Tucson Development Thread

[crzyabe]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

Don't want to bury the Amazon story, but this Daily Star article on the various food halls under development in town includes an interesting tidbit about the Ronstadt project.

http://tucson.com/thisistucson/eat/f...bf02d848a.html

Interesting that they are now discussing moving the transit portion of the Ronstadt Center. I had understood that if the transit portion was moved, the grant money used to build the center would need to be reimbursed - $9million or something similar. Unless this is only a temporary move for construction.

If they are moving it permanently, they may have found a better ROI without a transit option - even with paying the penalty

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by crzyabe

Interesting that they are now discussing moving the transit portion of the Ronstadt Center. I had understood that if the transit portion was moved, the grant money used to build the center would need to be reimbursed - $9million or something similar. Unless this is only a temporary move for construction.

If they are moving it permanently, they may have found a better ROI without a transit option - even with paying the penalty

Temporary move, I'm guessing to the triangle lot and parking lot next to the train station just north of the existing transit center.

[AZcat121]

Tucson gettting an almost 1million sf distribution center, to be completed summer 2019
http://tiboaz.biz/2018/03/17/tucson-...bution-center/

[Pedestrian]

^^I hope this means quicker and more certain deliveries in the Tucson metro.

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by Ted Lyons

Don't want to bury the Amazon story, but this Daily Star article on the various food halls under development in town includes an interesting tidbit about the Ronstadt project.

http://tucson.com/thisistucson/eat/f...bf02d848a.html

"The concepts coming to town are modeled after famous markets like Pike Place Market in Seattle or the Ferry Building in San Francisco's Embarcadero District. People gravitate to them because the markets offer inexpensive food and a community feel that only comes with a large gathering place . . . ."

That isn't quite correct. As a long-time San Franciscan and now snow bird flying off to the Tucson area every winter (to escape northern CA rain), I am regular shopper at the Ferry building when in SF. The point of the best of these food halls--what makes them successful--isn't "inexpensive food". Quite the opposite. It's top quality artisanal groceries you can't get in super markets such as specialized charcuterie, organically raised heritage breeds of meat, local (usually organic) vegetables at the peak of season, locally made cheeses and things like olive oils and on and on and on.

If they build food halls in Tucson that are just independent versions of mall food courts with a bunch of fast food chains, it won't work--or at least it won't be anything like the Ferry Building or Pike Place Market (or even old-style food halls like Baltimore's North Avenue Market). What should be in these places is the creme de la creme of local farmers' markets, available every day.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

"The concepts coming to town are modeled after famous markets like Pike Place Market in Seattle or the Ferry Building in San Francisco's Embarcadero District. People gravitate to them because the markets offer inexpensive food and a community feel that only comes with a large gathering place . . . ."

That isn't quite correct. As a long-time San Franciscan and now snow bird flying off to the Tucson area every winter (to escape northern CA rain), I am regular shopper at the Ferry building when in SF. The point of the best of these food halls--what makes them successful--isn't "inexpensive food". Quite the opposite. It's top quality artisanal groceries you can't get in super markets such as specialized charcuterie, organically raised heritage breeds of meat, local (usually organic) vegetables at the peak of season, locally made cheeses and things like olive oils and on and on and on.

If they build food halls in Tucson that are just independent versions of mall food courts with a bunch of fast food chains, it won't work--or at least it won't be anything like the Ferry Building or Pike Place Market (or even old-style food halls like Baltimore's North Avenue Market). What should be in these places is the creme de la creme of local farmers' markets, available every day.

Pike Place is similar to what you're explaining (most options definitely aren't cheap) but, knowing Tucson Foodie, I think this was a poorly worded description. I can almost guarantee these food halls will be almost exclusively filled with local and artisan merchants.

[southtucsonboy77]

Now that the cat is out of the bag, here's another article solidifying what we all know what and who the distribution center will be for:

That massive Project at Port of Tucson? Yeah, it’s Amazon!

The documents list a targeted substantial completion target of May 15, 2019 and a full completion, including all punch list items, of June 15, 2019.

[crzyabe]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

Now that the cat is out of the bag, here's another article solidifying what we all know what and who the distribution center will be for:

That massive Project at Port of Tucson? Yeah, it’s Amazon!

The documents list a targeted substantial completion target of May 15, 2019 and a full completion, including all punch list items, of June 15, 2019.

So at 2.3mil sqft of work/storage space, does anyone know if this is typical size of a normal Amazon distribution facility or is this something bigger?

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by crzyabe

So at 2.3mil sqft of work/storage space, does anyone know if this is typical size of a normal Amazon distribution facility or is this something bigger?

This site is a couple years old, but it lists fulfillment centers as of 2014. I don't see any as big as 2.3m sqft.

EDIT: forgot to link the site: http://auctionsitenews.com/amazon-fu...ter-locations/

[T'Town]

http://www.mwpvl.com/html/amazon_com.html

If the ABEX article is correct and the building is 2.3 mil SF then its probably not just a distribution center for Pima County as it would be the largest distribution center in the US by 2 fold. It could however be a distrution center for Southern AZ, Sonora Mexico, and Southern New Mexico? Pure speculation at this point but very interesting to say the least.

[crzyabe]

I am hearing that the Amazon proposal is still not final. Apparently a few other cities may still be in the running for this project. We may want to wait to celebrate until we hear official word.

[farmerk]

Plans for Tucson's beloved Benedictine Monastery unveiled

"... Under the existing zoning, there is no historic protection for the monastery, and group dwelling (student housing) is an allowable use, and no neighborhood participation or design review is required. "

Translation : It will be done.

[wildcatmd]

Originally Posted by farmerk

Plans for Tucson's beloved Benedictine Monastery unveiled

"... Under the existing zoning, there is no historic protection for the monastery, and group dwelling (student housing) is an allowable use, and no neighborhood participation or design review is required. "

Translation : It will be done.

This guy is ice cold.

[Ted Lyons]

This project makes no sense in that location. The odds of it ever being built are exceptionally low, IMO.

[southtucsonboy77]

I may be in the minority on this one, but I 1) appreciate the developer's approach and 2) actually like the proposal. The City NAs have attempted to be dominant in developments like this...and have gotten their way too many times. Now, this developer has some leverage. Good for him. I'm not gonna take time to do research on this matter since this project is not in my backyard (pun very intended), but it does make me wonder why there was no historic protection in the first place? The monastery definitely deserves it...unlike the so-called "Sunshine Mile" that was recently designated some sort of nonsense historical significance to try and screw up/delay the Broadway project.

As-is, traffic certainly needs to be worked out.

[wildcatmd]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

I may be in the minority on this one, but I 1) appreciate the developer's approach and 2) actually like the proposal. The City NAs have attempted to be dominant in developments like this...and have gotten their way too many times. Now, this developer has some leverage. Good for him. I'm not gonna take time to do research on this matter since this project is not in my backyard (pun very intended), but it does make me wonder why there was no historic protection in the first place? The monastery definitely deserves it...unlike the so-called "Sunshine Mile" that was recently designated some sort of nonsense historical significance to try and screw up/delay the Broadway project.

As-is, traffic certainly needs to be worked out.

The order of nuns that owned it never listed it as historic because it would have decreased the value of the land.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

I may be in the minority on this one, but I 1) appreciate the developer's approach and 2) actually like the proposal. The City NAs have attempted to be dominant in developments like this...and have gotten their way too many times. Now, this developer has some leverage. Good for him. I'm not gonna take time to do research on this matter since this project is not in my backyard (pun very intended), but it does make me wonder why there was no historic protection in the first place? The monastery definitely deserves it...unlike the so-called "Sunshine Mile" that was recently designated some sort of nonsense historical significance to try and screw up/delay the Broadway project.

As-is, traffic certainly needs to be worked out.

In terms of the proposal, do you see demand for hundreds of luxury apartments at Speedway and Country Club? That's what's got me.

Are you near Sam Hughes? Yeah, kind of, but on the wrong side of the street. Are you near shopping? Yeah, kind of, but not really within walking distance. Are you near jobs/UA? Not from my perspective, but I guess. None of these are strong selling points to me, especially considering the scale of the project. Makes about as much sense as the Hilton East location-wise.

[southtucsonboy77]

Ted, you got good points and I have nothing to stand on to counter. However, just like all the student-housing projects going up in the vicinity of the UofA, I would have to believe that this particular developer did his homework...or he would be losing tons of money. From what I've heard the student housing buildings have high occupancy rates. Is there demand for luxury apartments? If this guy is taking this project this far I hope so. Will this ever get built? Idk, but it is an interesting case.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

Ted, you got good points and I have nothing to stand on to counter. However, just like all the student-housing projects going up in the vicinity of the UofA, I would have to believe that this particular developer did his homework...or he would be losing tons of money. From what I've heard the student housing buildings have high occupancy rates. Is there demand for luxury apartments? If this guy is taking this project this far I hope so. Will this ever get built? Idk, but it is an interesting case.

Unfortunately, there's this: http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-an...5605bcad2.html

[crzyabe]

A little information on the student housing proposed at Speedway and Euclid

A Look At The Proposed Student Housing Development At Speedway & Euclid