Comments on: Urban Renewal, Part II ? http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/ Re-Elect Steve Farley as Arizona LD28 State Representative in 2008 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:18:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: ron manzi http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-47 ron manzi Thu, 07 Jul 2005 05:26:09 +0000 http://www.friendsofarley.com/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-47 what is needed here is housing first !!! then the need for all the retail comes later. i started buying houses in 1982 in tucson. but..i had my work in nyc. so i finally got here in december 2002. i never realized the problem..just like in nyc..housing first...then retail comes later !!!!! thanks what is needed here is housing first !!! then the need for all the retail comes later. i started buying houses in 1982 in tucson. but..i had my work in nyc. so i finally got here in december 2002. i never realized the problem..just like in nyc..housing first…then retail comes later !!!!! thanks

]]> By: Steve Farley http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-43 Steve Farley Sun, 19 Jun 2005 15:32:53 +0000 http://www.friendsofarley.com/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-43 I certainly aggee that this Century Tower project would be a great benefit to downtown <i>if it was built on any other site!</i> (one that doesn't require the bulldozing of any historic buildings, that is.) This is a classic and sad example of how we too often in Tucson make lemons out of lemonade. If, for instance, this project was proposed on the vacant stump of the never-built second tower next to the Unisource Building at Stone & Broadway (or across Broadway on that parking lot, or on any other parking lot in Downtown), this would receive nearly-universal approval. What a missed opportunity to choose the one site that would create a firestorm! I certainly aggee that this Century Tower project would be a great benefit to downtown if it was built on any other site! (one that doesn’t require the bulldozing of any historic buildings, that is.)

This is a classic and sad example of how we too often in Tucson make lemons out of lemonade. If, for instance, this project was proposed on the vacant stump of the never-built second tower next to the Unisource Building at Stone & Broadway (or across Broadway on that parking lot, or on any other parking lot in Downtown), this would receive nearly-universal approval. What a missed opportunity to choose the one site that would create a firestorm!

]]> By: Daniel http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-39 Daniel Fri, 17 Jun 2005 23:04:28 +0000 http://www.friendsofarley.com/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-39 Great post, as usual. I have to say that because I'm going to pick on the one part I disagree with (you'll get used to that from the press as the campaign heats up): your opposition to the proposed skyscraper across from the library. While it's not ideal placement and the green space will be missed, I think this project would do Downtown more good than harm. This seems to me like the kind of high-density infill that we need. And while half-million-dollar condos are extravagant, having high-income people living Downtown and thus spending more of their evenings there seems like it could be nothing but good for the area businesses. What am I missing? Great post, as usual. I have to say that because I’m going to pick on the one part I disagree with (you’ll get used to that from the press as the campaign heats up): your opposition to the proposed skyscraper across from the library. While it’s not ideal placement and the green space will be missed, I think this project would do Downtown more good than harm. This seems to me like the kind of high-density infill that we need. And while half-million-dollar condos are extravagant, having high-income people living Downtown and thus spending more of their evenings there seems like it could be nothing but good for the area businesses. What am I missing?

]]> By: Steve Farley http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-32 Steve Farley Mon, 23 May 2005 19:24:56 +0000 http://www.friendsofarley.com/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-32 I am aware of the arena pors & cons, but I am generally wary of "big-box" redevelopment--the idea that large expensive public projects are the only way to revitalize a downtown. I think we could all get a much better bang for our buck by investing in a lot of little projects rather than a few big projects with no connective tissue. A vital downtown is about connectivity, diversity, and choices, all interlinked in a web of common and differing interests. It should not simply be a place where people drive to a big event, then drive home. It must be a place where people encounter unexpected and wonderful places and people around every corner. It cannot be a sanitized mall environment, it must be radically public, pedestrian dominated, and nearly unmanageable. That all sounds very theoretical, but there are many specific things a city can do to encourage that result. One of the best things would be a small--say $5 million--loan fund for downtown businesses & organizations to borrow money at no interest to improve a facade, upgrade electrical, expand a cafe onto the sidewalk, add canopies or landscaping, restore historic neon signage, etc. Public transit (specifically the streetcar through Downtown) needs to be prioritized to bring people to, from and around downtown on foot. Shade and cool areas need to be everywhere in Tucson. Clean public restrooms. Public art projects. Rooftop restaurants & ballrooms. Restoration of historic buildings. Street furniture in gathering places. Street vendors. Consistent and occupied retail and restaurant space along all key commercial streets, with no driveway or parking lot cuts to create dead space for pedestrians. Do all this, and the people and shops and residents and visitors and jobs will come. Simply plop down an arena, and you're taking a gamble--maybe you win, maybe you lose. In either case, you need to connect that arena with the whole fabric of Downtown if you want any effect. I am aware of the arena pors & cons, but I am generally wary of “big-box” redevelopment–the idea that large expensive public projects are the only way to revitalize a downtown. I think we could all get a much better bang for our buck by investing in a lot of little projects rather than a few big projects with no connective tissue. A vital downtown is about connectivity, diversity, and choices, all interlinked in a web of common and differing interests. It should not simply be a place where people drive to a big event, then drive home. It must be a place where people encounter unexpected and wonderful places and people around every corner. It cannot be a sanitized mall environment, it must be radically public, pedestrian dominated, and nearly unmanageable.

That all sounds very theoretical, but there are many specific things a city can do to encourage that result. One of the best things would be a small–say $5 million–loan fund for downtown businesses & organizations to borrow money at no interest to improve a facade, upgrade electrical, expand a cafe onto the sidewalk, add canopies or landscaping, restore historic neon signage, etc. Public transit (specifically the streetcar through Downtown) needs to be prioritized to bring people to, from and around downtown on foot. Shade and cool areas need to be everywhere in Tucson. Clean public restrooms. Public art projects. Rooftop restaurants & ballrooms. Restoration of historic buildings. Street furniture in gathering places. Street vendors. Consistent and occupied retail and restaurant space along all key commercial streets, with no driveway or parking lot cuts to create dead space for pedestrians.

Do all this, and the people and shops and residents and visitors and jobs will come. Simply plop down an arena, and you’re taking a gamble–maybe you win, maybe you lose. In either case, you need to connect that arena with the whole fabric of Downtown if you want any effect.

]]> By: michael http://www.friendsofarley.org/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-31 michael Mon, 23 May 2005 04:43:56 +0000 http://www.friendsofarley.com/2005/05/20/urban-renewal-part-ii/#comment-31 There are many issues around downtown development, but perhaps the highest ticket item, which could impact Tucson taxpayer for decades, is redevelopment and expansion of convention facilities and a new professional-class arena. If we overestimate demand, we could be stuck with a very large operating deficit on top of construction. If we are too conservative, we could be throwing away a lot of positive growth and income for Tucsonans. I know the plans for this are still fairly preliminary, but I would be interested in knowing what your concerns and priorities would be in making decisions around this issue. There are many issues around downtown development, but perhaps the highest ticket item, which could impact Tucson taxpayer for decades, is redevelopment and expansion of convention facilities and a new professional-class arena. If we overestimate demand, we could be stuck with a very large operating deficit on top of construction. If we are too conservative, we could be throwing away a lot of positive growth and income for Tucsonans. I know the plans for this are still fairly preliminary, but I would be interested in knowing what your concerns and priorities would be in making decisions around this issue.

]]>