TUCSON CITIZEN: Fri., Jan. 26, 2007
8,000-acre plan for Houghton to include homes, stores
ERIC SAGARA
More than 8,000 acres of state land on the Southeast Side probably will be shaped by the developer of the La Encantada shopping center, according to Mayor Bob Walkup.
Phoenix-based mall developer Westcor has received the go-ahead from the State Land Department to plan homes, stores and businesses as part of the Houghton Area Master Plan. Walkup was expected to announce the development today in his State of the City address.
Walkup said the master plan would be one of the largest projects in Tucson's history, exceeding both in size and economic impact the mixed-use Bridges of Tucson project at South Kino Parkway and I-10. Councilwoman Shirley Scott said Thursday that Westcor has a proven record of working with area residents in developing its plans.
"They have a terrific reputation for listening carefully and acting on what the people in the area say," Scott said. "I think it's a great announcement, and I'm glad to hear at this point that the public will finally know that there is movement in the area."
The council in 2005 approved the Houghton Area Master Plan, which calls for high-density housing and commercial mixed-use developments. Water, sewer, transportation and school issues are also covered in the plan, which includes parks and open spaces.
In his speech, Walkup also calls for the City Council's cooperation in the revitalization of downtown, urging it to avoid pet projects and keep in mind two principles when considering projects: community pride and economic impact.
"Because if we focus solely on revenues per square foot and strip-mall economics, then downtown Tucson might as well be Phoenix," Walkup says in his draft. "And at the same time, if we focus solely on facilities that enshrine the past, then downtown Tucson might as well be Tombstone . . . that's not success for Tucson."
Walkup said some of the first downtown projects before the council this year will be a new downtown arena, the renovation of the TCC, more commercial space and possibly a new hotel.