Navigating Rio Nuevo
By Karen Thoreson
he City of Tucson isn’t alone in its effort to revitalize Downtown. Many cities around the country are working to reestablish their downtowns as centers of commerce, entertainment and culture through revitalization plans similar to Río Nuevo. Every plan is different, of course, because every city has its own history and personality, strengths and weaknesses, which are key considerations in determining their visions for the future.
Despite those differences, our goal as City planners and downtown advocates is the same – to create healthy, thriving city centers. We can learn a lot from watching other downtown revitalization efforts, particularly in cities that are similar to Tucson, to see what works and what doesn’t. Since there is no map to lead us, we have to plan carefully. One part of careful planning is to let the experiences of others help guide the way.
One city that has a lot in common with Tucson is Albuquerque. Like Tucson, its character has been strongly affected by its desert climate and its culture is a similar blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo influences. Albuquerque’s downtown was once the center of that city’s activity, but it suffered the same way Downtown Tucson did when rapid expansion after WWII turned people’s focus away from downtown. Now, Albuquerque is in the midst of a successful Downtown revitalization effort that’s about five years ahead of where we are in Tucson. That makes it a great place to turn for ideas and guidance, and a wonderful source of inspiration.
The City of Albuquerque started by identifying a 12-block revitalization zone downtown, similar to what we’ve done in creating the Río Nuevo District in Tucson. They assessed the area’s needs and attracted private investors to meet some of them, while the city contributed others. Now, a multiplex theater and a number of restaurants are drawing people downtown – and are supported by expanded public parking - which has in turn attracted more retail and commercial businesses.
Albuquerque also recognized the need for more and better housing options downtown. Private developers are converting a number of historic buildings into residential lofts, such as the old Albuquerque high school building and a historic bank tower - similar to Tucson’s Bank One building. These units are in high demand, thanks to their innovative design, historic significance, and of course an exciting urban location. New housing developments are also complete or underway, all of which have helped make downtown Albuquerque into a destination that’s highly livable and convenient.
Downtown Tucson is experiencing similar success with residential projects like Academy Lofts, Ice House Lofts, Franklin Court, Mercado of Menlo, and Rio Development’s 200-unit development on West Congress St. Those projects are greatly expanding people’s housing choices, and are in turn attracting more investment and development to the Heart of the City.
As Río Nuevo moves ahead with plans for a proposed new arena, it’s exciting to watch what Albuquerque is doing with its own arena project. They’re about to begin a feasibility study, which is now standard practice for ensuring that a public project will be sustainable and meet its community’s long-term needs. It’s an extremely important step that yields valuable information about a facility’s optimum size, design and operational features – and it’s something we will do very soon as part of our own arena project.
Proper planning and cooperation between the public and private sectors have been a formula for success in Albuquerque, and it’s a key philosophy that underlies Río Nuevo as well. As their downtown has completed or is completing many of its major projects, added activity almost seems to create itself. Farmers markets, arts festivals, a growing nightlife – these are all signs of a healthy downtown, just like the singing of birds indicates a healthy forest. All signs point to a bright future for Downtown Albuquerque, and the same is true for Downtown Tucson as well.
Karen Thoreson is a Downtown enthusiast and City of Tucson Assistant City Manager. Her primary responsibilities are the Río Nuevo project and Downtown. If you have questions about Río Nuevo or suggestions on topics for this column, please contact Ms. Thoreson at Karen.Thoreson@tucsonaz.gov.
