‘Sunshine Boulevard’ will be Tucson’s newest entertainment complex

Broadway widening “Sunshine Avenue” – Between Country Club Road and Euclid Avenue – nearing completion, time has come to introduce retail and attractions.

Preserving and transforming some of the historic heritage along the route has always been a priority for the city and the city. Rio Nuevo Board of Directorswhose area includes Broadway from downtown eastward to the Park Place shopping center.

Rio Nuevo acquired 39 properties, including Solot Plaza, Friedman Block and Bungalow Block on the north side of Broadway.

Seven bungalows have been relocated 75 feet from the roads in 2019 to prevent them from being damaged during the Broadway expansion.

Located between Cherry and Warren Avenues, the Bungalow Block will be a food hub with a culinary school and rotating chefs showcasing the different cuisines the city has won Tucson is UNESCO’s first American City of Gastronomy Designated in 2015.

Now, just east of Broadway, Rio Nuevo has selected developers for two other properties.

developer Larsen Baker Chosen as the winner of Solot Plaza – 16 properties between Tucson Boulevard and Treat Avenue.

This Grant Kruger Team Selected to develop the Friedman Neighborhood – 16 properties located between Tucson Avenue and Plummer Avenue.

“We’re very excited to have been selected by Rio Nuevo and try to do something in this neighborhood,” said Larsen-Baker president Melissa Lal. “Larsen Baker has never been in downtown (very much). A shame), but Sunshine Boulevard has the tangential energy of downtown, with lots of creature comforts like parking and access that we love.”

The program is in partnership with Ambrell Capital and Repp + McLain Design and Construction.

“Our vision for Sol Block is to serve the needs of the community through 27,000 square feet of small retail and service uses…think hair salon, coffee/tea shop, brunch, fitness studio, dog groomer, bike shop, florist and jewelry business,” Lal said. “All those great local businesses, along with restaurants and bars, are very important to the successful ecosystem of a vibrant trade area.”

She said a lot of work was needed to create enough parking spaces and preserve the historic façade, while modernizing the building systems and interior.

“We know a lot of businesses want to go back to Sunshine Avenue and expand into this space,” Lal said. “Broadway is beautiful (and) the Sunshine Mile is surrounded by some of Tucson’s most iconic neighborhoods – Sam Hughes, El Encanto, Mittman, Colonia Solana.”

Grant Krueger, owner of Union Hospitality Group, is also working with Repp + McLain on the renovation of the Friedman neighborhood.

“We intend to make a major investment in real estate and create a mixed-use mall worthy of the Sunshine Mile designation,” Krueger said, honoring and revering Bernard Friedman’s mid-century modern design, but with an eye toward the future. “

His team has developed Union Public House, Reforma Modern Mexican and Proof Artisanal Pizza & Pasta in St. Philip’s Square into live music and food hubs, and plans to offer a similar tenant mix and environment to Broadway.

“Potential tenants include two full-service restaurants/bars with live music managed by Union Hospitality, a coffee/bagel shop, a tea shop, two locally owned boutiques, an e-bike shop and a pair of fitness concepts shop,” Kruger said. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to help redevelop this most important section of the Sunshine Boulevard”

No timeline has been set as developers begin to explore the property’s infrastructure needs and solicit potential tenants.

“Rio Nuevo has never been so busy,” said board chairman Fletcher McCusker. “We’ve helped open a dozen new restaurants downtown, both local and many minority or women-owned businesses.

“Having legacy operators like Larsen Baker and Grant Kruger help reactivate Broadway is beyond our reach.”