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Growth Entails Options
As the population of Tucson/Pima County continues to grow, so does the transportation problem. It’s estimated that daily vehicle miles of travel have increased over the last decade by a rate some 2 times that of the population growth. With Pima County’s population expected to surpass 1 million by 2007, a lot more will be said on that subject in advance of balloting for regional transportation issues on May 16. “A safe and efficient transportation system is critical to the region’s economic success and quality of life,” says U of A President Peter Likins on behalf of the Regional Transportation Authority. But roads and public transit are not the only transportation options --- two-wheeling is also being promoted through special events, city support, and national publicity.
Pedal Power
Bicycle commuters get the headlines on Friday, April 7, when the City of Tucson Department of Transportation sponsors Bike to Work Day. “Two-wheeled travelers are encouraged to ride downtown to Jacome Plaza in front of the Main Library from 7 to 9 a.m.,” says department spokesman Michael Graham. “More than half of Tucson area residents live less than 5 miles from frequent daily destinations such as their workplace,” says Melissa Antol, City of Tucson Bicycle Coordinator. Raffle drawings will be held for hundreds of dollars worth of prizes including the grand prize of a state-of-the-art commuter bike. The Bike to Work Day Fair will also offer citizens an opportunity to register in the City’s long-term bike commuting program.
Bicycling magazine named Tucson as the second best city for bicycling in its population category; the city has more than 300 miles of striped bike lanes. “In addition to reducing air pollution and keeping riders physically fit while traveling to and from work, biking reduces traffic congestion and cost,” writes Graham in a DOT fact sheet. The average annual price of maintaining a car (primarily gasoline, insurance, and parking) is $8,410 while yearly bicycle costs average about $200, according to Graham.
Added Incentives
To help cyclists, the City of Tucson has equipped all Sun Tran buses with bike racks, currently has over 750 racks and lockers available for bike parking, and is in the process of installing 150-200 racks along Fourth Avenue and downtown along Alameda Street and Church Avenue. Completion of the latest installations is scheduled to coincide with the April 7 date of the citywide effort to promote bicycle commuting. Construction of the new racks is funded by an $8,000 federal grant administered through Pima Association of Governments and intended to encourage use of alternate modes of transportation. The downtown bike parking project is a cooperative effort between the City Bicycle and Pedestrian Program; Tucson’s Transportation, Streets and Traffic Maintenance Division; the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee, and the Tucson Downtown Alliance.
More Spoke Stories
Not to be forgotten amid the Bike to Work hoopla is the bicycle aspect of the April 6 to 9 Clean Air Fair sponsored by local agencies and businesses concerned about air quality. The “Do Your Share for Healthy Air” fair includes bike registration on April 6, a Walk ‘n’ Roll to School day on April 7, and a concluding Clean Air Jam from noon to 4pm on April 9 at Reid Park’s DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. A schedule of activities is posted at www.tucsonaz.gov/caf.
Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’
They’re all up and running now, the 38 new Sun Tran buses unveiled last fall that feature rider-friendly conveniences such as roomier interiors, panoramic windows, easy-to-read LED destination signs and cameras for enhanced safety. The buses run on bio-diesel, a cleaner-burning alternative fuel. Sun Tran’s fleet is now 92 percent alternatively fueled, according to Tucson Transportation Department Director Jim Glock.
This Project Continues to Brew
Nimbus Brewing Company still resides in the 3800 block of E. 44th Street while its owner continues to pursue a new address downtown--a project that has involved more time and many more iterations than originally conceptualized. Behind-the-scenes progress is being made, according to Jim Counts of Nimbus and Rio Nuevo director Greg Shelko, who met recently and are about to make the big announcement about project details.
“I can’t tell you the content or any of the specific details of our discussion,” said Shelko, “but we are hopeful of being able to make some sort of announcement very soon.” Both parties agreed that the business plans, as proposed and modified, were complex and required additional discussion and give-and-take. No official independent feasibility study was commissioned, but Shelko says “third party eyes” took a look at plan progress to date and made some suggestions. “Some of what is currently going on involves potential real estate transactions, and neither side can make any statements at this time without potentially compromising property or project negotiations,” Shelko says.
Nimbus owner Jim Counts says everything has been put together, from design to financing, and “it’s my understanding we’re going to bring it before a downtown staff review committee in early April. We’ve teamed up with an unnamed but well-known developer to present something special, a gateway project for the north entrance to downtown. We’ve complied with everything the City has requested, and basically the ball is now in the City’s court.”
Downtown Shines in Building from the Best Awards
The Sonoran Institute has announced nearly two dozen awards for building projects designed to reflect a quality of life that will serve as innovative design models for future development. Four downtown projects were among the Building from the Best award recipients. Architect Rob Paulus took two honors in affiliated categories: His Barrio Metalico homes, which are constructed with metal materials and intended to fit into a downtown industrial area, took one prize in the category of Urban Infill Development.
His better-known Ice House Lofts, in which the 1920s Arizona Ice and Storage Company warehouse at 1001 E. 17th St. was turned into 51 loft units, took Creative Redevelopment and Rehabilitation prize honors.
Other downtown winners were the Franklin Court, a small-scale urban infill development project by Contemporary West Development, and the Pennington Street Garage, a mixed-use development project of the Dick & Fritsche Design Group, D.L. Withers Construction, and the City of Tucson.
A Downtown-based architectural firm took honors in the Green Building category for its design of the Edith Ball Aquatics Center for the City of Tucson. Burns and Wald-Hopkins Architects, located at 261 N. Court Ave., was recognized for that project.
For more information on the Sonoran Institute’s mission, and the Building from the Best awards, visit www.sonoran.org.
Downtown Visitor Attractions
Two recently completed feasibility studies involving downtown museums predict they will have a positive economic impact and will expand the visitor market. The new Arizona State Museum and Arizona Historical Society’s Arizona History Museum, along with the Origins Heritage Park, are major cultural components of the Rio Nuevo Master Plan. “The attractions will bring substantial cultural and educational benefits,” according to the study conducted by ConsultEcon, Inc., a private consultant specializing in economic research. The study results have prompted the City of Tucson and its partners to move forward with plans to build the museums on the west side of downtown.
“When Rio Nuevo was first conceived and approved by voters and the master plan embraced by the community, the centerpiece was projects that preserve and celebrate our unique cultural heritage,” says City Councilmember Nina Trasoff, chair of the Strategic Focus Subcommittee on Downtown and Rio Nuevo. “Moving these plans forward is an important milestone in downtown revitalization, and these studies show the projects are poised for success.”
The market and economic feasibility studies predict an average of 332,000 visitors to the museums annually, generating a combined annual economic impact of $52 million for the Tucson metro area.
The City has spent the past three years conducting archaeological investigation and environmental remediation work. With the forecasting and feasibility analyses also complete, the museum projects are expected to move into an active planning and design phase.
“The positive study results confirm our belief that the Arizona History Museum and its central programming theme of cultural diversity (Many Voices) will be well received,” said Anne Woosley, Arizona Historical Society executive director. Michael Riley, public programs director at Arizona State Museum, noted, “This is a unique opportunity and we’re thrilled with the potential for innovative program development.”
Two other council subcommittee members also offered positive thoughts on the survey results. “These studies showing a strong economic foundation, along with an increase in tourism, will result in long-term rewards,” said Ward 1 Councilmember Jose Ibarra. Vice Mayor Steve Leal was even more enthusiastic: “When I originally proposed that the ideal place for both museums would be next to the birthplace of Tucson, the Mission Convento site (with planned reconstruction to its 1775 condition), I knew it was the perfect thing to suggest. But I wasn’t sure it would ever happen. Now that we’re doing just that, we will have much to be proud of.”
Big Bucks for Culture
The Tucson Pima Arts Council has lost its executive director, Mary Anne Ingenthron, whose departing gift was the announcement of a $50,000 NEA grant to underwrite the cost of cultural planning.
“Our individual lives have been enriched because of the gifts our artists share with us, and the community revitalization underway has the arts positioned at the table and ready to play an important role,” she told Downtown Lowdown. “The cultural planning process about to be launched should serve as a catalyst for bringing a broad segment of the community together to chart Tucson’s cultural future. We have accomplished much in support and promotion of the arts and advocated for resources to strengthen the wealth and diversity of artistic talent in this community. Much remains to be done.”
An interim director will soon be named, but finding a new permanent executive may take some time. “A search committee will be formed to begin looking for a replacement executive director, but a search for someone at that level generally takes several months,” says Jim Rowley, president of the TPAC board of directors.
Open Studio Artist Tour
For the first time in several years, no formal arts organization will be sponsoring the spring Tucson Artists’ Open Studios tour, so a group of independent metro area artists has banded together to orchestrate the April 8 event. “Tucson artists have traditionally invited the public into their studios twice a year as part of an open studio tour event,” says Dirk Arnold, planning committee member. “This year, with no formal sponsorship in sight, well over 50 artists formed a grassroots volunteer operation to make the open studio tour (11am-4pm) an artist-initiated event.” A web site has been set up to list registered artists and their locations [www.TucsonOpenStudios.com].
Artists who work in outlying areas and would like to set up downtown between Congress and Pennington should contact Tig Collins at ArtFare, 55 N. 6th Ave. (903-0918).
If you just can’t wait until April 8, the Spring Artisans Market at Tucson Museum of Art runs through April 2. On daily exhibit from 10am to 5pm is a collection from the Taos Society of Artists as well as a display of papel picado, the age-old tradition of paper cutting. TMA is in the historic block of downtown at 140 N.Main Ave.
Event Management Firm Relocates to Downtown
Downtown’s Bank of America Plaza is the new home of Tucson-based event management and event web development company A6 Consultants LLC. (A6 Consultants has served as the TDA’s event company for Downtown Saturdays)
“We have steadily been growing and our new location will provide an opportunity to expand our services and better meet our clients’ needs.” said Al Wynant, CEO.
A6 Consultants currently serves clients in Arizona, Georgia, New York, California and Nevada. Aside of managing events, the company’s event web development division features EventInterface.com, an online event registration, ticketing, and membership solution.
A6 had maintained an office on Tucson’s east side, but as of April 1 is located in Suite 1960 on the 19th floor of the Bank of America Plaza, at 33 N. Stone Ave. A6 Consultants can be reached at its new Downtown office at (520) 624-7225.
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