Condos, hotel proposed as neighbor to Tucson's tallest building

An adjacent tower to Tucson’s tallest building could become a combination of condominiums, luxury apartments and hotel space.

And, while developers say it will be integrated to match the existing structure known by its address, One South Church, it likely won’t be a twin tower.

“The new building won’t be a twin sister ... maybe a cousin,” owner and developer Roger Karber told members of the Pima Country Real Estate Council Thursday. “It’s very rare to be involved with a project that is so unique. We are still exploring options.”

One South Church and its adjoining lot were bought by local investors last month for $32 million.

Karber, managing member of Aerie Development LLC, then bought the half-acre lot for $3.5 million, as Aerie is looking toward developing more urban projects.

The company has several luxury apartment complexes in Arizona.

Owners and investors are “crunching the numbers daily” to conceive a successful plan, Karber said.

The top four to six floors could become private condominiums, with luxury rental units in the middle floors and hotel rooms on the bottom floors along with some retail, he told the council.

In response to questions, Karber said he’d like to build about 30 condominiums.

The elevators shaft, which reaches three floors underground and one above, was engineered to sustain 23 stories, which gives developers an advantage, he said.

“All we have to do is go vertical,” Karber said. “We hope to occupy by mid-2018.”

He envisions the neighboring plaza as a hangout for residents on the south end of downtown, citing the success of places further north, such as The Cup at Hotel Congress on Toole Avenue and La Cocina on Court Avenue.

“That will be key,” Karber said.

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He also committed to preserving the Ben’s Bells mural that is wrapped around the exposed elevator shaft of the never-built twin tower.

One of the four panels may remain at the site and the others are “transportable and meaningful,” he told the council, and asked for ideas on where the other panels could be placed in the community.

Meanwhile, the existing tower, built in 1986, is getting a makeover and already has a new tenant.

National Bank of Arizona has signed a lease for space on the first floor, said Matt Thrasher, of Thrasher Law Offices PLLC, one of the new owners.

The building was 30 percent vacant when purchased.

He said upgrades to the offices will be done with an eye toward attracting younger tenants.

Co-owner Zachary Fenton said the building is the same as it was when built 29 years ago and plans are to remove things that “scream 1980s.”

On some floors, the ceilings are being removed to expose the beams and fluorescent lighting is being replaced with track lighting.

“It’s a great building,” Fenton said, “but it needs some refreshment.”

The 240,811-square-foot tower has 23 stories. It was designed by Curtis W. Fentress of Fentress Architects and built by Sundt Corp.

One South Church was first known as the United Bank Tower, then Citibank Tower, Norwest Tower and UniSource Tower until 2011.

The new owners have not decided whether to change the name.