Downtown neighbors, businesses and artists speak out against new road plan
by matewan Tuesday, May. 13, 2008 at 10:39 AM

A coalition of downtown neighbors, businesses and artists is organizing against the City of Tucson’s push to change the alignment of the Downtown Links, a section of roadway designed to extend the Aviation Parkway to I-10.

Downtown neighbors, businesses and artists
speak out against new road plan.

A coalition of downtown neighbors, businesses and artists is organizing against the City of Tucson’s push to change the alignment of the Downtown Links, a section of roadway designed to extend the Aviation Parkway to I-10. The proposed realignment of the road will destroy important structures in the downtown arts district, displace businesses, and create a deep divide between neighborhoods and downtown.

The coalition will hold a press conference on Saturday, May 10 at 12 noon, at Originate Natural Building Materials Showroom, 526 N 9th Avenue.

Various representatives will give personal testimony on the alignment proposal, and media tours of buildings slated for demolition under the plan will be available immediately following the conference.

In January 2007, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) approved an alignment for the road after a thorough evaluation of 17 alternatives and several years of public input. It was approved as the most sensitive alignment that preserves the integrity of the downtown arts district and surrounding neighborhoods. In January of 2008, the City of Tucson announced a new alignment based on new criteria, making efforts to move forward on it without adequate input and without providing alternatives for study. The new plan results in destruction of historic structures, while cutting into both West University and Dunbar Spring neighborhoods. In response, Neighborhood Associations including Dunbar Spring and West University, affected business owners and community groups, such as WAMO (Warehouse Arts Management Organization), and BICAS, have called on the City to provide alternative alignments to study and proper time for public input. A May 12 meeting of the CAC will be held at the Tucson Convention Center.

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