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Heart of Downtown
Mayor Bob Walkup presented longtime Downtown businessman Albert M. Elias with his quarterly Heart of Downtown Award. Elias has operated Old Pueblo Printers at 255 S. Stone Ave. since 1966, while the business has been located there for almost a century. Walkup cited Elias’ longevity as a Downtown businessman and his strong connections to Tucson’s Hispanic community.
In thanking the mayor for the recognition, Elias said “the time has come for the southern part of Downtown to see some money.
“Stone Avenue, in the 40 years I have been there it has changed very little. I have seen little progress in our part of downtown.
“I hope Rio Nuevo will be extra nice, modernize the sidewalk, get some landscaping in. One thing that is really lacking is that giant support from the city we need if we are going to have the Plaza San Augustin as well as acquiring the Scottish Rite building.”
The Heart of Downtown Award is a recognition of individuals, organizations or businesses that have made significant contributions to Downtown.
Back to Basics Grant Awardees
Mayor Walkup has once again selected Downtown Tucson as his adopted Back to Basics neighborhood, as it is “everyone’s neighborhood”. At a recent ceremony at Jacome Plaza, Walkup awarded ceremonial oversized foam-core checks, representing $355,000 in investment in infrastructure and right-of-way improvements, to 12 downtown neighborhoods, organizations, and projects.
The projects and recipients were:
- Congress Streetscape, $50,000. This is something of a down payment on future infrastructure improvements that will be recommended as part of the Congress Street Master Plan, underway now.
- Streetscape Improvements at 15th Street/6th Avenue, Academy Lofts, $25,000.
- Toole Avenue Artwalk (6th Avenue to Stone Avenue), Tucson Arts Coalition and Warehouse Arts Management Organization, $50,000.
- Reconstruction of Adobe Wall at La Casa Cordova, Tucson Museum of Art, $13,000.
- El Presidio Neighborhood Enhancements, El Presidio Neighborhood Association, $10,000.
- Light Installation in Barrio Viejo, Barrio Viejo Association, $50,000.
- Warehouse Stabilization for 17-19 and 31 E. Toole, Steven Eye, $23,000.
- Toole Avenue Structural Preservation, RISE, Inc., $15,000.
- Lighting for 10th Street Alley (between 6th Avenue and Scott), $25,000.
- The Screening Room Façade Renovation, Arizona Media Arts Center, $25,000.
- 4th Avenue/Pie Allen Neighborhood Lighting Project, WingSpan, $54,000.
Look to the Downtown Tucsonan for more information on these projects as they unfold.
Groundbreaking Work
Barrio Anita Mural Project
Our little berg now boasts one of the largest glass-tile mosaics in the nation – a panorama at 20 feet tall and 350 feet long and comprised of over one million -inch glass tiles.
The mural is the third wall completed as part of the Barrio Anita Mural Project (BAMP), the largest public art employment in Tucson history.
Begun last spring, BAMP was led by artists Joshua Sarantitis and William Wilson. The two consulted with area residents and Tucson youth via workshops before designing the mural and enlisted over 100 volunteers to lay out the 64-color work that honors the neighborhood’s history, heritage and heroes.
Located inside a freeway sound wall at Oury Park, 600 W. St. Mary’s, the behemoth beauty will be unveiled on Saturday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m.
Mercado District of Menlo Park
Site preparation begins this month at the 800 block of West Congress, the future location of the Mercado District of Menlo Park.
The 14 acres will feature a couple hundred residential units as well as retail, office and commercial space.
Comprised of local architects, builders and planners, Rio Development Company is undertaking the task and celebrated the commencing of the publicly-privately financed project on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
The company based its plans on the area’s surroundings and history, going all the way back to 2500 BC. Not only are the major streets based on canal systems that served ancient Hohokam residents water from the Santa Cruz, but the designs also incorporate elements from the Spanish Colonial days through to 1960.
Infrastructure construction is slated for January, with home sales beginning next May and a completion date within three years.
For more information, call 393-3973.
New Business Activity
Konica Minolta Business Solutions
Last year, Konica and Minolta merged and a new Downtown showroom will be carrying the company’s line of high-speed, high-volume document systems, color imaging systems, printing systems and advanced scanning and micrographics systems for document imaging – among other multi-functional devices.
KMBS National Representative Richard Burnett said the company is one of the only direct manufacturers with offices in Tucson.
“Our service organization is directly with the manufacturer. We can immediately back order parts and have them available.”
KMBS moved into the Pioneer Building, 100 N. Stone Ave., recently and will be opening a showroom on the ground floor of the Pioneer this month with a Tucson Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 14 at noon.
“We really feel good where we’re at,” Burnett said of choosing to locate Downtown. “We felt like it was the best fit for us.”
Konica Minolta Business Solutions can be reached at 888-9646 or online at www.kmbs.konicaminolta.us.
Wilde Playhouse
Tucked in the nooks and crannies of Congress Street are amazing enclaves of aesthetics, art and intellect that often go unnoticed by the average, quick-footed pedestrian.
It’s easy to scurry past empty storefronts, but those spaces are beginning to fill. With the turn of the season, existing businesses are extending hours and services to accommodate Tucson’s spring.
Wilde Playhouse, “Tucson’s only European-style theatre,” celebrated its one-year anniversary last month and also re-opened its café during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The spacious, yet cozy, Irish-themed theatre/bistro hosts scrumptious salads, soups and sandwiches, ample-sized appetizers along with Raging Sage coffee and espresso, pastries from Mona’s Danish Bakery, micro-brewed beers and an evolving wine list.
Located at 135 E. Congress, next to Silver Sea and The Screening Room and across from Chicago Store, Wilde Playhouse can be reached via phone at 770-1000 and online at www.WildePlayhouse.com.
Cowboy Music Is Alive and Well
 he big white tent in the courtyard of The Riverpark Inn at 350 S. Freeway came alive with the music that won the west Nov. 11-14. The Home Ranch Hands honored Tommy Doss from the Sons of the Pioneers, an icon from the glory days of Western Music.
 Tommy Doss was the smooth baritone voice heard on the Sons of the Pioneers records in the 50’s and 60’s. He was hand picked by Bob Nolan as his replacement in 1949. Tommy is also the only vocalist to ever perform with both the Sons of the Pioneers and Bob Wills Texas Playboys. The New Pioneers backed Tommy Saturday night before a full house of Western Music fans. At 84 years young, his voice was crystal clear on the renditions of “Cool Water”, “Tumbling Tumble Weeds”, “Timber Trail” and many other Pioneer favorites. His performance drew standing ovations and two encores.
Over 100 performers from all over the Southwest and as far away as New York and Washington D.C. gathered to perform on four stages both Friday and Saturday without any guarantee of compensation. The Ranch Hands were grateful to all these folks for giving of their talent and celebrity to help make this Cowboy Music Roundup a success.
The purpose of the Home Ranch Hands is to preserve and advance the history, literature, and performance of that music unique to the American West commonly know as “Western Music”. They encourage and support the preservation, performance, and composition of historic, traditional, and contemporary Western Music by educating the public about the history and literature of this musical tradition which uniquely represents the character, beauty, spirit, and myths of the American West.
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