New Tucson Thrive in the 05 Mural Celebrates Sugar Hill Neighborhood

Published on November 21, 2024

Sugar Hill Mural

A new Tucson mural, celebrating the people and history of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood, was completed last weekend.

The mural is an Action Activity of the Thrive in the 05, a neighborhood-enrichment initiative of the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department. The brightly colored mural, with the bold name Sugar Hill in the center, was created in collaboration with the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona and the Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association. The mural was designed by Ndubisi Okoye of Detroit.

A community painting celebration was held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Max’s Center Attractions, 2032 N. Stone Ave. Several dozen residents joined Okoye and Tucson artists Allison Miller and Jessi Moreno to complete the mural. Sugar Hill is one of Tucson’s historic black neighborhoods.

The mural is the final Thrive in the 05 Action Activity sponsored by HCD. Thrive in the 05 Action Activities are a critical component in the implementation of the Thrive in the 05 Transformation Plan, thanks to a combined public investment of $1.5 million from Choice Neighborhoods, Community Development Block Grant and City General funds. The Action Activities have reinvigorated the transformation of the 05 area by engaging residents and partners.

Other 05 Action Activities include tree planting, traffic calming projects, park beautification, public art installations, business façade improvements, and new street signage.

Thrive in the 05 focuses on a 2.3-square-mile area in the 85705 zip code. It is bounded by Miracle Mile to the north, Speedway to the south, Stone Avenue to the east, and Interstate-10 to the west.

The other Thrive in the 05 Action Activities and its partners are:

  • The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation created and placed 4 neon signs, 27 stop-sign toppers, and 35 banners on poles along North Oracle Road, West Miracle Mile and North Stone Avenue noting the historic Miracle Mile District.
  • The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives implemented the Visual Improvement Program. The City provided technical and financial assistance to property owners or business tenants seeking to renovate or restore exterior facades, signage, and lighting for commercial buildings.
  • Tucson Clean and Beautiful planned and organized tree planting events in 05 neighborhoods to increase greenspace, improve the pedestrian experience, and neighborhood beautification.
  • Living Streets Alliance created several traffic calming mini projects integrating asphalt art along a neighborhood walking/biking corridor, which involves low-cost changes to neighborhood streets and public spaces.
  • The Arts Foundation of Southern Arizona, with neighborhood participation, created other public art installations, two sculptures near Tucson House, and two murals on a commercial building next to Esquer Park and at the Richey Resource Center in Old Pascua to communicate the history, culture, and identity of the 05.
  • Tucson Parks and Recreation and Watershed Management Group have planned and will complete improvements to Esquer Park next to Tucson House, the City’s largest public housing building.
  • Tucson Parks and Recreation made improvements to the playground facilities at the Richey Resource Center.
  • Community Gardens of Tucson made improvements to the Blue Moon Community Garden and increased access to healthy food, social events, and nutrition and cooking resources for Tucson House residents and barrio residents.

The Thrive in the 05 Transformation Plan was adopted by the City of Tucson Mayor and Council on March 9, 2022.

Find more information on Thrive in the 05 Action Activities and Transformation Plan at thriveinthe05.tucsonaz.gov

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