to-date, 791 residential permits have been issued, 25 percent more than the 616 units during the same 2011 period.
New construction home sales in May were 123, eight more than a year ago. Year-to-date, there have been 520 closings of new-built homes.
The new data is from housing analyst John Strobeck of Bright Future Business Consultants. After seeing the latest stats, he re-confirmed experts’ projections that some 1,500 permits will be issued in the region this year.
“From a pure economic standpoint, we desperately need a vibrant new construction market,” Strobeck said.
By subdivision, Robson Communities pulled the most permits with 12 at Saddlebrooke Ranch, northeast of Oro Valley. At 9 each, the next-highest volume was D.R. Horton Homes at Estancia del Corazon in Sahuarita and Las Flores at Star Valley; and Pulte Homes at Sierra Morado, in southeast Tucson. ...

Here's the link to the entire article in InsideTucsonBusiness.com: http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/...a4bcf887a.html

[technical]

Originally Posted by Patrick S

You're a summer visitor? Why in the heck would you want to visit Tucson in the summer? I'm just messing with you, I'm glad you come here to visit, it's just that most people come here to visit in the winter, fall, or spring - not the summer. No wonder you're staying thirsty, you're not used to the heat here. Like the radio commercial for Dos Equis says, "He has never broken a sweat, even in a sauna." - maybe you too, are the 'Most interesting man in the world' - maybe your commercial would say, "He has never broken a sweat, even in Tucson in the summer." - Stay posting (on this page) my friend.

I like to 'Stay Thirsty' with the help of hot rays of the Tucson summer sun.

And the Old Pueblo summer monsoon says to me 'When it rains, it POURS'

I don't drink Dos Equis. I drink beer. And when I do .... Stay thirsty my friend.