Armory Park Commentary and News
Most involved members of our Armory Park community are already aware of the proposal to construct a new commercial and residential building on the northeast
corner of 6th Avenue and 18th Street. The project periodically becomes subject of discussion and then fades to the background for long periods. Now is a good time to be paying attention to developments. Continue reading “Baffert Controversy”
It has been too long since I posted an article here but I hope to change that for the future. Some may know that I also manage the website for the neighborhood association (APNA) and I am also helping the historic board (APHZAB) to apply technology for an improved historic review process. All of these things are exciting but also demand time and attention.
Consequently, I needed to prioritize my efforts and restructure how each project will function. This site (AroundArmoryPark.net) will focus on community commentary, history and happenings in the wider world which impact us in Armory Park. While I have generally stayed away from political subjects, it is not possible for me to ignore things which are important to a viable neighborhood and city. Some examples might be education, neighborhood preservation, historic preservation and defense of local control over local matters. Continue reading “Busy Days”
As downtown residents, most of us are familiar with the Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP). Their mission statement is: To be the catalyst for making Downtown Tucson the place people want to live, work, and play; where new ideas happen; and that is the economic development and cultural epicenter of the region. The ability to attract businesses and customers is an essential component. Continue reading “Help for Homeless Neighbors”
Last night president Anne Cooper led a very informative general meeting of the Armory Park Neighborhood Association. It was well attended. Some of the highlights seem worth passing along to those who could not be there. Continue reading “APNA General Meeting Very Informative”
Many of you may have noticed the construction at the corner of 5th Avenue and 18th Street. We will soon see four new houses there designed by Tucson architect, Rob Paulus. 
The houses are small on the exterior with an appearance similar to many of the historic bungalows in Armory park. Actually each bungalow has 1780 square feet of living space, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths according to the Paulus website (http://robpaulus.com/projects/18th-street-bungalows/). Each house will have one off-street parking space. Continue reading “New Houses in the ‘Hood”
It has been some time since I have posted an article because I have been busy with some exciting things related to historic preservation in Armory Park. I’ve made it clear on these pages that preserving our neighborhood’s historic character has a high priority for me. Continue reading “Historic Preservation Activities”
Those who feel that our state and nation have moved too far to the right might be interested in this event hosted by two of our neighbors. Continue reading “Political Event”
This rather lengthy piece was taken from Steve Kozachik’s latest newsletter. You may recall my earlier piece on the subject based on my attendance at a public hearing. Steve’s interest is the same as mine, the casual way that city government treats its legal and ethical obligations to our communities. The motivation is economic with our local politicians prioritising economic growth and tax revenue over the environment and community wellbeing. With all of the economic activity near the city center, we should expect similar problems sooner or later. There is a lot of detail here but Steve laid out the issues better than I did. Continue reading “More About Fry’s – Houghton and 22nd”
At the last APNA meeting (11/14), two important neighborhood organizations held elections to fill positions on their boards of directors. Outside of the scheduled APNA meeting, the historic board (APHZAB) elected three individuals by acclamation. Here are their names (and their category of membership): Michael Means (property owner), Steve Grede and Patrick O’brien (both are subject matter experts). They will join the board on the approval of Mayor and Council, expected within a month. The board will elect its officers at the next meeting. Continue reading “Two Neighborhood Elections”
If you have walked around the neighborhood on the tour or since, you have seen some of the messages in chalk highlighting elements of our community. Thanks to Janet Miller for the chalk work and to Glenda Bonin for photography. Get out to see them in person before they fade away.
This is another example of why Armory Park is a great place to live.
