Plan Tucson will replace the 2001 General Plan adopted by Tucson Mayor and Council and retified by the voters in 2001. State law requires that every ten years, a jurisdiction revisit its existing general plan and either readopt that plan or adopt a new plan. The City chose to prepare a new plan because it provides and opportunity to take a look at how Tucson has developed socially, economically, environmentally and physically since 2001 and to determine if that development has been consistent with comunity values, demographic trends, and best practices. Plan Tucson is a long-term policy doucment intended to guide decisions affecting elements that shape the city, such as housing, jobs, land use, transportaion, water and energy resources.

The Final Plan Tucson Draft, which is now available for review, reflects staff recommendations for revisions approved by the Planning Commission at the February 27, 2013 meeting. The recommendations for revisions were based largely on more than 800 comments provided by approximately 100 commenters representing agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the general public.

To take a look at the Final Draft, click here:  FINAL PLAN TUCSON DRAFT

The final public hearing is scheduled for this evening:

Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at of after 6:00 P.M., in the Meeting Room of the Westside Police Service Center, 1310 West Miracle Mile, Tucson, Arizona 85705

The Planning Commission is established to advise the Mayor and Council and various City Departments on the adoption of long-range plans, policies, specific plans and regulations that affect development. Three previous public hearings on Plan Tucson were held on February 13, February 27, and April 3, 2013. Click here to go to the Planning Commission’s website to take a look at the material provided by staff.

Contact Jim Mazzocco of Tucson Planning Commission for more information (520) 791-4505.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Arizona was 7.9% in April, for the third consecutive month. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.6% in March to 7.5% in April. A year ago the Arizona seasonally adjusted rate was 8.4% and the U.S. rate was 8.1%.

In Pima County the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has been 6.9% for the past three consecutive months. A year ago the unemployment rate was 7.5% in Pima County.

This compares to Coconino County with 7.6% unemployment in April; Mohave with 9.5%; Phoenix Metro area with 6.8%; Yavapai County with 8.3%; and Yuma County with 29.6% unemployment for the same month.

The Arizona Republic recently ranked the state’s 2013 largest 100 companies by the number of people they employ within the state. The list includes public and privately held companies and not-for-profit corporations. Except where noted, number of employees is adjusted to full-time equivalents of 40 hours per week.

Information was obtained from the companies by self-reported questionnaires, from follow-up telephone calls and e-mails, and industry research. The list notes the companies’ rankings for 2012 and for 2003.

Click here to view the Arizona Republic ranking of largest 100 Employers in Arizona  https://www.azcentral.com/business/rep100/

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Many of Arizona’s successful charter schools have long waiting lists with an 8% annual enrollment growth each year. There are a reported, 145,000 students enrolled in 535 charter schools statewide. Here in Tucson, as the school year drew to a close Friday several charter schools were packing to move into new schools for the Fall.

Charter School Capital of Portland, OR dba Arizona College Prep Academy, will be moving from 7444 E Broadway Blvd into the 11,308 sq. ft. retail building (built 1977 and 2007) at 3434 E Broadway in Tucson. The building formerly occupied by BASIS Schools was purchased from BASIS for $1.4 million ($124 PSF). Located on the south side of Tucson’s main thoroughfare, Broadway Blvd. on .95 acres, it is directly across the street from the El Con Mall and Reid Park. The Arizona College Prep Academy will be relocated this summer in preparation for the 2013-2014 school year to commence in August.

Nancy McClure of CBRE in Tucson represented the buyer in the transaction.
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BASIS Schools at 3825 E 2nd Street purchased the property immediately adjacent to the existing school, formerly occupied by Desert Springs Academy, at 3833 E 2nd Street (built 1966) paying $1.65 million for the 8,801 sq. ft building on a 40,132 sq. ft. lot. The staff at BASIS was busy packing Friday in anticipation of the building being razed for construction of a new 2-story 42,468 sq. ft. school at this northwest corner of Alvernon Way and 2nd Street. BASIS currently serves 5th, 6th 7th grades and will introduce kindergarten through 4th grade for the 2013-2014 school year.

Carhuff + Cueva are the architects for the new building.

Desert Springs Academy will be moving to the property it purchased at 10129 E Speedway Blvd for $1.7 million cash ($96 PSF) for the 17,865 sq. ft. in three buildings (built 2003) on 8.9 acres. The property was formerly occupied by TAG Charter School that did not renew its charter for next year. Desert Springs is a K-8 charter school that plans to be open in its new location west of Houghton on Speedway for the coming school year.

Academy Del Sol, a K-8 charter school, is adding a second campus at 7102 W Valley Crest Place in the Star Valley neighborhood, located off Wade Road and Valencia in the West Valley. The school purchased 7.69 acres of vacant land for $1.007 million cash ($3 PSF) under the name of Schoolhouse Star Valley, LLC an affiliate of Schoolhouse Development from a trust managed by Joe Cesar of Broadway Realty and Trust of Tucson. The 32,000 sq. ft. building with 21 classrooms is currently under construction and scheduled to open July 29th for the new school year. The school’s Midtown campus is at 4525 E Broadway Blvd in Tucson.

GT Alley of Broadway Realty and Trust in Tucson represented the seller; while the buyer was self-represented in the transaction.

Mexicayoti Academy of Nogales, AZ a K-8 charter school, purchased from B77 Development, LLC (Clayton Niles, manager) the former charter school at 667 N 7th Ave in Tucson. The 7,627 sq. ft. building (built 1971) on a 20,328 sq. ft. lot sold for $475,000 ($62 PSF). Located at the southeast corner of 4th Street and 7th Avenue and close to U of A, this former charter school is in the West University Historical District. The building has fire retardant sprinklers, an alarm system and was designed to add a future 2nd floor. There are 8 back-in parking spaces on the street and 23 secured parking spaces of which 5 are covered. The transaction was an REO sale; the seller was also the lender in a seller carry back to the former charter school when it closed.

Gary Best and John Hamner of Keller Williams of Southern Arizona Commercial in Tucson represented the seller and Rafael Douglas of US Preferred Realty in Mesa represented the school.

For more information on Arizona College Prep Academy call (520) 722-1200. McClure at CBRE can be reached at (520) 323-5117. BASIS Schools can be contacted at (520) 326-3444. Desert Springs Academy is at (520) 321-1709. Academy Del Sol should be contacted at (520) 325-2800. Alley with Broadway Realty & Trust is at (520) 747-5700.

For more information on Mexicayoti Academy call (520) 287-6790. Niles can be reached at (520) 615-9500. Best and Hamner of Keller Williams Southern Arizona Commercial are at (520) 615-8400. Douglas of US Preferred can be contacted at (480) 756-9922. [/mepr-show]