Marana is ready to take on projects in old neighborhoods

Marana town leaders are beginning a new program to reinvest in some of the town’s oldest neighborhoods.

Town staff are analyzing and listing below-standard infrastructure in the old neighborhoods and colonias, said Town Manager Gilbert Davidson.

He sought the buy-in of the Town Council at a study session meeting last week to start addressing the problem.

“As Marana becomes more successful, and we are a prosperous community, I think every neighborhood should reflect that in terms of the town’s infrastructure,” Davidson told the council.

Projects to look at include roads improvements, sidewalks and streetlights, drainage improvements, sewer connections and small parks, he said. The analysis — due this spring — will show which projects are doable.

The focus areas are Honea Heights, Yoem Pueblo, Marana Vista, Marana Estates, Berry Acres, Adonis, Amole Circle and Price Lane.

Many of the homes were built in the 1940s-1960s. Some of the neighborhoods included the original residents who signed the incorporation documents to form the town. Others were early annexations into the town limits.

Davidson estimated a couple thousand people live in the neighborhoods. In most cases, the residents are low-income.

In the past, the town has looked at the “overwhelming” total cost for addressing all the needs and hasn’t taken any action, he said.

“All of this is going to take time,” Davidson told the council. “Each fiscal year, we just make a commitment to chip away at this, rather than look at the large dollar amount and then do nothing, we at least start to do something.”

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The town will seek grant money and partnerships, such as the Pascua Yaqui tribe and the Catholic church, but could also use some sales-tax revenue or transportation money to get projects done.

The town has a great example in Marana Vista, Davidson said.

In 2007, the town built a $1 million fund using money from the town, county and federal government to install sidewalks and streetlights in the neighborhood.

“People then took more pride in their neighborhood and we started to see people make improvements to their own properties,” like painting and landscaping, Davidson said.

“I think the same thing would happen in any one of these other neighborhoods. If we went in and started making improvements, that would start to spread through the whole neighborhood area,” he told the council.

Of particular importance to Davidson is the idea that each neighborhood should have its own park with a safe and clean play area.

New neighborhoods in Marana are required to have park amenities, so older neighborhoods should have them, too, he said.

The plan was well-received by the Town Council.

Council member Patti Comerford said there’s a lot of work to do but the town should start to chip away at it.

Asking residents what’s important to them for quality of life will help the town figure out which projects to prioritize, she said.