TUCSON, Arizona — There are three multifamily projects in various stages of development that could bring as many as 1,000 new housing units near downtown Tucson.

On Tuesday, the Tucson City Council gave its nod of approval for PAD rezoning of 213 N Fourth Avenue, to replace Maloney’s Tavern and a warehouse with a multilevel apartment complex with commercial and retail ground floor use. The rezoning makes way for local developer, Partners on Fourth Investments, LLC (Steve Fenton, manager) to raze the existing buildings and build either condos and or apartments on the 1.68-acre site. The buildings’ height or exact number of units has not been determined, but it’s believed to be between 11 to 14 stories with 250-300 units.

Mark Irvin of Mark Irvin Commercial Real Estate and a member of the Rio Nuevo District Board said he fully supports the addition to Fourth Avenue.

“Although it is just outside of the Rio Nuevo boundaries, this new development sits on the footsteps of downtown and will have a profound impact,” said Irvin.  “It is a great addition to our ongoing efforts downtown and is just what employers looking at downtown Tucson appreciate.  It will definitely help in our recruitment of firms to Tucson and enhance our efforts for Rio Nuevo.  It provides a great option for folks who want to truly experience living in and around the Central Business District.  Having the Modern Streetcar stopping in front of the property only adds to the ability to walk or take public transit in and around the area. The unanimous vote by our City Council speaks volumes about the project and the mutual efforts by so many in and around downtown.”

A second proposed development, Union on Sixth, is planned at the southwest corner of 4th Avenue and 6th Street and stretch west, back to 5th Avenue.  The developer is EdR, a  Memphis-based developer, describes the project as consisting of 250 housing units and approximately 8,000-square-feet of ground floor retail, as well as around 200 parking spots.

The height step down to around 3 stories where the development is directly fronting Fourth Avenue.  While the portion of the development fronting Fourth Ave would still be multiple stories, the 7-story portion would be set back 200 feet to the west of Fourth Ave, beyond what is now Herbert Ave.  The footprint shows the majority of the development fronting 6th Street and 5th Avenue, although it would obviously have a portion fronting Fourth Ave, occupying the space where the FlyCatcher building currently sits.

The complex is described by EdR as not a student housing project, but a housing project aimed towards graduate students and young adults.

Both Maloney’s and Union at Sixth are to the north of downtown. To the east in midtown, is yet a third housing project planned, the former Benedictine Monastery at 800 N Country Club Road. Local developer, Tucson Monastery, LLC (Ross Rulney, manager) purchased the 80-year old monastery from the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for $5.925 million with plans to build a seven-story, 300-unit luxury condos or apartments.

For about 75 years, the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration had called the monastery home and their decision to sell to Rulney was in large part due to being a local developer, despite not being the highest bidder.

“This iconic property is a Tucson treasure,” Rulney said. “We’ve been meeting with the Miramonte and Sam Hughes Neighborhood Associations. Neighbors are concerned about student housing and that’s why the luxury condos seems to appeal more. We have established a working relationship with the neighborhoods.”

Rulney told us he will submit a formal application for height and density rezoning in about two weeks to the City.

These proposed projects still have a long way to go in terms of development, with a series of regulatory hurdles ahead before developers could conceivably begin construction

TUCSON, Arizona — Nestled along the base of the Pusch Ridge Mountains, the Oracle Road Corridor from the Town of Oro Valley to Catalina has many new developments reporting ‘business exceeds expectations’.

The Canyons at Linda Vista Trail Apartments at 9750 N Oracle Road in Oro Valley, owned and developed by Ross Rulney and Malcom Berman opened this past October.  This upscale lifestyle apartment community with 228 luxury apartment units is reporting a 60 percent occupancy already.

“The community is leasing at a quicker pace than we had expected, and we are very pleased with its success,” said Rulney. The tenancy is also diverse, with single professionals, families, as well as retirees looking to downsize.

Kneaders Bakery & Café that also opened this past October is reporting the second highest sales volume of Kneaders’ 41 locations. Located at 9660 N Oracle Road in Oro Valley, the restaurant appears to be have been well received by the locals.

Building on success such as this, Rulney has a new multitenant retail building under construction at the Canyons.  Debbie Heslop, CCIM, with Volk Company told us Growlers USA, a microbrewery and a Nail Salon have preleased portions of the 8,000-square-foot building, leaving 4,500-square-feet for a possible restaurant concept tenant in this 40,600-square-feet planned retail center on 7 acres at full build out.Site Plan for The Canyons Retail and The Canyons at Linda Vista Trail Apartments

Nearby, at Oracle and First Ave., Steam Pump Village is 100% leased.

Brenna Lacey and Rick Volk with Volk Company handle Steam Pump Village and told us Native Grill & Wings and Freddy’s Custard and Steakburgers are both well under construction for Spring openings.  This will be Freddy’s 4th location in the metro Tucson region and Native’s 5^th.

Lacey who has handled the 42 acres of retail at Steam Pump Village from inception says, “There are only two retail pads remaining and one of those is in escrow. The last remaining 60,000-square-foot pad is next to Basis School.”

“The Oracle Corridor is maturing as a trade area and filling in with more diversity,” Lacey said. Oro Valley is an upscale community with per capita income among the highest of any in Arizona, with a median household income of $71,628.

Continuing north along Oracle, the small community of Catalina is also benefiting from this growth.

Circle K Stores recently purchased a 2.25 acre parcel in Catalina for $795,000 ($8.11 PSF) to add a new store next to McDonald’s, Family Dollar and Canyon Bank, across the street from the new Tractor Supply, all newly built.

To learn more, see RED Comp #4584.

For more information, Heslop, Volk and Lacey can be reached at 520.326.3200.

Boulder Oro Valley (Ross Rulney and Malcom Berman, managers) sold a one acre finished pad at The Canyons for $950,000 ($22 PSF) to FFG Development of Utah for a 4,050-square-foot Kneader’s Bakery & Cafe.  Located in the new The Canyons Retail, a 40,000-square-foot retail property at 9600 N Oracle Raod,  adjacent to the new Canyons at Linda Vista Trail Apartments at 9750 N Oracle Road in Oro Valley, also owned and developed by Boulder Oro Valley.

Nestled at the base of the Pusch Ridge Mountain, this upscale lifestyle apartment community will offer 228 luxury apartment units that will be 37% one-bedrooms, 50% two-bedrooms and 13% three-bedroom units. The Canyons at Linda Vista Trail features all stainless steel appliances, wood flooring with plush designer carpet in the bedrooms, and full-size front load washer & dryer. The community has a resort-style pool & spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, resident activity center, business center / lounge area, hiking trails, pet park, tennis and golf. Located close to shopping & restaurants and in the Oro Valley School District.

Canyons at Linda Vista Trail Apartment Community is scheduled to open by April. The Canyons Retail should follow shortly and is just taking form, with Kneader’s the first commitment and other serious interest being shown by several grocery stores and others.

The site was formerly known as El Corredor that was at one time split and sold for a hotel site. Boulder Oro Valley reassembled the 20-acre site for this intended multifamily and retail / office mixed use development at the northeast corner of Oracle and Linda Vista, along major trade route, Oracle Road in fast growing Oro Valley.

The apartments will be self-managed by Madera Management. Readers can learn more by visiting www.LivingAtTheCanyons.com or by calling 520.812.7887.

The Canyons retail is being represented by Debbie Heslop with Volk Company in Tucson. Heslop should be reached at 520.326.3200.

Greg Furrier of Cushman & Wakefield Picor of Tucson represented the seller in the sale to  Kneaders and can be contacted at 520.546.2735.

To learn more, see RED Comp #3566.