From The Editor

his month . . . random disconnected Downtown thoughts.

First, there’s been a good deal of media coverage of Downtown Tucson lately.

• An article in the Star asserted that Rio Nuevo isn’t a big campaign issue this year. While we would like our candidates to support Downtown and be conversant on the subject, it’s not necessarily bad if the general populace isn’t stirred up. Once Downtown redevelopment gains sufficient momentum and a critical mass of activity is created to entice Tucsonans from outlying areas to come here on a regular basis, they will vote with their feet.
• The recent tragic shooting at the 6th Avenue underpass resulted in media coverage regarding the safety of the Ronstadt Transit Center. Fortunately, violent crime is actually rare in the Downtown area, but when something does happen, the setting itself seems to be a topic of media interest, in a way that doesn’t seem to be the case when a shooting occurs in another area of Tucson.
• A guest opinion in the Tucson Citizen stated that some group called the “Downtown Business Alliance” is elitist for suggesting that a better location could be found for the transit center and Greyhound Terminal, asserting that this mystery group would like to create a suburban-type gated community in Downtown. I’m not sure which group Mr. Baldenegro referred to, but I assure you, gentle readers, that the Tucson Downtown Alliance is interested in moving these facilities because the objective is to create an exciting, dense, very urban, arts, entertainment, restaurant and retail district that is attractive to people from all socioeconomic levels, a place where grandmothers, families with strollers, and everyone else feels comfortable walking around, shopping, dining, enjoying music and other activities. Buses and through-traffic aren’t conducive to a pedestrian district, and the land would be better used if dedicated to destination attractions.
• Channel 4 made the Ice House Lofts residential development the top story on its 10:00 broadcast. It may have been a slow news day, but it’s very exciting for Downtown residential development to get a headline position nonetheless. As the KVOA story indicated, at press time, 41 out of 51 units have already been reserved via cash deposits.

Congratulations to the University of Arizona for getting Board of Regents approval for the proposed Science Center. Let’s keep the momentum moving through the Rio Nuevo process and the City Council.

Whether or not Propositions 200 and 201 are approved by Tucson voters this November 4, I believe that light rail is probably somewhere in Tucson’s future. Leaving aside the important matters of funding and whether improved transit will ease Tucson’s automobile congestion, I am intrigued by light rail for the simple reason that it can transform the character of our city. Nothing screams “city” like fixed-rail transportation. I believe that we could reach public consensus on implementing a “starter” system connecting the University of Arizona with Downtown and Rio Nuevo.

Please attend the Downtown Tucson Mayoral Forum on Thursday, October 9 at the Historic Stone Avenue Temple, 564 S. Stone Ave. Candidates Volgy and Walkup will answer questions relating to Downtown issues. They will answer audience-generated questions, so please come with Downtown-related queries that can be answered by both candidates. The forum runs from 7:00 to 8:30pm, and parking will be available.

Lastly, the Tucson Downtown Alliance is looking for greater public participation in our committees. As we are considering creating new committees, the timing is appropriate to find out who may want to join up. Please call 547-3338 or e-mail me at dondurband@downtowntucson.org if you are interested in joining an Urban Design Committee, a Land Use and Transportation Committee, an Economic Development Committee, or either of two committees that we are splitting off from our existing Operations Committee: Public Safety, and Maintenance. We also have marketing and events committees for you to join, through It’s Happening Downtown, Inc. Thank you in advance for your interest.

Donovan Durband
Executive Director, Tucson Downtown Alliance, Inc.
President, It’s Happening Downtown, Inc.

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