Comcast has taken out a permit for an $8.5 million renovation of the former American Home Furnishings building on North Oracle Road.
The building, which sat vacant more than five years, will be home to Comcast Cableβs new IT, call center and social media operations.
In May, the company announced plans to add more than 1,100 jobs in Tucson and in August signed a lease to occupy more than 100,000 square feet of space in the old furniture building at 4690 N. Oracle Road, near Tucson Mall.
Broker Greg Furrier, of Picor, who represented the buildingβs owner, The Tanager Co., reflected on how the deal was sealed in a recent commercial real estate blog.
βComcast requested a list of amenities within a three-mile radius of the building,β he said. Among the items on the wish list were restaurants, public transit, public parks, retail stores and car dealers.
Furrier said an aerial map showed that the Oracle Road facility provided everything Comcast wanted within a half-mile.
Aside from the many restaurants in the area and the Tucson Mall, the transportation amenities, including convenient ways for employees to take buses or to bicycle, were a selling point.
βAs I was standing on the top deck of the 1,000-space parking garage and looking at the Catalina Mountains with the Comcast site selector, I pointed east to the Tohono Oβodham transit center. I also pointed out the pathway along the river and I explained the Rillito River Parkway,β Furrier said, noting that both provided alternative ways to get to work for employees who might not have vehicles. βBased on the strong desire of Comcast to encourage a healthy lifestyle for their employees, I knew they would be impressed with the many surrounding resources.β
The catch was, it was a retail building competing with industrial space with lower rents.
βWe knew our amenities were our advantage,β Furrier said.
Comcast officials have previously said planned renovations include a fitness center and cafeteria for employees. Jokake Construction is the contractor for the project.
