SEPTEMBER 2004
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Downtown Lowdown{Send your Lowdown to Jamie Manser, jamie@downtowntucson.org} Downtown Development ProjectsThrifty BlockThe somewhat controversial demolition of the Thrifty Block began on August 9 and the contractor, Breinholt Construction, has 126 days to finish the task. By Monday, December 13, the buildings at 26-56 E. Congress St. will be gone. The most recent occupants all left in the 1980s, and they included Thrifty Drug (38 E. Congress St., RIP 1988), Fields Jewelers (56 E. Congress St., RIP 1986) and Talk of the Town Saloon (26-34 E. Congress St., RIP 1981). The federal government bought the spaces in 1989 when they were considering expanding the Walsh Courthouse, but sold the property to the City nearly a decade after they had concluded that the site was insufficient. The City of Tucson solicited redevelopment proposals and selected Bourn Projects to heal the gaping wound that has disrupted the continuity of Congress Street for almost two decades. See the July issue of the Downtown Tucsonan at www.DowntownTucson.org for more information on the project (“Thrifty Block goes to the Post”). Starting this month and for the duration of the razing, the south sidewalk and parking spaces will be closed. ArenaThings are moving along the western front of Downtown with the City’s selection of Team Zocalo as the preferred development company for the new civic arena. The team is comprised of six firms and was chosen based on its record of developing successful arenas and creating strong public/private partnerships. While Team Zocalo prepares its proposal, Conventions Sports and Leisure will conduct a feasibility study to determine potential market demand, maximum arena size and arena activities that are likely to be successful in the Old Pueblo. A City selection committee has recommended the hiring of design firm Hargreaves Associates for the design of the Civic and Cultural Plazas - two of Rio Nuevo’s largest public projects. Pennington Street GarageGroundbreaking on the 740-space mixed-use garage will take place on September 14 with a ceremony at the site, at the southeast corner of Scott Ave. and Pennington St., at 10:00 a.m. The project is scheduled for completion by June 2005. Ike’s CoffeeGearing up for a lovely fall and winter, the java and lunch spot plans to have a patio on the south side of its 100 N. Stone Ave. locale by the end of September. Proprietor Ike Isaacson said he wanted to “create outside seating” parallel to Pennington Street because the patio at his east Speedway location was popular and it would “make the place more attractive.” Fox TheatreThe theatre’s entryway restoration project was awarded a 2004 Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund Grant to the tune of $88,500. The cash will allow the foundation to restore the entryway to its 1930 appearance with some of the plans including the re-creation the 1930 ticket booth, restoring the entryway decorative frieze, and recreating the original wood entry doors. The project is set to commence this month, in conjunction with the Fox’s lobby rehabilitation and scheduled to be completed by next January. The lobby project is expected to be completed by next spring and events are being planned for that time to utilize the 3-story space while the auditorium continues to be worked on. New BusinessesAlliance Bank of ArizonaA business bank that serves the greater Tucson and Phoenix markets opened an office in the UniSource Energy Tower, 1 S. Church Ave., last month. Founded by former Tucsonan Robert Sarver, the bank’s Board of Directors Chairman said the Downtown location “is focused on serving Tucson’s Downtown business and professional services community.” Dawg House
The commodious area features plenty of playroom, a large couch facing the northwest with a television showing doggie movies, a webcam for the doting parent at www.DawgHouse.biz, training classes, bath and nail trims and two of the biggest dog lovers you’ve ever known. Run by transplanted Portland residents Erica Carder and Christopher Beeson, the Dawg House was two years in the making with the last six months consisting of getting the Stone/University building up to code. With two of her own canines – Bela, a chow and Ben, a German Shepherd/Bernese Mountain Dog mix – and a degree in Biology, Carder said she loves dogs and is fascinated by animal behavior. The center is opened from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with evening training classes starting this month. Call 903-2949 for more information. Treasure Shop and Second Fiddle Re-Open for FallCheck out the two south downtown shops as they gear up for another season! Shopping at either location - Treasure Shop, 24 E. 15th St., or Second Fiddle, 455 S. Stone Ave., – is inexpensive and guilt free! Purchases made at the Treasure Shop (622-5070) for antiques or Second Fiddle (670-0185) for clothing, furniture and more benefits the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and music education in Southern Arizona. Fall=Proliferation of Events!September 25 kicks off the first annual BAM, Big AZ. Music Festival. The event is dedicated to show-casing up-and-coming acts from the Southwest. Acts from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Colorado, Phoenix, and yes Tucson will be playing indoor and outdoor stages along 4th Avenue and University Avenue. October will see the return of Club Crawl and monthly Saturday night events!
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For the love of your pooch, “go for a ride!” to the 750 N. Stone Ave. dog daycare service. 
In a mere blink of an eye, the winter holiday season will be upon us. With that in mind, the Parade of Lights is seeking entrants! Applications will be downloadable from 
On the heels of the Parade of Lights comes the Family Arts Festival on January 16, 2005. Performers are being sought. Visit familyartsfestival.org or call 624-0595. Dillinger Days will be held the third weekend in January, as a community celebration of the 71st anniversary of the capture of the notorious gangster, right here in the Old Pueblo.