This website-blog was compiled by William Ford, a Tucson Architect, and owner of WLFA Associates. Like our city, this effort is considered a work in progress; an evolving conversation. Urban University Interface is a venue for information intended to advocate a paradigm shift in planning along the edges of university and downtown neighborhoods. The website advocates a sustainable urban university interface (UUI).
New ideas and concepts began to take hold after the real estate crash of 2008. Following a furious flurry of business incentives, a four mile long street car line in the heart of Tucson connects the university and downtown. Planners call it a mini urban corridor. Residents worry. This means a TOD style interface that area residents may even embrace if they felt safe and assured. It is an opportunity to develop neighborhood edges and invigorate interiors…with respect. The old warehouse district, fourth avenue, the downtown core are focus areas that also have large impacts on neighborhoods and present opportunities for planning mutuality that benefits communities and development.
I am an “82” graduate of the University College of Architecture (CALA) and a 38 year resident of a University Neighborhood minutes from campus. I watched the U of A emerge with a bold vision while the surrounding community saw divestment, a rise in rentals and many demolitions. Downtown and university neighborhoods are an endangered context base of historical and residential character that deserve a synergistic and inclusive urban planning vision that can work to save them. UUI focuses on those possibilities. It is an advocate for smarter bolder incentives and strategies that reverse neighborhood decline, define edges and make our local economies stronger.
UUI looks at the contextual core in and around Tucson’s biggest assets; the U of A and downtown. Tucson’s oldest areas of historical and established neighborhoods are at stake. A three faceted reality; University • Community • Downtown can and should work together. The definition of success will be bridging these components. UUI talks about these relationships and how stability can be added to the downtown-university while encouraging development. UUI advocates for this synergistic paradigm of planning emerges along the interface between communities and urban development.
This page has the following sub pages.
Bill- I just came across your site- I was one of the developers of Ice House Lofts/Barrio Metalico and Don Martin Apts in Iron Horse- and have done a few projects in WUNA also- many of my projects are historic rehabs-
I appreciate that you have put the time and energy into this site- you are dead-on—pls let me know how I can help- thx-
Stay in touch
Bill
I too have just found this site. What a great resource for those of us interested in both the economic development and well-being of Tucson AND the preservation and restoration of what makes Tucson unique. I and my organization would like to help and contribute in any way possible to this discussion extended to the Westside as Tucson Origins Heritage Park and
Sonoran Desert Park are parcels that need protection from unwise development and we need direct participation in the planning for development that is complementary to the history and prehistory of Tucson’s birthplace.
Roger F. Pfeuffer
Chair
Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace
PO Box 1228
Tucson, AZ 85702
Thanks Roger. Stay in touch. Bill
Bill, the website is great…just found it. Lots of good information and positive suggestions. It is what neighborhoods need. Let’s be sure NSN gets a link on their web-site. I just sent the link to the Friends of Jefferson Park, Inc board. Joan Daniels