Navigating Rio Nuevo
By Karen Thoreson
rom cultural and historical attractions to housing, retail and commercial developments, the Río Nuevo team is hard at work on a number of key projects that are turning Downtown into the Heart of the City. Many are exciting public-private partnerships that are proving especially successful because they combine the best of what both sectors have to offer. As these projects grow and take shape, they attract additional investment in Downtown, which in turn drives further interest and development. As they say, nothing succeeds like success. This is certainly true for Río Nuevo.
And yet these are much more than just individual projects. Each one celebrates a unique space, idea, structure or vision of our past. As the Río Nuevo team has studied other downtowns to learn what makes them successful, this has been one of our most important discoveries. The best Downtowns are one-of-a-kind, and being there is like being nowhere else. A strong sense of place is what people want and expect from their experiences shopping, dining, living, working and playing in the Heart of the City.
We are fortunate to have such wonderful existing material to work with as we create a Downtown that is exciting and attractive. Tucson is a city with a rich culture that stems from our Native American, Spanish and Anglo heritage, our desert landscape, and the particular unfolding of our history. Taking those seeds of individuality and nurturing them into a future that is equally vibrant and unique is a guiding principle of Río Nuevo.
Significant progress has been made toward that goal just recently as we move ahead on five exciting Downtown projects. Mercado of Menlo and Presidio Terrace are two residential developments being built on City-owned land that will bring many new housing choices to Downtown. Both projects will feature architecture that reflects the character and unique history of their surrounding neighborhoods. Groundbreaking on the Mercado project will occur this November, with model homes expected to be complete by March 2005. Presidio Terrace is primarily a residential development that will also feature complementary commercial uses and an attractive parking garage. Proposals from several developers are still under review, but plans are progressing smoothly and we expect to begin construction in 2005.
Bourn Projects, Inc., the developer chosen to revitalize the Thrifty Block, will break ground soon on an eight-story development called “The Post,” which will feature 61 loft condominiums and nearly 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, including restaurants and a grocery store. This is an exciting step toward bringing new life to Downtown’s Congress St. Entertainment District.
The City is also reviewing proposals from developers from around the country to build a new Downtown arena, which is planned to open its doors in 2008. Tucson is in desperate need of an updated facility for concerts and sporting events, and we’re getting closer to making this a reality. A developer will be chosen soon and feasibility studies will be conducted to determine the arena’s size and other features to make sure it serves the community’s long-term needs while being economically sustainable and affordable.
As the cultural cornerstone for Río Nuevo, Origins Heritage Park is one of our most-anticipated and exciting public projects. Phase I will create an interpretation of the original Tucson Presidio and mark the Presidio’s perimeter, build the Mission Gardens and perform extensive archaeological work and landfill remediation. Once approved, it could begin soon. Reconstruction of the San Agustín Mission complex, including the Convento, chapel and granary, mission walls and other features will comprise the second phase of the project, which is anticipated to be complete in 2009.
Río Nuevo’s goal is to create a fully revitalized Downtown that honors our traditions and history while embracing the future. We are getting closer to seeing that vision become reality every day, thanks in large part to valuable input and ideas from various business groups, citizens committees and Downtown advocates who all care deeply about seeing the Heart of the City grow and prosper.
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
