The Trinity Presbyterian Church near the University of Arizona is a step closer to demolishing several of its buildings to make way for two new multi-story buildings.
The Tucson City Council voted late Wednesday to give the green light to the proposed project, which sits on a three-acre site on 400 E. University Blvd. at North Fourth Avenue.
Randi Dorman with R+R Develop, which partnered with the church on the project, said they chose to build smaller buildings as a concession to the neighbors in exchange for a height variance.
The historical height limit in the neighborhood is 36 feet, which is tied to the Historic Property Zone designation. But the developers argue that in order for the project to be viable, one of the buildings had to be about 50 feet tall.
In all, the church and R+R Develop have publicly stated they want to build three- and four-story buildings with ground-floor retail in both structures. The revised plan has decreased the number of planned apartments from 72 to 55.
Chris Gans, the president of the West University Neighborhood Association, told the council that the association is not opposed to the site redevelopment, but it was concerned about removing the property from the Historic Property Zone designation.
Withdrawing from the historic designation would set a dangerous precedent, he said, noting other properties have been successfully redeveloped while still abiding by the historic zone restrictions.
But many residents who spoke in support of the proposal acknowledged it was preferable to a larger development the church could build that would cater to students.
The council signed off on the zoning change Wednesday, but only after several last-minute requirements were added by Councilman Steve Kozachik.
They include:
- No parking structures
- Capping the portion of the building adjacent to Time Market, 444 E. University Blvd., to 30 feet in height
- Limiting the overall footprint of the project
