Tucson Development Thread

[Mark H]

As someone who works downtown I want to go on record as repeatedly telling anyone who'll listen that the absolute best use for the Wig-O-Rama corner store would be to have Roma Imports move in there. I realize it's a smaller footprint than their barrio location but putting an Italian Deli/lunch spot of that caliber in that location would absolutely crush it... they'd do tremendous business. Even if they kept the barrio location and just used the Wig-O-Rama location as a lunch spot with a smaller kitchen and fewer freezer/to-go options they'd do quite well. I've mentioned this to various employees at Roma over the years... not holding my breath.

[farmerk]

Originally Posted by Mark H

As someone who works downtown I want to go on record as repeatedly telling anyone who'll listen that the absolute best use for the Wig-O-Rama corner store would be to have Roma Imports move in there. I realize it's a smaller footprint than their barrio location but putting an Italian Deli/lunch spot of that caliber in that location would absolutely crush it... they'd do tremendous business. Even if they kept the barrio location and just used the Wig-O-Rama location as a lunch spot with a smaller kitchen and fewer freezer/to-go options they'd do quite well. I've mentioned this to various employees at Roma over the years... not holding my breath.

I agree. I'd add a several restaurants, local or not, plus a condo/apt high rise.
Tucson you're ready.
It's time

[ComplotDesigner]

And gone... Park Ave. & 10th St.

[southtucsonboy77]

Originally Posted by Mark H

As someone who works downtown I want to go on record as repeatedly telling anyone who'll listen that the absolute best use for the Wig-O-Rama corner store would be to have Roma Imports move in there. I realize it's a smaller footprint than their barrio location but putting an Italian Deli/lunch spot of that caliber in that location would absolutely crush it... they'd do tremendous business. Even if they kept the barrio location and just used the Wig-O-Rama location as a lunch spot with a smaller kitchen and fewer freezer/to-go options they'd do quite well. I've mentioned this to various employees at Roma over the years... not holding my breath.

I never thought the use was the problem, I saw some decent foot traffic there. The store front presentation was what always bothered me. I hope the new era of this space improves upon that.

With that said, I can't deny that with that location a different use would generate even more traffic and attention.

[southtucsonboy77]

Tallest Albuquerque Building Proposal Sparks Potential Opposition

Tucson is not the only city/town with a NIMBY problem...

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

Tallest Albuquerque Building Proposal Sparks Potential Opposition

Tucson is not the only city/town with a NIMBY problem...

Up in Phoenix NIMBY's have potentially stopped two 20 story residential projects within blocks of each other because the traditional Phoenix neighborhood of dirt lots and stuccoed boxes from the 1950's cannot be disrupted!

[Mark H]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

I never thought the use was the problem, I saw some decent foot traffic there.

Keeping Wig-o-Rama in that location long term would have stunted downtown redevelopment. Nothing personal against the store but with the downtown revitalization push stores like that, smack in the middle of Congress, have got to go. Not a tricky decision.

[kmiller5]

Work has begun on West Point Apartments with the demolition of the east end of the building.

[Ted Lyons]

Looks like the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the Chase Bank building at 2 East Congress are being converted to lofts called "The Lofts at 2 East Congress." Construction permits were issued last week.

EDIT - May be the sixth floor as well. Project is being developed by Caylor Construction, which did 1 East and 1 West Broadway.

[crzyabe]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

Looks like the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the Chase Bank building at 2 East Congress are being converted to lofts called "The Lofts at 2 East Congress." Construction permits were issued last week.

EDIT - May be the sixth floor as well. Project is being developed by Caylor Construction, which did 1 East and 1 West Broadway.

There is a Construction Tour this saturday from 10am to 2pm

THE LOFTS AT 2 EAST CONGRESS CONSTRUCTION REVEAL & TOUR

[Ted Lyons]

Nothing huge, but the Daily Wildcat reported this week that plans are underway to construct a three-story building just south of Bear Down Gym at UA.

http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/artic...r-improvements

Bear Down Gym and the new building would be connected via a new underground facility to both the Science & Engineering Library and the Main Library.

Today, UA Libraries released this rendering.

[InTheBurbs]

Another glowing article about Tucson restaurants and food culture, this time from the BBC's Good Food magazine.

This Arizona hotspot, designated a Unesco ‘world city of gastronomy’, is fast becoming an essential foodie destination with its unique Baja Arizona and Sonoran Mexican cuisines, and unusual desert-grown ingredients.

http://cdn.haciendadelsol.com/CMS/29...in_article.pdf

[kmiller5]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

Looks like the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the Chase Bank building at 2 East Congress are being converted to lofts called "The Lofts at 2 East Congress." Construction permits were issued last week.

EDIT - May be the sixth floor as well. Project is being developed by Caylor Construction, which did 1 East and 1 West Broadway.

Great news! I only wish some were for sale.

Have you heard anything about the planned development on the parking lot behind the Chicago Store? I saw it was in the Rio Nuevo agenda but haven't seen any details yet.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by kmiller5

Great news! I only wish some were for sale.

Have you heard anything about the planned development on the parking lot behind the Chicago Store? I saw it was in the Rio Nuevo agenda but haven't seen any details yet.

Not yet. No articles have been posted about the meeting yet, at least that I've found. The minutes for March's meeting were just posted but there wasn't anything super illuminating in them. The discussion of the Sunshine Mile project was interesting, though. Seems like they may be focusing upfront on the area between Highland and Campbell and the block where the Chinese buffet used to be near Tucson Boulevard.

[crzyabe]

Layout for the MSA Annex

[Ted Lyons]

Curious why 14 doesn't have the container outlines.

Speaking of containers, it seems that things are also moving along at the Boxyard on 4th based on their Facebook feed.

[Azstar]

I took a look at 2 E Congress lofts today. There are 19 (I think) on floors 3-4-5 ranging from 398 s.f. to 845 s.f. The larger ones are going to be awesome. It's something Tucson hasn't really seen before, a real urban experience. They're under construction but you can tell they're going to be very cool, very high end with huge pivoting windows and incredible views. It's a big risk for the developer, but for someone who doesn't require outdoor space, it will be an interesting environment. I hope they lease quickly.

[southtucsonboy77]

Tucson Employer Adding 375 New Finance Jobs

Bayview says it plans to hire an additional 375 people in key financial roles.

The company is located in the University of Phoenix building at 300 S. Craycroft Road, and it plans to add a second location at 5151 E. Broadway Blvd. The new space will add about 40,000- square-feet across three floors.

The economic impact of the Tucson expansion is estimated at $552 million.

[crzyabe]

PAG, MPA, Sun Cooridor, etc have been working on building an online Parcels map for companies looking to locate to Pima County. It is still very much a work in progress, but the concept seems pretty great.

http://gismaps.pagnet.org/regionalsiteselector/

[wildcatmd]

https://news.azpm.org/p/news-article...ay-start-soon/

A $400 million dollar cash infusion into the University is on its way