By Gabriela Rico | Arizona Daily Star
The booming housing market in the Tucson area has now reached the farthest west end of possible development.
Developers are planning thousands of new homes next to Ryan Airfield, near Ajo Way and Valencia Road — the farthest west that can be built out in Pima County before bumping up to state trust land.
On the south side of the intersection is a 1,200-acre site owned by two developers with plans for residential, multifamily, retail and office space.
Homebuilders are already active northeast of that intersection, and KB Home has lots under construction just east of Ryan Airfield.
“We expect continued growth in this submarket as buyers are being drawn to the area’s affordability, with prices in the $170,000s and its commuter-friendly location and proximity to amenities,” said Amy McReynolds, president of KB Home Tucson division.
The new and planned homes are drawing more retail to the city’s southwest.
New retailers have been moving into the shopping center west of Interstate 19 on Irvington Road and a regional grocer will be setting up shop on Irvington, just east of I-19.
At Ajo Way and Kinney Road, development continues on a retail center that already includes tenants such as Dairy Queen, Cricket Wireless, Domino’s Pizza and Subway, said broker Jeff Kost with Glenwood Commercial Real Estate.
The Circle K at the intersection recently closed in preparation to be razed for a bigger store with a gas-pump canopy, he said.
O’Reilly Auto Parts is developing a store nearby, and several homebuilders are interested in land around the intersection, which is underserved by restaurants and other retail, Kost said.
“In our opinion,” he said, “a grocer would do very well at this intersection.”