MAYOR AND COUNCIL SELECT PEACH PROPERTIES TEAM FOR THE RONSTADT TRANSIT JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - November 17, 2015
Following an Executive Session today, the Mayor and Council publicly announced the selection of Peach Properties to enter into negotiations with the City to develop a mixed-use project with transit on a 4.7-acre key downtown site. The City-owned site is currently utilized as the Ronstadt Transit Center and two parking lots. This selection is consistent with the unanimous recommendation to Mayor and Council of the project Evaluation Committee comprised of members representing bus riders, downtown businesses and neighborhoods, the development community, and City departments.
The Peach Properties proposed project features a transit mall integrated with a mix of residential, retail, commercial, and public space uses. The concept includes an open-air public market located adjacent to a newly built transit mall and a Marriot boutique concept hotel on the corner of 6th Ave. and Congress. The streetscape on both Congress and 6th will be activated with retail uses. The Peach Properties team is led by local developer Ron Schwabe and includes several equity partners, including Scott Stiteler. The team includes local architecture firms Swaim Associates and FORS Architecture + Interiors, general contractor Ryan, and transportation/transit consultant, HDR. Also part of the team is Melody Peters, the public artist who created the tiles that decorate the existing arcade.
The final project components, phasing, and design review process will be determined through a Development Agreement to be negotiated between the City and Peach Properties; reviewed by the Federal Transit Administration, which has a financial interest in the site; and approved by Mayor and Council.
This selection by the Mayor and Council is the culmination of a two-year process that included meetings with stakeholders to develop project goals, the issuance of a Phase I and a Phase II Request for Proposals (RFP), public presentations of proposed concepts, and the formation of an Evaluation Committee to review and make recommendations to Mayor and Council on the Phase I and Phase II RFP submittals.
The City received two responses to the Phase I RFP which focused on team qualifications. The two respondents were Peach Properties and the Alexander Company. On December 16, 2014, the Mayor and Council, consistent with the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation, directed that both teams be invited to continue to Phase II, which required providing a proposed project design, with uses, schedule, and costs.
The two teams submitted proposals in June 2015, and on July 22, 2015, each team publicly presented its proposed project. The public was invited to provide written comments during a two-week review period, and the two teams were asked to provide responses.
NEXT STEPS
Staff anticipates bringing a preliminary development agreement outline to the Mayor and Council in the spring. Following direction from Council, a public meeting will be held to present the updated project concept and the Federal Transit Administration will be asked to begin their review of the joint development proposal. Mayor and Council direction included taking into consideration the Evaluation Committee recommendations regarding the development agreement and project implementation. Evaluation Committee Recommendations
RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE RTC PROJECT
August 27, 2015 Amendment to the Request for Propsoal No. 140983 regarding public art
July 22, 2015, RTC Joint Development Project Public Presentations
Additional Questions/Comments Inadvertenly Missed.
A Few Questions/Comments Inadvertently Missed.
Written Questions/Comments submitted by attendees.
Emailed Questions/Comments received.
Watch the July 22, 2015 videos of both teams' presentations.
The Alexander Company/Oasis Tucson Proposal
Peach Properties Proposal
RTC Joint Development Project Evaluation Committee
The above link provides the list of people who comprise the Evaluation Committee chosen through an application process to review and make recommendations regarding the Phase I and Phase II of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the Ronstadt Transit Center Joint Development Project. Development of the Phase I and II RFPs was the subject of a series of stakeholder meetings. More information about the RFP process can be found on this webpage.
The Committee members represent a mix of City professionals with project-related expertise and stakeholders representing a variety of interests, including transit users, neighborhoods, downtown businesses, and the development and design professions.
During this active review period for the Phase II RFP process, Evaluation Committee members have been asked not to discuss their opinions regarding the projects outside of committee meetings, which are overseen by the City of Tucson’s Procurement Department.
Any questions about the Evaluation Committee should be directed to Dan Longanecker, the City’s Procurement Officer for this project, at Dan.Longanecker@tucsonaz.gov.
Phase II Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Phase II RFP, released on March 12, 2015, will require among other things a detailed design concept for a mixed-use development with transit to be located on the 4.7-acre downtown site.
Public Process Estimated Timeline Comment Summary RFP Content Summary
- Responses to Written Comments
- Written Comments Received on Draft Phase II RFP and considered in the preparation of the Revised Phase II RFP
- Summary of Feb. 25, 2015, Stakeholders Meeting
- PowerPoint presented at Feb. 25, 2015, Stakeholders Meeting
- Draft Phase II RFP Text made available at Jan. 30, 2015
- Summary of Jan. 30, 2015, Stakeholders Meeting
- PowerPoint presented at Jan. 30, 2015, Stakeholders Meeting
- Summary of Phase II RFP Process
Phase I Request for Proposals (RFP)
Following an Executive Session on December 16, 2014, Mayor & Council publicly announced approval of the 13-member Selection Committee’s recommendation that two firms be invited to continue to Phase II.
- Peach Watermark Team Phase I Proposal - Part 1
- Peach Watermark Team Phase I Proposal - Part 2
- The Alexander Company Phase I Proposal
Additional Project Information
- 2014 Comprehensive Operational Analysis of Transit
- Congress Street Circulation Study
- 2014 Incentive-Based Development Study, 2014, Downtown Tucson Partnership
Offers pro formas for prototype mixed-use developments using available incentive modeling. - 2014 Downtown Investment Study, Downtown Tucson Partnership
Provides information on private and public development activity in the area. - Downtown Grocery Store to Open December, 2014 Across the Street from Site
- New AC Marriot Hotel to be Built One Block from Site
Project Background Information
- Project flyer (pdf)
- Phase I documents and amendments (City of Tucson Procurement)
- Federal Transit Administration
- Public Participation
- Relevant Plans & Initiatives
- Existing Zoning (Office Commercial Residential - 2)
- Ronstadt Transit Center Photos
- Ronstadt Transit Center Improvements, Project Update, 2014
- Environmental Reports
- RTC Meeting Summaries