TUCSON, AZ – In a transaction brokered by Tom Hunt and Bob Davis, formerly with Rein & Grossoehme and currently partners in Tango Commercial Real Estate Services, Trafficade Service, Inc. has purchased 3.04 acres with 22,000-square-feet of improvements located at 2802 N. Flowing Wells for $1 million ($45 PSF) from VEJP-Pro, LLC of Phoenix. The space, acquired July 1, will allow the Phoenix-based company to double its existing Tucson operation upon relocation from a nearby site.

According to Trafficade President and CEO Jeffrey D. Johnson, Trafficade is one of the largest privately owned traffic safety companies in the nation, with a staff of over 200 people, and over 130 vehicles. In business for over 25 years, the company is headquartered in Phoenix with satellite offices in Phoenix, Prescott, Chandler, Tucson and Flagstaff.

“Business in Tucson is booming,” said Johnson, referring to a heavy volume of city road repairs and paving projects underway and planned for the future.  The company specializes in traffic control and barricades, trench shoring and steel road plates, asphalt trench paving and repair paving, pavement milling and sawing, sign manufacturing and safety products. To meet growing demand for its services, Trafficade plans to add 10 Tucson jobs in the coming six months.

Class Commercial Furnishings + Interiors, LLC has leased 1,749-square-feet located at La Cholla Corporate Center, 7538 N. La Cholla Blvd. The eight-year old business, owned by Michelle Class, has designed diverse spaces ranging from Royal Buick/GMC/Cadillac to the Salt River Detention Center.

Representing the tenant for this transaction was Bob Herd for Herd Realty Company.  Representing the landlord were Tom Hunt and Bob Davis, formerly with Rein & Grossoehme and currently partners in Tango Commercial Real Estate Services.

“With recently completed transactions like these and others in the works, we’re seeing positive signs of continued economic activity in Tucson and that bodes well for better times ahead,” said Tom Hunt. “Whether we’re helping multinational companies or local business owners, Tango Commercial Real Estate is equally committed to being our clients’ partner in success,” said Hunt.

To learn more Tango Commercial Real Estate Services can be reached at (520) 288-1231.

For additional information login to reference RED Comp #3063.

The visionary concept for creating a new Downtown Marana and Marana Main Street, took a step closer to reality for the Town of Marana recently when Marana purchased 42.93 acres of land for $1.6 million ($0.86 PSF) from Reyher Partnership of San Diego, CA. The property is located on both sides of Marana Main Street between Grier Road and Civic Center Drive. Downtown Marana is often discussed as an opportunity to create a “heart and soul” for the town that would tie the greater Marana community together. Challenges to building a new downtown include four separate and distinct entitlements and different owners with each having their own vision of what Marana Main Street should be. One of these owners, Reyher Partners selling its interest will help bring the scope of Marana Main Street together.

The heart of Marana historically was where regional farmers came together to share information and sell goods. It provided a sense of community within a vast agricultural area. Establishing and capturing a strong sense of place is again believed critical for Marana residents as well as for visitors. The municipal complex and health center are the first major investments in Downtown Marana. Major infrastructure upgrades are needed and improved access from I-10 must be developed and include Civic Center Drive from Barnett Road to N. Marana Main Street which will terminate at Tangerine Farms Road.

The area has multiple landowners who will play an important role in the implementation of the vision for Downtown Marana. Successful downtowns need more than infrastructure, they need people. The Downtown Activity Center will include a strong residential component that will create 24/7 activity that will help local businesses succeed. It is anticipated that the activities and establishments in this Activity Center will support the Tourism and Visitor Experience target industry. Downtown Marana as currently envisioned is a large Activity Center, identified as part of the Council-approved Single Central Business District. This area can include a variety of development areas tied together with unifying design features and a multimodal transportation network that might include a trolley or other form of transit and pedestrian system. Comprehensive planning and creative techniques will need to be employed to achieve “walk-ability” and a unified design theme.

According to the Town of Marana’s website, “the entitlements are administered through four separate specific plans, each with its own development regulations and conceptual development plan. The common theme among these plans is the right-of-way alignment, the public pedestrian spaces and conceptual building layout fronting the pedestrian spaces. The downtown area is intended to reflect the main street character found in many communities with retail uses on the ground level and residential and office uses allowed on the upper levels. The buildings would be situated on the front lot line allowing for a seamless transition from the pedestrian to the built environment. Tree lined streets, casual seating areas, sidewalk cafes and small park-like amenities help create the desired look and feel.”

Marana is starting to see development interest in some of these areas and realizes that this is an opportunity to look at these four distinct planning areas comprehensively.

Three new business parks are opening in the area of I-10 and Tangerine Road with two important businesses committed to space. On the west side of the freeway, construction has begun on a new facility for Ventana Medical Systems, which will be part of the Tangerine Commerce Park. To the east of I-10, near Trico Electric, will be both Marana Technology Campus and Marana Business Park, with Towers International going into this area

For additional information on this sale see RED Comp #3085. For details on Marana Downtown District see Downtown Marana Activity Center.

Southwest Appraisal Associates (SAA) of Tucson (Steven Cole, MAI, principal) has completed construction on its new office building at 6019 E Grant Road in Tucson. Built on the last remaining lot in Old Farm Executive Park that was purchased in May 2014 by Steven Cole for $43,000 ($14 PSF) intended for construction of a new 2,100-square-foot office building. The Spanish Colonial style building is located adjacent to SAA’s former office at 6021-6023 E Grant Road.

SAA has been in business since 1982 providing real estate appraisal and consultation services to clients in Tucson and all other areas of Arizona, except Maricopa County. Assignments in all aspects of the real estate appraisal field have been completed by the firm. These include commercial, shopping centers, office buildings, airport properties, medical buildings, single-family and multi-family residential, restaurants, special purpose properties and vacant land.

The firm also specializes in absorption studies, feasibility studies, and marketability studies. SAA has completed multiple assignments for government agencies such as Arizona Department of Transportation, Pima County and the City of Tucson. This includes condemnation and right-of-way appraisals.

Venture West of Tucson was contractor for the new construction and completed the project in three months and one week to the day.

One week after SAA moved into its new building, it closed on its former office building at 6021-6023 E Grant Road for $312,000 ($128 PSF). The buyer, Vel Associates, LLC (Naren Velu, manager) will also be an owner user of the property as a software development firm.

Doug Marsh with Oxford Realty Advisors of Tucson represented the buyer, Vel Associates. Gary Best with Keller Williams Southern Arizona represented the seller and Steven Cole on the purchase of the lot at 6019 E Grant.

To learn more Best can be reached at 520.444.0799 and Marsh is at 520.232.0200. Cole at Southwest Appraisal Associates can be contacted at 520.327.0000.

For additional information, login to reference RED Comp #1950 and #2996.