While Tucson is undergoing major infrastructure and urban development projects in its downtown core, there are also smaller scale revitalization projects happening in its uptown neighborhoods. Southwest Urban, a group of local investors, has been getting in on this urban revitalization and has two commercial projects underway.

The former automotive repair and tire shop at 901 South 6^th Avenue sold for redevelopment to The Station on 6th Ave LLC, an affiliate of Southwest Urban Holdings LLC (Len Casebier and Adam Lundquist, members) purchased the property for $200,000 ($57.50 PSF).

The 3,478-square-feet former automotive-use building was built in 1936 and sits on a .28 acre with a wrought iron fenced perimeter.

The buyers plan to redevelop the property into a Bohemian coffeehouse or restaurant and give it a fresh new design, for serving fresh roasted coffee and espresso drinks and food in this great West University neighborhood, Casebier told us.

The buyers have been active for some time in urban redevelopment work in Tucson, both residential and commercial.

Casebier and Lundquist purchased the former Axle Transmission building in downtown Tucson this past November and have redeveloped it into artist studios. The historic 10,000-square-foot, brick building at 301 W 4th Street played host to a number of businesses throughout the years, with the most recent being a commercial truck repair and supply business. The warehouse-style structure with vaulted barrel ceilings and enormous beams & bolts was a prime candidate for urban renewal to recapture the functionality and relevance of the structure and to support area development and revitalization for an urban aesthetic as artist studios and common area for a public gallery display.

The location is prime, as one of the largest remaining undeveloped warehouse properties in the area. Situated next to the railroad tracks along Main Street, just north of St. Mary’s (6th Street) in the neighborhood. A vibrant urban community that is highly sought after by owner-occupants and investors alike with its’ close proximity to downtown, the University of Arizona, public transportation, the street car, urban activities, and bike routes. The property is also close to the new Downtown Links project that connects St Mary’s Road to interstate I-10, and includes plans for an urban park and other venues.

Ron Zimmerman, Commercial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | Picor in Tucson represented the seller, Jorge Martinez of Tucson on the 901 South 6^th Avenue property. The buyers, also licensed real estate brokers with Southwest Urban, were self-represented in the transaction.

For more information, Zimmerman can be contacted at 520 748-7100 and Casebier and Lundquist should be reached at 520.591.4553 for sale and leasing information.

To learn more, see RED Comp #3942.

The Riley Family Trust of Corona Del Mar, California (Virginia C Riley, trustee) bought the leased fee interest in McDonald’s at 3640 West Tangerine Road in Marana for $1.8 million ($46 PSF). The land sold with a long term leased fee interest with McDonald’s on the 38,956-square-foot parcel.

The seller, also a California Trust, was represented by Jason Yukin of Marcus & Millichap in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and assisted by Marcus & Millichap in Phoenix.

McDonald’s built the 4,215-square-foot building in 2008 at the Tangerine Crossing Commercial Center, located east of the northeast corner of Thornydale and Tangerine Roads in Marana.

For additional information Yukin can be reached at 954.245.3431.

To learn more, see RED Comp #3891.

Planet Fitness purchased an anchor pad at Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges, located at the northwest intersection of Interstate 10 and South Kino Parkway, for $1.18 million ($9.85 PSF) for construction of a 25,000-square-foot building. The approximately 2.75 acre parcel is northwest of Walmart and northeast of McDonald’s on Park Avenue.

Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges is a 114 acre project with approximately 1 million-square-feet of shops, pads, entertainment and anchors when fully completed. Current anchors include Costco and Walmart with such other tenants as McDonald’s, Great Clips, Mattress Firm, Sports Clips, Sprint, Verizon, and Starbuck’s.

The site work and grading has already begun for Planet Fitness with plans for opening in Q4 2016.

Randolph Titzck and Chad Russell with Land Advisors Organization in Phoenix represented the seller, Tucson Retail LLC, an affiliate of Eastbourne Group of New York. Pete Roffle with Vlahakis Companies in East Lansing, Michigan represented the Planet Fitness developer of Alma, Michigan.

Russell told us since the first of the year, there has been over 96,000-square-feet of buildings break ground at Tucson Marketplace. Cinemark’s 53,678-square-foot Century Theatre, in addition to a 12,550-square-foot Lin’s Chinese Buffet, and a 30,000-square-foot Dave & Buster’s are all under construction.

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), one of the world’s leading motion picture exhibitors, is constructing a 14-screen, 1,294-seats, all-digital movie theatre that will feature Luxury Lounger reclining chairs in all the auditoriums at the Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges, The new built-to-suit theatre is scheduled to open November 2016.

“Cinemark currently operates five theatres under our Century brand in the Tucson, Oro Valley and Sierra Vista market,” commented Tim Warner, Cinemark’s Chief Executive Officer in a news release.  “Our new NextGen theatre located at the Tucson Marketplace will be the first complex in Tucson to offer guests our Luxury Lounger recliners and should quickly become recognized as one of the best places in the area to enjoy a great movie-going experience.”

Dave & Buster’s, another 30,000-square-foot built-to-suit, plans to open by Q1 2017. Known for its cool games for adults, sports, and strawberry-flavored ice cubes since 1982, this will be the first store for this popular eating place in Tucson, and is located directly to the east of the theatre.

For additional information on pads or leasing, Titzck and Russell should be reached at 480.483.8100.

To learn more on this transaction, see RED Comp #3991.