Hi all:
Attached is the agenda for the May meeting: APNA Agenda 5-14-13
Besides updates on current issues, our guest will be Ross Rulney, owner of the Julian Drew Block and Tiburon Apartments to discuss his infill development plans.
Hope you can join us!
The Tuesday, April 9 meeting of the Armory Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors was mostly about catching up on old business and addressing a few neighborhood concerns.
Among those concerns, of course, was the 31-foot-high silo fronting the Thunder Canyon Brewery. It was reiterated that, contrary to the comments of some residents on the listserve, the association held quite amiable meetings with the Thunder Canyon Brewery long before its recent opening. The Brewery also donated a keg of very swell beer for our most recent Home Tour party, which of course earns it an eternally warm spot in our hearts, if not our gullets.
Nonetheless, the silo was not mentioned by the Thunder Canyon during our earlier chats. It appears that the city pushed the process through rather rapidly and without all the precautions in place.
On another note, the “Herbert” is set for completion in the next few months. You probably know it as the onetime Armory Park Apartments, located on 12th Street between Herbert and 5th avenues. The Herbert is slated for mixed residential occupancy, with upscale studio apartments being developed by Peach Properties and the Holualoa Companies.
We also discussed ongoing problems with tractor trailers cutting through the neighborhood to access the warehouse district east of us. To say the least, this is a noisy, intractable problem, beset by city ordinances and broader laws that restrict TPD’s ability to ticket these behemoths.
A city study conducted a couple of years ago—in the depths of the recession—showed at least 10 big rigs a day traveling along 18th Street alone. That number is no doubt replicated on most streets in the southern reaches of the neighborhood and has certainly risen as the economy improves.
We have various strategies in the works, including future plans for mitigation along the streets, and working with our representative council members to affect a change in local laws. You can help by logging the number of trucks coming down your street, and providing them to us. Power is in the numbers, so to speak.
As you’ve probably noticed, the stoplight at Park Avenue and 18th Street is nearing completion. The city has pledged to redo its traffic study along 18th six months after the light goes on, and perhaps come up with more mitigation.
In the vein of intractable problems, we also discussed the potential for creating a quiet zone for the railroad between 22nd and 16th streets. As you might imagine, this is a big deal, involving the city government, a reluctant Union Pacific Railroad, and ultimately the Federal Railroad Administration. But given that rail traffic along this spur (which goes to Nogales) is set to grow exponentially, it’s a fight worth undertaking.
At last month’s meeting, suggestions offered by city transportation staffer Sam Credio ranged from closing several affected east-west streets to, well, closing several affected east-west streets.
While this would no doubt cut down on whistle blows, we believe it would create unacceptable traffic bottlenecks in the southern reaches of the neighborhood. There are many other alternatives available, but of course they all involve large sums of money.
We also discussed the Bus Riders Union, and its efforts to keep a downtown bus hub at the Ronstadt Center, despite economic pressures to develop that property. The neighborhood hasn’t yet taken a formal position on this situation. However, board member Liz Burden did mention a city feasibility study in the recent past showing that the center as it exists is the prime spot for a transit hub.
We also discussed looming parking issues in the northern part of the neighborhood due to pending increases in student and other residential parking needs in that area.
Not surprisingly, there was also a lively discussion about the recent listserve dust-up. This led to twin board pledges: One is encouraging folks to learn more about the neighborhood. The other is for the board to double-down in its efforts to keep folks informed. Hence, this post.
The upshot is that there are enormous pressures on Armory Park right now from development. It is of course already happening, but we can influence the way it happens. Either way, these changes will affect us all, including potential impacts on parking, property values and even the viability of the neighborhood.
Speaking of involvement, having a grand old time is most certainly part of the mix. That’s why we have another neighborhood party in the works, scheduled for the evening of Friday, May 3. Keep an eye out for the upcoming newsletter for details.
Stay tuned…
-Tim Vanderpool
Hi all:
Attached is the agenda for the April Meeting: APNA Agenda 4-9-13
It will feature updates of ongoing APNA projects. It’s a short agenda, as most things are in process and progress through committee work, this month.
Hope to see you ;-)
Best- John Burr
Hi all:
This year, APNA has decided to hold more general meetings, approximately quarterly, to provide a better process for community involvement, input and process.
The first of these is Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7pm at St. Andrew’s Parish Hall. This is an important meeting because it will address Armory Park’ options to better develop an overall parking strategy for the entire neighborhood with the upcoming increased density new development on our edges will create this fall and into the future. APNA is committed to helping develop strategies and options for all residents to create workable and affordable programs that maintain current residents needs. We need your input!
A second big topic that has increased over the years is noise from the railroad on our east. APNA has worked with the COT to look into options to potentially develop a Railroad Quiet Zone. Come hear the results of the study.
Other topics on the agenda will be a look at what may happen to Ronstadt Transit Center, the development of an APNA Garden Tool Lending Library, and many other neighborhood updates. Attached is the agenda: APNA Agenda 3-8-13
Please join us for the discussion!
And if you haven’t joined APNA this year–download a 2013 membership form, and bring a completed form and your check to the neighborhood meeting!
Hope to see everyone!
Best-
John Burr
A DENIAL OF THE SPORTS ARENA LIQUOR LICENSE LEADS ARMORY PARK BOARD DISCUSSION
At our monthly meeting in the sanctuary of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the board hashed over an assortment of issues, from parking to crime. Leading the discussion was a decision, one hour earlier, by the Tucson Mayor and City Council to deny a liquor license application for the Maracana Indoor Sports Arena at 18th Street and Jacobus Avenue.
Citing noise, parking and security issues, Ward Six Councilman Steve Kozachik led the council in a unanimous vote to deny the application. The issue now moves to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control in Phoenix for a final decision.
The board meeting was also joined by Officer J. Glesinger of the Tucson Police Department, who discussed crime concerns with the Bel Aire apartment complex at 18th Street and 2nd Avenue, along with other crime issues in Armory Park. Officer Glesinger, who has been instrumental in helping contain some of the problems with Bel Aire, informed the board that there were 30 calls to TPD from the Armory Park Neighborhood in January. A half-dozen of those calls concerned the Bel Aire.
Other highlights:
-Armory Park Board President John Burr and member Elizabeth Burden recently addressed the somewhat revitalized Downtown Neighborhoods and Residents Council, or DNARC, where they argued against further rezoning overlays that could erode Armory Park’s historic protections. The Downtown Council also drafted a policy proposal prodding city leaders to bring negotiations about the fate of downtown’s Ronstadt Transit Center into full public view.
-Carla a resident near the Old Towne Apartments on 5th Avenue and 18th Street, spoke about ongoing crime problems, including repeated burglaries at her home.
-Look for upcoming bulletins on your doorstep from our neighborhood association. Each bulletin will address Armory Park concerns, and let you know about important, upcoming meetings. Compiled by board Vice President Jack McLain, these missives mark a new effort by the board to keep neighbors apprised of issues that affect us all.
Hi all:
The February meeting will focus on timely issues, and the streamlining of meetings, following APNA’s January Strategic Planning Meeting. This year, the board has decided to have 4 General Meetings focusing on Neighborhood Issues. The first one will be on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at St. Andrews. A meeting will occur every second Tuesday of the month, each month, this year. Put them on your calendars!
The agenda is attached: APNA Agenda 2-12-13
Please join us in 2013!
Best- John
Hi all:
One of the issues that has taken the neighborhood by storm in 2013 has been the issue of a liquor license application by the Maracana Indoor Sports Arena. There have been over 160 separate emails I have personally seen on the matter. As many of you know, immediate residents who were legally notified petitioned the board for some action in their favor. The board voted, the discussion ensued, and the rest is history and well documented on the the list-serve stream.
I feel that APNA, and the board, and all of you, did due diligence in this matter. I and the board, appreciate everyone who participated in the process, and their feedback. I realize that most people were very strong in their opinions, whatever they may have been. And I and the board truly respect all those opinions.
But to better serve the larger interests of everyone, the numbers dictated our final response, despite the initial vote. It was clearly in the favor of protest on this matter. Please see the attached final formal letter filed with the City Clerk on behalf of APNA within the comment period. I believe it truly represents the larger constituency. As promised, it is now available for all of you has a matter of public record: APNA-Protest-Liqour-License-Letter_1-26-13compressed
APNA wishes to be transparent, representative of the neighborhood’s actual interests and foster the continuing dialogue of what this community, as a whole, defines as its goals. We may not always get it right but we do listen, respond, share, and attempt to provide a reasonable forum for that process. We are all volunteers in this process, not staff. We’ll try to continue to be more inclusive. Everyone’s voice should be heard. But, personally, I feel that the larger collective voice of the greater community is truly what matters. The collective voice since our founding has preserved our historic architecture and homes, community spirit and made Armory Park a great place to live now and into the future. It has taken all of us, over time, to make this a reality in the past, now, and into the future!
This year, APNA will be having more community-wide meetings for all residents to participate in the many issues we share as a community. Please join us for any of the meetings you care to come to. We need the larger community’s input to make sure we continue to share common goals and accurately represent you. Please watch this site, at least monthly for the latest updates, postings and news, which will be provided regularly. We will try to get out published newsletters more regularly, too, but please understand, we have absolutely no help from the city, any longer, to do so. Its all volunteer services that make it happen. Each newsletter costs APNA about $300.00, plus dozens of volunteer hours to write, publish and distribute. They will only continue in print form if the neighborhood joins in membership and provides the funds to do so (that’s 30 memberships per newsletter, if you are counting).
We hope to see you all, every second Tuesday every month this year at St. Andrew’s at 7pm. Mark it in your calendars now. That is the years’ schedule. Some meetings will be board oriented (we have to comply with COT and ACC rules), but many will be all about you and your interests! And if you haven’t joined for 2013 yet, please do send in your application! The new form will be posted this week. (the old form still works until it is replaced ;-) Now that email is the only way to regularly reach everyone, the only way you are assured of inclusion is by membership. Your membership matters!
In February– February 12, there will be a board meeting to finalize what the Strategic Planning meeting in January resolved. The agenda will be posted in a timely manner. Expect a General Meeting in March. Topics will likely be potential Neighborhood Parking programs, coming infill development, and whatever else is in the air or timely of interest this spring. It’s an exiting but challenging time for our neighborhood as it transitions in its relationship to what is now happening downtown, and all around us. Please get involved!
Best to all,
John Burr, president
The APNA Board of directors retreated to the Armory Park Senior Center today (January 12) to hash over plans for the coming year and address looming issues.
Prime among them were development pressures on the north side of Armory Park, and a planned city zoning overlay that could trump historic preservation concerns within much of the neighborhood. We’re going to need lots of involvement by neighbors to make sure we don’t get steamrolled by this.
One point mentioned was that the city has appeared to give less and less credence to the concerns of neighborhoods as it lays out such plans. We pledged to engage more closely with the offices of Ward Five and Ward Six, to ensure that our council members are aware of our concerns.
Board members will also be attending meetings related to the “Plan Tucson” long-range comprehensive plan for city development, and will discuss parking, historic preservation and other concerns.
We also noted achievements in the past year, including a very successful historic home tour and approval of development principles that can be tapped in negotiations with developers hoping to build in or adjacent to the neighborhood.
At February’s meeting, we will discuss our efforts to create a “quiet zone” for the railroad spur running just east of Jacobus Avenue, and will request to have someone from the Regional Transportation Authority discuss findings from a recent safety study of the line from 22nd Street to 16th Street.
We’re also planning a major effort to build membership in the Armory Park Neighborhood Association through more outreach, such as hand-delivered bulletins and social events. And we are revamping our meetings, to schedule shorter, more topic-focused gatherings.
A side note: it appears that federal regulations tied to funding for the modern street car prohibit any closures of roads traversed by the line, including Congress Street and Broadway Boulevard. As a result, events such as the Parade of Lights will no longer be held in Armory Park.
Finally, we voted unanimously to oppose the granting of a liquor license for the Macarena Indoor Sports Arena, 555 E. 18th Street. The arena fills the south half of a big warehouse on the corner of 18th Street and Jacobus Avenue.
Having already experienced late-night noise, parking and alcohol issues associated with Maracana, immediate neighbors are very opposed to granting the facility a liquor license.
Perhaps in another location, such an application would be feasible. But the Maracana is extremely close to nearby homes, has insufficient parking, and already suffers a track record of creating headaches for neighbors.
To register your opinion regarding a liquor license at this facility, please submit your comments in writing to:
City of Tucson, City Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726-7210
Councilman Steve Kozachik
Midtown Ward Six
3202 E. 1st Street
Tucson, AZ 85716
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
800 W. Washington
5th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
The mayor and council make recommendations to the state department on whether a license should be granted, so sharing your feelings with them is very important.
The deadline for receiving comments is January 28.
The hearing before mayor and council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on February 12.
Stay tuned, Armory Parkers!
Hi all:
It should be an interesting meeting. We will have the Pima Arts Council and the project artists for Tucson’s WW II Memorial present the latest design plans. Jim Campbell of Oasis Tucson will update us on the new student housing towers going up on the El Centro site, an update on Community Gardens, and more!
Attached is the agenda: APNA Agenda 12-11-12
Hope to see you!
The Armory Park Holiday Party is happening Sunday, December 9 from 5 to 8 pm. Margit Ritchie is again opening her lovely home to us; the address is 437 S 5th Ave. APNA will supply a ham and a turkey – please bring a dish to share.
For more information, call APNA or email Phyllis.
