Tucson opinion: More Than 'control': Protecting the Mercado District

When we envision the future of downtown, we see connections. The Mercado District’s tree-lined streets, buildings, plazas and streetcar bridge the gap between downtown’s east and west. But our proposal has a farther-reaching goal: to bridge the intangible gap between Tucson’s growth and our diverse community. Our vision is a reunion of our city’s urban traditions, culture, and ecological values with our creative, technological and structural development.

With the vibrant and sustainable combination of retail, residential and public spaces-seamlessly integrated with both existing neighborhoods and planned developments, residents will be able to work locally and travel comfortably by transit or foot. Our Public Market infrastructure and world-class design and development standards make it possible to share Tucson with the world. Tucson comes together in the Mercado District.

The Mercado District was awarded the 2006 Charter Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism based on these standards that chart emerging physical patterns reflecting the regional traditions of balance between density and open space which ensure that the synergy of use and form results in a unique sense of place appropriate to the culture and climate of Tucson. Together our collective decisions are our legacy, our tribute and our contribution to our people, our homes, our Tucson.

These are the words taken directly from The Gadsden Company’s proposal to the City of Tucson from 2008, when the selection committee awarded us the development rights to design and construct the second phase of the Mercado District east of Avenida del Convento. This was then put into a development agreement with four phases, each requiring a separate process from entitlement, infrastructure, design and development of each nine city blocks, requiring a series of continued public processes and a minimum investment of $15M in each development.

The Mercado District is the largest Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Arizona marking its place as one of the primary catalysts in the economic development of the revitalization of downtown Tucson and its shifting city center yielding over $500M in private sector investment to create the singular unique community of residents, retailers and service providers that make this downtown Tucson’s westside a nexus for diverse community engagement, cultural exchange and a must-see for out-of-town visitors due to its sense of place, authenticity and home of Tucson’s birthplace.

Tim Steller’s column last Sunday diminished the Mercado District and what it means to this community, and tried to make my recent testimony at the City of Tucson Mayor & Council Meeting about “control.” This demonstrated Steller’s lack of knowledge about Gadsden’s ownership. Had he asked the right question instead of drawing an inaccurate conclusion, we would have educated him about Gadsden’s practice of maintaining a majority interest in its independently owned and operated properties so that it can ensure the long-term quality of these investments to further enhance the community benefit they leverage. This includes the Monier Building. Not wanting to see these high standards reduced by a lesser quality development proposed by an out-of-state developer wasn’t about control—it was about caring for the quality of the community in which we live and have invested in for over 20 years.

To be clear: my motivation in speaking at the council meeting was to communicate two key points: (1) that the proposed development was not within the character and investment of this 20-year, multimillion dollar project that draws from the region’s deepest traditions and represents the pinnacle of design and community development in Tucson; and (2) the developer was proposing use of an adjacent roadway and offsite parking on property to which neither he nor the City of Tucson have rights to improve, as the road is privately owned by a Gadsden affiliate and we would absolutely not grant permission for this project.

Drawing inspiration from the Sonoran Desert’s traditions and Tucson’s cultural history, The Gadsden Company creates, interprets and enhances the unique sense of place as designers and community developers. For over two decades, we have been dedicated stewards of the Mercado District, honored to build its future as a historic district.