Neighbors roundup

Roundup

East

New prison facility to open in February

The newest and perhaps most escape-proof federal penitentiary in the United States soon will be open for business on the Southeast Side.

Beginning in early February, some of the meanest inmates in the federal prison system will begin arriving at the sprawling, fortresslike U.S. Penitentiary-Tucson at 9300 S. Wilmot Road, officials said.

Although the $100 million prison was basically completed more than a year ago, it's taken another year to do follow-up work to make the facility ready for the inmates, said Josias Salazar, executive assistant of the Federal Correctional Complex, which includes the penitentiary.

The inmates will be men convicted of murder and other serious offenses, and who have a history of violence, both before and after their lives behind bars.

The arrival of the penitentiary's first prisoners was moved back a month to allow more time to finish some last-minute work, Salazar said.

"We want to be real certain that everything is ready," he said.

Foothills

Possible Wal-Mart gets mixed reaction

News that a long-vacant space that formerly housed a supermarket at a Foothills shopping center could soon become home to another grocery store has sparked mixed reactions from area residents — excitement about the type of store and concern about the potential tenant.

Larsen Baker LLC, a local commercial real estate firm, confirmed last week that it was in negotiations to move a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market into the River Center Shopping Center, on the northeast corner of East River and North Craycroft roads.

"Nothing is concrete yet," said Andy Seleznov, director of leasing for Larsen Baker.

The Wal-Mart supermarket would fill the space formerly occupied by an Abco and a Garrett's IGA. Garrett's closed more than three years ago, and the space has remained empty since.

Having a grocery store there would greatly benefit the area, said Lillian Blumenberg, who lives just east of River Center and shops regularly at the complex's other businesses, which include Ric's Cafe and Annabelle's Attic, as well as a branch of the Pima County Public Library.

"It would be very nice, very convenient," Blumenberg said.

But Blumenberg and her friend and neighbor, Gloria Ross, both felt Wal-Mart would not be the right fit for that location.

"We're happy to have a grocery store, but people might be turned off by Wal-Mart," Ross said. "I think a lot of us would use it, but just to run in real quick. I don't think I'd shop there regularly."

Northwest

OV home impact fee rising by 16 percent

The Oro Valley Town Council voted on Dec. 20 to increase the road-development impact fee assessed on new homes from $2,920 to $3,375 per home beginning in early 2007.

The 16 percent increase will take effect on March 20 and will be part of the building-permit fees assessed on new homes built in Oro Valley, Town Engineer Craig Civalier said.

The town assesses 75 percent of the full fee on apartments, making the new road fee for apartments $2,531 per unit.

Oro Valley had not increased the road-development impact fee since October 2003. The Town Council unanimously approved the new increase.

The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association did not oppose the increased fee because it is reasonable and fair, said Alex Jácome, the association's government liaison.

The association advocates for the residential-construction industry in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.

Marana lobbyists get the job done

Marana has paid lobbyists about $425,000 in the past five years to broker deals, secure funding and gain influence at the federal and state levels.

The practice of hiring lobbyists, common among towns, cities and counties across the country, is just another way for Marana to get business done, a town official said.

Lobbyists help fight for the town's rights and provide a daily liaison to legislative bodies. They're a beneficial and necessary part of the town, the official said.

But one Northwest Side resident has reservations about the town's employing lobbyists.

Using lobbyists is troubling, especially when the lobbyists also represent what the resident says are competing private interests.

Town officials and lobbyists agree that conflicts of interest have to be avoided, and that there are simple steps to take to avoid them, such as simply disclosing conflicts.

Arthur A. Chapa, a Tucson attorney who works for Marana as a lobbyist, said avoiding conflicts is easy. "If there's even a smell of it, you need to walk away."

Sahuarita

School's opening will cause delays

To avoid a "monumental traffic jam" when Anza Trail School opens on Thursday, Sahuarita officials are urging parents to let their children ride the bus or walk to the new school.

Traffic will likely be heavy around the school, at 15490 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd., just north of Sahuarita Road, officials said.

Besides the usual disorder of the first day of classes, traffic will be even more congested because work is not complete on one of two bridges on the driveway that leads to the school, said Jay St. John, superintendent of the Sahuarita Unified School District.

Until the bridge is finished in early February, the 11 buses will load and unload students on Rancho Sahuarita Boulevard, he said.

"It'll be a monumental traffic jam," St. John said. "But the police will be helping control traffic, and we'll have extra staff to help out."

Sahuarita Police Chief John Harris said his officers will close one lane of Rancho Sahuarita Boulevard while the students are getting on and off the buses.

St. John said officials with the district, town government and Rancho Sahuarita have been working on a plan to ensure that students are safely loaded and unloaded — and to allow traffic to get through.

Still, he said, "it'll be a challenge."