Tucson Development Thread

[farmerk]

Steller: Cathedral plaza proposal intriguing but flawed

...

Holualoa plans to put market-rate apartments on the site, probably four stories high, he said. Whether there’s enough room on a less-than-1-acre property for an urban plaza that actually needs to provide a return on investment is questionable to say the least.

Holualoa has already bought the surface parking lots one block south on Stone, across the street from the Carrillo mortuary. They plan to put around 25 three-story row houses on that property. Preliminary responses from neighbors and others have been enthusiastic.

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Article

BTW, the renovated Coronado Hotel's restaurant with tables outside (by 4th ave underpass) is quite popular and the Mercado San Augustine market ( with a tiny plaza at downtown west) is equally popular. If Holualoa doesn't build a plaza, at least allow restaurants with outside tables besides it.

[Patrick S]

Originally Posted by farmerk

Steller: Cathedral plaza proposal intriguing but flawed

...

Holualoa plans to put market-rate apartments on the site, probably four stories high, he said. Whether there’s enough room on a less-than-1-acre property for an urban plaza that actually needs to provide a return on investment is questionable to say the least.

Holualoa has already bought the surface parking lots one block south on Stone, across the street from the Carrillo mortuary. They plan to put around 25 three-story row houses on that property. Preliminary responses from neighbors and others have been enthusiastic.

...

Article

BTW, the renovated Coronado Hotel's restaurant with tables outside (by 4th ave underpass) is quite popular and the Mercado San Augustine market ( with a tiny plaza at downtown west) is equally popular. If Holualoa doesn't build a plaza, at least allow restaurants with outside tables besides it.

That parking lot across from Carrillo's used to be where I parked for work as I work right around the corner from it on S. Scott (I now park one block north just across Corral St. at another parking lot). I don't see how they're going to fit that many row houses on that property. It's not very big. They have it fenced off and have been doing work at the old funeral home on the east side of the property.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by Patrick S

I don't see how they're going to fit that many row houses on that property. It's not very big.

Evidently like this:

[farmerk]

Originally Posted by Patrick S

That parking lot across from Carrillo's used to be where I parked for work as I work right around the corner from it on S. Scott (I now park one block north just across Corral St. at another parking lot). I don't see how they're going to fit that many row houses on that property. It's not very big. They have it fenced off and have been doing work at the old funeral home on the east side of the property.

Couldn't find a rendering of this project. I hope it's NOT your typical low grade cookie cutter strip mall architecture. Tucson has enough of these rip offs.

[southtucsonboy77]

Downtown Tucson has one of the smallest footprints in the country for a large-medium sized metro area. I really thought this parcel was the cut-off of what I would have called "downtown" with a higher height limit and density. Again, this proposed development is infilling a surface parking lot...which is always a positive and I will never knock that. But 3-story row houses that close to "central" downtown? I love row houses...but not for that location. Just seems like developers are taking the path of least resistance from Neighborhood Associations and building smaller scale projects. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get.

[hthomas]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

Downtown Tucson has one of the smallest footprints in the country for a large-medium sized metro area. I really thought this parcel was the cut-off of what I would have called "downtown" with a higher height limit and density. Again, this proposed development is infilling a surface parking lot...which is always a positive and I will never knock that. But 3-story row houses that close to "central" downtown? I love row houses...but not for that location. Just seems like developers are taking the path of least resistance from Neighborhood Associations and building smaller scale projects. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get.

I think you nailed it. Not trying to be negative but I don't think Tucson will ever have the skyscrapers we want. I think that our development will be much more in line with the heights and densities of San Jose, Washington D.C., Dublin, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Munich, St. Petersburg...

[Ritarancher]

Tucson has far too many parking and dirt lots to get a skyscraper. Building to the sky is only needed when land gets scarce. I'd imagine we'll get the tall stuff we want in the early 2020's when Mercado and Arena fill up. When all of Tucson's tallest towers were built, the downtown core was full of small houses. Now, they've fallen apart and we've paved them over opening space up again.

[farmerk]

Originally Posted by southtucsonboy77

Downtown Tucson has one of the smallest footprints in the country for a large-medium sized metro area. I really thought this parcel was the cut-off of what I would have called "downtown" with a higher height limit and density. Again, this proposed development is infilling a surface parking lot...which is always a positive and I will never knock that. But 3-story row houses that close to "central" downtown? I love row houses...but not for that location. Just seems like developers are taking the path of least resistance from Neighborhood Associations and building smaller scale projects. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get.

I agree with you. I'd wish there's a spot or two in Tucson where the sky is the limit for building height. I like Kolb and I-10 to be one of those spots for Tucson's new downtown. The current downtown will be Tucson's gaslamp district or old downtown. With this setup we can line I-10 from Kolb to Tucson's gaslamp district with skyscrapers (light rail route besides it).

And it won't hurt to create urban islands in Tucson.

Within 50 years, Tucson will be fully urbanized and the current NIMBY's should be dead by then.

[southtucsonboy77]

Originally Posted by hthomas

I think you nailed it. Not trying to be negative but I don't think Tucson will ever have the skyscrapers we want. I think that our development will be much more in line with the heights and densities of San Jose, Washington D.C., Dublin, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Munich, St. Petersburg...

The mid-size buildings and densities they create are not bad in those cities...the thing that's driving me crazy here in Tucson is that we have not built any buildings taller than 9 stories in downtown since 1986. I think that time span is a bit much...and it's a symptom of what ails Tucson...and I won't get into that. But 3, 4, 5 stories...I mean, really, 3 stories...that's not mid-level by any means. The 3 student housing projects at Main Gate, the Casino del Sol Hotel...those are mid-size and appropriate for Tucson. These recent 6, 8, and 9 projects...okay, it's kick-started excitement and progress. I'm waiting on 10...that's my magic number for a downtown skyline celebration. To any critics of my frustration rant, I know it's all superficial and towers and skyscrapers don't truly represent a vibrant downtown. However, they are symbolic of success and prides of beauty and joy.

One last thought: Ever notice that our downtown doesn't light up or outline our buildings at night? Yes, our beloved dark skies ordinance...but man, we are behind in showcasing our skyline (as small as it is).

[Patrick S]

Hadn't heard about this yet. Looks like Comcast is opening a new Customer Service Center in Tucson. Though it is a call center, it will still employee over 1,000 people, which is good.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...r-service.html

http://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/...77e102c66.htmlhttp://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/...77e102c66.html

[kmiller5]

I'll be excited to see some of these housing projects get off the ground. I think I remember hearing that the Marriot Residence Inn on campus would break ground this summer along with West End Station (finally!). Anyone know if this is still the case?

[andrewsaturn]

Originally Posted by kmiller5

I'll be excited to see some of these housing projects get off the ground. I think I remember hearing that the Marriot Residence Inn on campus would break ground this summer along with West End Station (finally!). Anyone know if this is still the case?

Yes I believe both projects are starting this summer, if not, later this year.

[Ted Lyons]

At this point, I'd say the Residence Inn has no chance for a start this summer. Permitting hasn't even started as far as I can tell.

[kaneui]

Acknowledging that "we are part of the blight, but we want to be part of the solution," Tucson's Catholic diocese is proposing yet another plan to save the historic but crumbling Marist College, as well as redevelop parts of the two city blocks the diocese owns downtown:

http://tucson.com/news/local/new-eff...3ec39a044.html

[kaneui]

A review of the county's upcoming $815M bond election in November shows that downtown projects could receive nearly $75M, although whether voters are likely to approve anything other than Prop. 425 for road and highway improvements remains to be seen:

DOWNTOWN BOND PROJECTS

Prop. 426
Southern Arizona Regional Orientation Center - $18M

Prop. 427
Music Hall, Leo Rich Theatre, and TCC landscape renovations* - $23.5M
Historic county courthouse restoration/repurposing - $25M
Temple of Music & Art rehab - $.9M
Tucson Children's Museum remodel/expansion - $5M

Prop. 428
Sentinel Peak Park improvements - $1.5M


http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?...&pageId=195314


*Rio Nuevo is currently in discussions with the city of Tucson on how to fund an additional $48M of suggested renovations to the Tucson Convention Center. (Phase I renovations of $9M to the Tucson Arena and other areas were completed in December, 2014.)

[crzyabe]

Some concept drawings of Two West Broadway

https://www.facebook.com/engbergande...97250976987798

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by crzyabe

Some concept drawings of Two West Broadway

https://www.facebook.com/engbergande...97250976987798

Awesome. Looks pretty similar, but I'll be happy with it as long as they keep the distinct color scheme.

[Ted Lyons]

Originally Posted by crzyabe

Some concept drawings of Two West Broadway

https://www.facebook.com/engbergande...97250976987798

Oddly, the development package that was submitted on 5/19 indicates 7 floors. Curious which of the renderings or the development package are outdated.

[crzyabe]

That 2 story building on the AC Marriot lot is gone. I was downtown yesrtday morning and they were clearing the debris pile. Things are moving rather quickly.

Additionally, if you look through the fence on the lot, you see the current archaeology occuring on the south east corner.

[ppdd]

PAG is seeking input on the 30 year Regional Transportation Plan.

You can visit the survey site and contribute to the community input/vision here:

http://gismaps.pagnet.org/RTPEngage/