triplexes, on lots that currently require larger singlefamily homes. The concept of tiny homes and manufactured homes is also being explored. “We’re helping a constituent develop a tiny home community and looking at new HUD regulations that make manufactured homes more aesthetically compatible with existing neighborhoods,” Hartman says. Another strategy employed is incentivizing developers. Hartman highlights a tiered system for reducing and waiving building fees based on the affordability of the housing units. “If a developer commits to building houses at 90% or below the median income, we’ll reduce the building permit fees by about 20%,” she explains. HERITAGE TOURISM AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION Bisbee’s dedication to heritage tourism and cultural preservation is further exemplified by its initiatives at Camp Naco, a historic site that tells rich, diverse stories. Brooks Jeffery, strategic planning consultant with the Naco Heritage Alliance, sheds light on this project. Camp Naco, though located in the unincorporated town of Naco, is a Bisbee-owned property that plays a crucial role in the city’s heritage tourism.“It creates one star in this constellation of cultural destinations,” Jeffery explains. Authenticity is the cornerstone of Bisbee’s approach to heritage tourism. “You heard the mayor talk about eclecticism, and while it’s hard to legislate that through zoning, it takes leadership,” he adds. The camp, a former military encampment from the Mexican Revolution border effort, stands out for its unique characteristics. “It’s the only remaining camp of its kind, made out of adobe, which gives it a real character and sense of place,” Jeffery notes. The camp’s history includes being a station for the Buffalo Soldiers during the 1910s and 1920s. This historic context provides a platform to tell broader stories, from military history of the Mexican Revolution to the experiences of the Buffalo Soldiers and even Paleoindian human settlements due to a nearby mammoth kill site. 69 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 BISBEE, AZ
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