Tucson Kent's World

If you would like your own home in the Foothills of Tucson (or anywhere in the area)...& be able to have the Catalina Mountains as your backyard, give me a call!  School District 16 is very highly regarded, and homes generally start in the $300s and condos start in the $150s - who said a beautiful place to live had to be expensive?  Custom homes, new homes & townhouses also available in the area.

Art.

Architecture.  Arizona.

The Desert.  Shape, form, function.

Stunning views, the harmony of life & habitat.

Elegance, comfort and making best use of the world that surrounds a location.

For years, decades even, architects have found inspiration in the desert beauty of Arizona.  Names like Frank Lloyd Wright, Paolo Soleri, Josias Joesler, Henry C. Trost and others have graced our towns and cities with their work.  Creations by Rick Joy, Kevin B. Howard, Jack Moses and a host of many talented professionals are noted in Tucson homes.

The School of Architecture and Landscape Design at the University of Arizona is training the next generation of talented, inspired scholars of design.  So well, in fact, that the Design Futures Council has ranked the undergraduate program in the top 12 in the country. 

Perhaps the U of A School of Architecture will produce the next Frank Lloyd Wright or I.M. Pei, perhaps not.  One thing you can count on though - the graduates of this program are among the best in the United States.

We're proud of our educational offerings in Tucson.  For good reason.  Please pardon us if we brag...but the quality of what is taught here on so many levels, in so many fields gives us the recognition to back it up.

Well done University of Arizona!

One of the things that Tucson is most proud of is its educational opportunities & offerings.  We've got highly competitive public schools (including BASIS Charter - consistently one of the nation's best ranked), highly selective private schools & specialized academies, Pima Community College - one of the largest in the west, and the granddaddy of them all:  The University of Arizona, which is ranked 25th in the country by The Washington Monthly.

There are many schools within the U of A that are highly regarded, several on a global basis.  The College of Optical Sciences, the Department of Astronomy & Steward Observatory are considered "world class."  What a lot of people don't know is that the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona Business School is also one of the highest regarded on the planet.

Financial Times latest rankings has the Eller College program rated as 5th among U.S. public universities and 41st in the world (up from 57th last year).  Ask any MBA:  "What does ROI mean?"  Considering that the cost of education at University of Arizona & Eller College of Management, the Return On Investment is positively stellar!

Congratulations Eller College and U of A:  your example is yet another point of pride in Tucson Education.

I know I've got a lead foot sometimes, but I'm not crazy about it...rarely go over the limit by more than 5 MPH.  Nevertheless, when I need to get somewhere in a hurry, sometimes the traffic just seems to go so slow...and I know just the streets to travel where I can get away with it!

NOT ANYMORE!  Pima County is going to install Photo/Radar enforcement cameras in strategic locations around the Tucson Metro Area.  They are going active April 1, 2009 (gee, what an April Fool's present, huh?).  To get all of us used to the photo/radar cameras, there will be a 7-day warning period...then smile buddy, that will be a nice chunk you've contributed to our budget.

The photo/radar locations in Tucson are concentrated in commuting corridors that are generally 40-45 MPH zones that are used by locals as "get there" avenues.  Getting to & from the Foothills, across the Foothills, up & back from Oro Valley, across the southern part of town by the airport and north & south in the southwest part of town.  Green Valley also sports one, but you can't go fast there anyway because there will be cars in both lanes traveling 5 miles under the speed limit at all times, unless you're there past 8PM, after everything's closed already.

One thing that Pima County is doing that is particularly sneaky is installing the photo/radar cameras in between intersections, where you're usually speeding up to get around somebody who is too busy talking on their cell phone to drive (a REALTOR® ?), trying to save the planet by accelerating just enough to coast to a rolling stop at the next light or towing a rickety trailer to the next landscaping job.

I know, I know...it will make the roads safer for everyone, and I really don't need to be in such a hurry sometimes.  Yes, the county needs to make money somehow, but it takes some of the fun out of it all, some of the thrill to get away with SOMETHING.  In this day and age of having to take my shoes off, make sure there's no hidden toothpaste tube in my carryon bag and ditch the bottled water just to get on a plane...*sigh*...its getting a little tiresome to be protected so much. 

Anyone got any "iffy" cheese I can nibble on with my whine?  Gotta get some edginess into my life!

In my everyday business, a great deal of the people I come in contact with only know Tucson from the recommendation of friends, by reputation or a vacation long ago.  Some people have never had the opportunity to come to "The Old Pueblo," and it is a challenge to give them a "feel" for the city and the lifestyle.

Something I have had much success with is to collect a list of informational websites about the area and provide those links to prospective clients in order to help them feel more comfortable talking, asking questions about and getting around the Tucson Metro Area.

Here is a list of sites that provide good information on Tucson & what it has to offer:

Tucson Instant Native        Pima County Arts Council             Tucson City Guide        Tucson Weekly  

Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum       Tucson Visitors Bureau     Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO)

UA Presents (Plays & Shows)        University of Arizona        Pima Community College    

Tucson Regional Transportation Authority    I-10 Construction Update

A big, fat hearty congratulations goes out to BASIS Tucson Charter School for being ranked the "Top Public High School" in the nation by Newsweek Magazine.

                                                             Basis Tucson was started 10 years ago by Olga & Michael Block, determined to create a model for the "New American School."  Their dream was to combine the rigor and intensity of European and Asian college prep schools with the expansive curriculum and openness of the American-style classroom.

A decade later, the Block's vision has been rewarded by local, state and national attention numerous times.  The Arizona Republic declared:  "BASIS Charter Schools may offer the best free public education in the U.S."  Kudos to the students, staff and administration for their vision, determination and success!

Click On The Logo Above To Learn More

Just south of Tucson is the stunning, yet often overlooked San Xavier del Bac Mission.  "The White Dove of the Desert" is a jewel among missions in the Desert Southwest.  Known for its beautiful lines outside and amazing detail inside, the church is in the process of restoration and preservation that is an ongoing project, the interior alone taking 6 years--finishing in 1997.

 

   Likeness of St. Francis--Patron Saint of San Xavier

The exterior is still undergoing restoration, as evidenced by the difference between the two towers shown below:

Although restoration is ongoing, the church is still active--holding regular services.  The mission is open 7 days a week, free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

To learn more about the San Xavier del Bac Mission, visit their website.

According to SmartMoney, writing for MSN's Money page, Tucson has distinguished itself one of "7 Recession-Proof Places To Retire."  The article touts the sunny climate and the rich culture of the area as attractive winter features, but goes on to note other factors as well:

• Cost of Living:  3% below national average
• Strong Job Market
• Steady Housing Prices:  in the age of doom & gloom, the average price of a home only dipped 0.01% in 2007 according to the article.  Regardless of statistics, the Tucson Real Estate Market has weathered the storm very well

SmartMoney also points out the popularity of the Northwest part of the metro area, citing Oro Valley by name.

Besides being a great place to retire, Tucson has a lot to offer everyone for the same reasons named above and more!  Come see us in "The Old Pueblo", stay a while--I'll be honored to show you my town.

Tucson & Eastern Pima County earned a "Gold" designation for being a bicycle-friendly region in 2006.  Despite being the only region to garner such a lofty award from the League of American Bicyclists, the local biking community is working towards the highest level, the "Platinum" level for the whole metro area.  At this point, only Davis, California has earned that award. 

Tucson enthusiasts are not resting on their laurels:  a Platinum Challenge Committee has been formed and is working with the Regional Transportation Authority to include their voice in planning.  The committee is also working to promote bicycling as an alternative to automobiles, educating the public in safety and a myriad of other ways, including healthier lifestyles to enhance the experience for bicyclists in The Old Pueblo.
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                        Annual Bicycle Swap Meet
                                                                                                                         (Photo from Flickr.com)

In addition to being able to promote and market Tucson as one of the best regions in the country for biking, the "livability" of such a community can lead to higher property values as Elizabeth Kiker, a spokesperson for the League of American Bicyclists mentions in an article in the Arizona Daily Star:  Tucson Aims For Pinnacle

For a list of Bicycle Safety Instructors, Clubs and Bicycle Shops in the Tucson area, please visit the directory on the League's website.

  
(Photo from Flickr.com)

If the first 10 weren't enough reasons - Here's 10 More!

·     #5 Best City Lifestyle: Tucson is making waves as it comes in the Top 10 lists for quality of life related issues. In "America's Best Places to Live," MSN's web site rated metropolitan areas in categories including cost of living, crime rate, education, home prices, and weather. Tucson came in a high honor considering the competition.    

·     #5 Best Place for Outdoor Activities: MSN placed Tucson in its "Close to the Big Outdoors" survey. MSN cited the city's closeness to outdoor activities, coupled with a balance of quality education, housing, jobs, health, and arts and entertainment.    

·     #7 Hottest Retirement Market: BizJournal ranked Tucson among the hottest urban markets. The rankings were based upon ratios between seniors and children, senior concentration, social security income, senior growth, and comparisons to total, children, young-adult, and middle-age growth.    

·     #7 Best Cities for Hispanics: For the second year in a row, Tucson placed in the Top Ten Cities for Hispanics to Live In, an annual feature of the national Hispanic magazine. In creating the list, the magazine weighed mainstream issues, including jobs, affordable housing and student-to-teacher ratios. It ranked factors within a city's culture, such as the ease of switching languages from Spanish to English as well as the frequency of encountering other Hispanics during everyday life.    

·     #8 Top City For Doing Business: Tucson was ranked in the "Top 25 Cities for doing Business in America" in Inc. magazine.    

·     #9 Cities Best Suited for Fitness and Walking: Prevention magazine, in conjunction with the American Podiatric Medical Association, ranked Tucson for cities that are best suited for fitness and walking. Criteria include crime, mass transit, air quality, and the number of historic sites, museums, parks and gyms each city has.    

·     #10 Healthy Lifestyle: Cooking Light honored Tucson with a top place in its search for the cities in America that best support its philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well. The following are a few of the criteria that earned Tucson its high ranking: Farmers' markets, access to gourmet ingredients, highly rated restaurants, percentage of residents in good health, and low percentage of overweight residents.    

·     #10 Spring Training Ballparks: Tucson Electric Park was chosen as one of the Best Spring Training Ballparks by MSN.com. Coming in the top ten, TEP is the spring training site for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox.    

·     #20 Best Cities for Jobs: Forbes annual ranking of "Best Cities for Jobs" placed Tucson among the top cities. Criteria included Median Household income, Unemployment, Income Growth, Cost of Living and Job growth.

•     Home to World Tournament: Marana, connected to the northern section of Tucson, will be home to the Accenture Match Play through at least 2010. This event features the top 64 players in the world. The World Golf Championships feature some of the largest purses in professional golf. First prize money is in excess of $1 million.