Tucson, Arizona

4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 TUCSON, AR I ZONA Blessed with a vibrant downtown brimming with diverse housing and business offerings, Tucson has all the requirements for urban living in its city core. “We’re a mid-size downtown. It’s an urban center, but it’s not too big, it’s not too small, it has the right mix of activity. We are seeing a lot more residents downtown in terms of multifamily, high-rises, everything from luxury apartment to student housing,” Coffee describes. Sharing that the University of Tucson is only minutes from downtown, she adds, “We have a modern streetcar that loops and connects the university to the center of downtown, to the government buildings, and to the west side of I-10 to the Mercado district.” A wide selection of housing is available throughout the city, geared to the differing needs of the community. While many of these residences have historical and architectural significance, many also showcase the beauty of the foothills, with eye catching views of the Tuscan Mountains and the Catalinas. Coffee relays, “We do protect a lot of our structures. You’ll have beautiful historic homes and small bungalows, but then as you go outward, you’ll get into our suburban areas which are newer construction single family homes with larger lot sizes. There’s a lot of Tucson homes that are single storey on large lots and allow for a great outdoor lifestyle.” Noting that the community offers variety in their housing stock, she suggests, “Tucson is very affordable – especially considering our neighbors to the west in California, we are quite a bargain. That certainly helps us attract people who are looking for a little more house for their money.” With efforts underway to increase affordable housing in the city, she adds, “Having the housing options to create a balanced community is very important. We have very intentional efforts underway to develop housing, through our Housing and Community Development here at the City of Tucson.” Economic Initiatives Director, Barbra Coffee