Here's a rundown of new commercial developments in Marana:
● Development: Arizona Pavilions second phase.
Size: 300,000 square feet.
Where: West of Interstate 10 at Cortaro Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive.
Confirmed: Chili's, Panda Express, In-N-Out Burger, Batteries Plus and a race to open Southern Arizona's first digital movie theater.
In negotiations: Petco, Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts, Pier 1 Imports, Peter Piper Pizza, Sally Beauty Supply, Sports Authority, Famous Footwear.
Construction begins: Within the next 30 days.
Projected completion: December 2007.
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The lowdown: "The pressure for me is getting those PADs (planned area developments) under construction and then I'm going to go in and pave the parking lot and then start finalizing big-box and in-line deals," said Greg Wexler, managing partner for Continental Ranch Development.
Wexler ran into a six- to eight-month setback when he had to move water-transfer lines and sewer lines that crossed the property, he said.
● Development: Cortaro Corners.
Size: 160,000 square feet, including about 40,000 square feet of office space.
Where: East side of I-10 at Cortaro Road.
Confirmed: None.
In negotiations: Retail shops, restaurants and professionals whose identities can't be disclosed because no agreements have been formalized, according to Debbie Heslop, leasing agent for Volk Co., which is developing the property.
Construction begins: This fall.
Projected completion: The space should be ready for retailers by the second quarter of 2007.
The lowdown: With so many discount stores on the west side of the freeway, Cortaro Corners is being designed as an "upscale" alternative, Heslop said.
● Development: The Shoppes at Orange Grove.
Size: 21,000 square feet.
Where: Southwest corner of West Orange Grove and River roads.
Confirmed or open: A2Z Home Solutions, Aztec Flooring, Definitive Home Theater, Chriswell Classic Leather.
In negotiations: Heslop is looking for tenants for about half of the space, she said. She hopes to find a home-accessories store to round out the home-furnishings theme.
Construction: Complete.
Projected opening: All the new stores should be open by the end of August.
The lowdown: "It's really becoming the Northwest Furniture District," Heslop said. The proximity to the freeway means Northwest Siders don't have to drive all the way to Fort Lowell Road — which has an established home-furnishings hub — to fashionably design their homes, she said.
● Development: Marana Marketplace.
Size: About 300,000 square feet.
Where: Southeast corner of River and West Orange Grove roads.
Confirmed: Bank of the West, Village Inn.
In negotiations: "While I'm in negotiations, I can't say it's ABC Company," said Andy Seleznov, director of leasing for Larsen Baker, a Tucson real estate brokerage, development and management firm with interests on the three corners of this intersection not handled by Heslop. He did say he's been talking to a specialty grocery store, a large, regionally known furniture store and a large, nationally known clothing company that does not yet have a store in Tucson.
Construction begins: Phase One by the end of the year; Phase Two about three or four months later.
Projected completion: August 2007.
The lowdown: Like Heslop, Seleznov said the proximity to the freeway is a boost to the entire intersection because Orange Grove has an underpass beneath the railroad tracks, unlike Ina Road to the north, which has a railroad crossing that causes traffic to back up. Seleznov anticipates residents from new housing to the east will breathe plenty of life into the project.
● Development: Northwest Design Center.
Size: 44,700 square feet.
Where: Northwest corner of West Orange Grove and North Thornydale roads.
Confirmed or open: Canyon Cabinetry and Design, Tres Amigos, Bassett Furniture, Subway sandwiches, Cutters Point coffee, E-Systems cell phone dealer.
In negotiations: All complete.
Construction: All complete.
Projected opening: Tres Amigos and Bassett Furniture opened more than a month ago. Canyon Cabinetry and Design, Subway, Cutters Point and E-Systems should open within a month, Seleznov said.
The lowdown: "It's a great trade area," Seleznov said. "There's a lot of rooftops to support the retail."
● Development: Dove Mountain Centre first phase.
Size: 22 acres, anchored by a 54,000-square-foot grocery store and 27,000 square feet of retail shop space.
Where: Northeast corner of Tangerine Road and Dove Mountain Boulevard.
Confirmed: Bashas', Wells Fargo bank, Catalina Mart convenience store.
Construction: In progress.
Projected completion: Late 2006.
The lowdown: "The architectural character is intended to be above and beyond the traditional neighborhood center and in keeping with the character and quality of our Dove Mountain community," Bill Hallinan, vice president of developer Cottonwood Properties Inc., wrote in an e-mail.
"Tangerine Road is expected to become the highest-trafficked east-to-west arterial accessing I-10 in far Northwest Tucson," Jayme Fabe, retail services representative for leasing agent Bourn Partners, wrote in an e-mail. "The Dove Mountain community is quickly becoming the highest-income demographic and premier resort community in the market."
● Development: The Shoppes at Tangerine Crossing.
Size: 200,000 square feet.
Where: Northeast corner of West Tangerine and North Thornydale roads.
Confirmed: Fry's Marketplace, Wells Fargo bank branch.
Construction: Breaks ground at the end of August.
Projected completion: July 2007.
The lowdown: The 108,000-square-foot Fry's Marketplace will be an upscale version of the grocery chain, said developer Ron Ault, with more patio and furniture goods, he said. "It's a more expanded offering rather than just food stuff."
