Urban University Interface.com

As West University and the City of Tucson fight their first court battle over the validity of petition signatures,  planning officials are hearing a quick redo of the northwest corner of the Main Gate Urban Overlay District (UOD) at council chambers on April 25th, 6:30PM.   A verdict on West University’s court case is also due on the 25th.   View the PDF file of  West University’s update by Ford Burkhart:  Referendum Court Case    

In parallel efforts, the Broadway Coalition is battling the 71 million dollar RTA funded Broadway Corridor.  Rincon Heights, Sam Hughes, El Encanto and other neighborhoods impacted by widening have been fighting its costly and destructive impact.  View a PDF copy of the Broadway Coalition’s Statement.   View also Steve Kozachik’s Press Conference Statement,  and attend on April 30th @ 6Pm @ the First Assembly of God Church – Broadway and Campbell.   Public Invited.  Another RTA funded project; the Grant Road Widening between Oracle and Swan has a UOD component to deal with re-zoning.  Jefferson Park is opting out of the UOD because of a lack of the right planning.  Others will follow.

A theme with residents is a demand for more than a name on sign-in sheets.  They want real input and major neighborhood focus.   Maybe Tucson could look at Jaime Lerner, former 12 year mayor of Curitiba who turned the Brazilian City around to become emblematic of real “best practice urban design”.  Lerner says 3 driving factors for success is mobility, sustainability and identity; things that Tucson struggles with.  Curitiba worked because of the vision and commitment that Lerner was able to give.  How does Tucson do this?  How does Tucson find a balance with its neighborhoods.

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