Navigating Rio Nuevo
By Karen Thoreson
he secret is out. Downtown is a great place to live…and it’s getting better. More and more people want to experience the urban lifestyle that comes with living in the city center. According to realtors, housing demand is very strong Downtown, but supply is limited. Well, that’s about to change.
Housing has always been a priority for Rio Nuevo – a decision based on the tried and true experience of Downtown revitalization works in other cities. History has shown that a Downtown really starts to become successful when a large number of full time residents decide to make it their home. It’s for this reason that new public and private sector housing developments are such a big part of the early stages of Rio Nuevo. Private developers are really beginning to find Downtown a viable market. Response to requests for proposals that have been issued by the City for residential projects has been very strong. There are also a number of developments underway that are strictly the result of private companies or investment groups seeking to provide the homes to help meet the increasing demand for a more urban lifestyle.
Here’s a bit of information about some of the housing projects in and around Downtown that will give us nearly 800 new residences in the near future.
A Model Development
Armory Park del Sol has model homes complete and more units under construction on the east end of the Armory Park neighborhood. The John Wesley Miller Companies is building as many as 98 custom residential units here that are especially designed for energy efficiency and to accommodate present and future technology. The colors are great too. The homes are under construction now and you can visit the models. The sales office is on site at 3rd Avenue and 16th Street. Get more information by calling 798-7607 or visiting the web site at www.armoryparkdelsol.com.
In the Heart of the City
The City has received a number of proposals for developing the West Congress property, between the Santa Cruz River and Grande Avenue. The project will be awarded this month to one of these private sector developers. Watch the Rio Nuevo web site for more information – www.cityoftucson.org/rionuevo.
The Request for Proposal for Presidio Terrace, currently a parking lot adjacent to the north side of Tucson Water’s headquarters, will be issued this month. The City and its partners on this project will be looking for a creative proposal that brings a unique approach to developing this site. It’s expected that the development will include residential units of some type, a creative solution for parking, and perhaps some business possibilities. We should be receiving proposals by December.
The new homes at Court and Meyer in the Presidio neighborhood are a City of Tucson, Community Services Department project. Five three-bedroom, two-bath houses will be started this month. There will also be one home site adjacent to the new houses available for purchase that should be on the market in November. Some of these homes are already being offered for advance purchase. Ron Whitman has more information at 791-4123.
There’s not a lot of information available yet but La Entrada Luxury Apartments will have 60 new units getting underway next year on Granada Avenue north of Congress Street. When more information is released, we’ll let you know.
A public-private partnership, Depot Plaza is in the planning stages across Toole from the Historic Depot. This development will have 200 housing units for a mix of incomes, retail space, parking and a public plaza. The private sector group is Congress Street Redevelopment LLC with Tom Warne, Doug Biggers, Yoram Levy, and Don Semro as principals. The architect is Nelsen Architects of Scottsdale. The City is seeking federal grants to fund a portion of the project and Rio Nuevo will also contribute. It’s hoped construction will begin in 2004.
Hot and Cool on the Edge of Downtown
The aptly named Deep Freeze Development LLC is reconstructing the old icehouse on Mill Street, just southeast of Downtown, into 51 loft units in the fashion of the Soho and Tribeca neighborhoods in Manhattan. Construction will begin in 2004, but units are for sale now at the sales office at 120 East Congress, Downtown. Randi Dorman, Rob Paulus, Phil Lipman, and Warren Michaels are the principals. Call 623-LOFT for more information or visit the www.icehouselofts.com web site.
Doucette Homes is planning up to 70 new houses just south of Downtown at Estrella del Campo at Starr Pass. Construction will begin in 2004. Principal Tom Doucette says to call 622-7373 for more information.
Karen Thoreson is a Downtown enthusiast and City of Tucson Assistant City Manager. Her primary responsibility is the Rio Nuevo Project and Downtown. If you have questions about Rio Nuevo or suggestions on topics for this column, please contact Ms. Thoreson at kthores1@ci.tucson.az.us.
