Tucson Kent's World

Yep - the announcement is true:  I'm opening an office right in the heart of Downtown Tucson.  Tierra Downtown is a going to be a branch office of Tierra Antigua Realty...and the TucsonKent Group is one of the founding partners!

We're located in the historic Pioneer Hotel Building (could be haunted!), on the top floor with views that can't be beat.  The best part of being located downtown is that we're right in the thick of the community that is revitalizing Downtown Tucson - Congress Street, Pennington Street, Broadway, Stone Avenue...the Modern Streetcar and much more.

We're having a Grand Opening Celebration on November 12 from 3PM to 6PM, with wine, women & song (at least the wine part is a go), munchies & a lot of fun.  If you're in Tucson that Friday afternoon - come on up & help us celebrate the beginning of what portends to be a very exciting beginning in Tucson history as Downtown continues to grow & come alive again.

Downtown Tucson has quite a few murals adding a little spice to the walls and construction sites in the area.  How often do you get to watch the artists at work?

Often it seems that these works spring up "overnight" or perhaps we get so used to seeing the same old monolithic walls on buildings or drab plywood "safety barriers" around construction sites that we don't notice the art until it stares us in the face!

Just the other day, I was fortunate enough to see local artists Rock Martinez & Ed Muren work on their temporary canvas in the heart of Downtown Tucson - at 50 E. Broadway Boulevard - as this building gets renovated.

If you haven't been to Downtown Tucson in the past year...or even in the last 6 months...you'll be amazed at the entergy, vitality & transformation that is happening.  The downtown area is coming alive with new investment and a sense of destiny in becoming a showcase of promise in The Old Pueblo.

Yet one of many reasons my partners & I have decided to locate our office in downtown...right in the thick of things!  Stay tuned for photos & updates on what is happening in the heart of Tucson.

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Downtown Tucson Commercial Properties

This photo is of Sombrero Peak, which is a landmark to help point out where Continental Ranch is in Tucson.  It is on the northern end of the Tucson Mountains - and stands out visible for miles and miles.  If anyone needs to know where the community of Continental Ranch is, you can simply point out Sombrero Peak & say,

"Head that way, you can't miss it!"

I was driving to an appointment late in the afternoon when I saw this combination of clouds & light with Sombrero Peak silhouetted beneath them.  Seeing the rays of sunshine defined like this doesn't happen very often, so I knew I just had to try to capture this scene!

Continental Ranch is a large, master-planned community west of I-10 in the northwest part of the Tucson Metro.  Begun in the early 1990s, the community is still growing as it matures - new subdivisions are still being built, new commercial space is supplementing that which has been serving the area for the past 2 decades and more.

Late this fall, the Twin Peaks Interchange will add direct freeway access to the northern end of the community, which will ease traffic on Silverbell and make things much easier for those living on the northern end!

If you live in the Starr Pass Residences of Tucson, you know one of the perks of owning a home here is a great setting for spectacular sunsets.  Located on the west side of the metro, cradled by hills studded with saguaros, the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort anchors this community of single family homes, condos and casitas.

Rated as one of the world's best spa resorts by the Conde Nast Traveler, Fodor's & other noteworthy guides, the Starr Pass Resort also serves as an intersting backdrop for sunsets - especially on a stormy night like this one.

Owning a home in the Starr Pass Residences isn't nearly as expensive as one would think - even one of the golf course casitas.  Don't take my word for it though, check out the current properties on the market below.  Lets play a round at the Jack Nicklaus Signature course, relax with a massage at the Hashani Spa then enjoy a meal at one of the 5 restaurants while we celebrate your new home with luxury at your doorstep - without paying a mint for it.

Downtown Tucson is experiencing a rebirth.  One of the newest developments is located on the actual birthplace of Tucson itself - with streets following the routes of the first canals in the area.

The Mercado District of Menlo Park is a truly unique community - setting the standard for sustainability and livability in the region.  All of the custom builders in The Mercado use differing Green construction methods to achieve high-performance standards while providing a peaceful environment of privacy within a vibrant community. 

Live/work opportunities are a part of the unique character of The Mercado - much like the original village that lies preserved beneath it.  The narrow streets are by design to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.  Parking for guests or visitors is plentiful and close, with Tucson's new Modern Streetcar an added bonus - The Mercado District is the western beginning of the route to the heart of Downtown and to the University of Arizona. 

Architecture is a blend of Old Mexico and turn-of-the-century style, with one area, The Paseo, designed to be a walking street of shops, galleries and residences that bring back a simpler way of living.

Soon to come:  a gallery of photos as we watch the first Paseo residences come to life from the ground up!

In Episode 3, THE Tucson Real Estate Show takes a break from the business side of things to ride the Historic Tucson Trolley and learn about its history from Karen Rodack, who is a volunteer conductor for the Old Pueblo Trolley organization.

Currently, the trolley runs along University Blvd. from Main Gate Square at the University of Arizona, and down 4th Avenue where it stops before going down Congress Street in downtown Tucson. This nostalgic attraction is completely volunteer operated & funded by donations. It generally runs on weekends - weather & maintenance permitting.

Work is beginning soon on a new, Modern Streetcar for Tucson, which will expand the route significantly and be more useful as a practical mode of transportation.  There has been quite a bit of new activity in the downtown Tucson area as businesses open up as part of the downtown revitalization effort - and in anticipation of the Modern Streetcar's debut in 2013.  Yes, Mr. An has started construction on his new restaurant, An Congress, right by the Rialto Theater and Hotel Congress.  Can anyone get us an interview with him?

In its never-ending quest to provide better services for both agents and the public, the Tucson MLS has decided to change its MLS software to FlexMLS by FBS of North Dakota!

I, for one, am extremely happy with the decision - and I hope you will be too.  To take a quick peek at what it looks like from a consumer perspective, check out this search for property in the Sam Hughes area of Tucson:

Check it out - see what it is like & please feel free to leave your comments below!  The more feedback, the better...and if one of these catches your eye, I'm available to answer questions.

This morning, at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Tucson, the official announcement of the TIGER Grant that will allow the Modern Streetcar project to go from dream to tracks & trolleys was attended by hundreds of people.

Here is a video montage of some of the speeches:

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, University of Arizona President Robert Shelton, RTA Chairperson Lynn Skelton (also Mayor of Sahuarita), Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are featured in this collection.

Having the Modern Streetcar project move forward in Tucson is a real "game changer" for downtown, as it links the University of Arizona through Main Gate Square, down 4th Avenue along Congress Street to the Convention Center and across to the Mercado District on the west side of I-10.

There has been a lot of work to revitalize downtown Tucson - the trolley will link it all together and be a focal point that draws a lot more attention & investment to the area.  The downtown you know today will be incredibly improved over the next 5 years...if you haven't seen what we've done so far, you'll be amazed at what will be happening soon!

IT'S OFFICIAL!  Tucson's Modern Streetcar in Downtown is a GO!  This morning, the City of Tucson found out that it will receive the $63M from the Federal Government to make the proposed Trolley/Modern Streetcar project a reality. 

The $150M project is being funded through local funds that have been generated for the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) via a sales tax increment approved by voters in 2006, with the U.S. Government putting up their portion through a TIGER Grant.

What this means for Tucson is a real boost to efforts in revitalizing the Downtown Core.  There has been a lot of work going on already - now the Trolley will both serve to enhance and tie-in the University of Arizona, 4th Avenue, Congress Street and the Mercado District.

While there will always be naysayers, my bet is that the same people sniveling right now will be asking for expansion of the routes in 5 years!

Future plans include expansion of the streetcar down Broadway Boulevard - the Downtown Trolley will showcase the core of Tucson & help redefine the heart of our city.  It won't happen overnight, but just hide & watch as it becomes another thing to be proud about "The Old Pueblo" for.

If you want to take advantage of the opportunity, now's the time to jump on - the fare won't be decreasing in future years for real estate along the route!

If you're looking for a home in Tucson - one thing on almost everyone's shopping list is a view.  In the gated home community of Sabino Mountain in Northeast Tucson, the views are simply amazing!  Located atop a ridge on the east side of the Sabino Canyon area, whether you want mountain or city views...or even 360-degree views, this neighborhood should be on your list.

The Catalina Mountains to the north, Rincon Mountains to the east, Santa Rita Mountains to the south, city views, sunrise views & sunset views...gee, am I gushing?  Wellll...lets just say I'm a real fan of beautiful views in Tucson.

To give you a little idea of where and how Sabino Mountain is laid out, here's a map & a satellite photo from Google Maps to show you where the homes are:

This gated community of luxury homes is less than a decade old - with a few building lots still available.  Available homes are generally priced in the high $300's ranging into the $2 millions.  As of this post, there are 15 homes for sale from $299,000 to $1.695 million.  2 lots of .5 acre and .7 acre with incredible views are on the market for just under $600,000 and $700,000 respectively.

See What's Available In Sabino Mountain Right Now