The Bridges Planned Area Development

The Bridges is a 350-acre mixed-use project comprised of 125 acres of power-center and specialty retail, 120 acres of high-density residential development, and a 60-acre biosciences park being developed by the University of Arizona. The property lies in the heart of Tucson's downtown district, but had remained undeveloped in a private family trust while the rest of the City grew up around it. The property was successfully purchased in 2005 by a consortium of residential and commercial interests, who then proceeded with masterplanning the property as a "Planned Area Development" (or PAD).

Projects International served as project leader and strategic counsel to the ownership consortium, overseeing the masterplanning of the property and the project's consultant team, the writing and publication of the required PAD documents, and facilitating the project through the regulatory staff review process and its ultimate approval by the City of Tucson Mayor & Council. We also served as the primary conduit to the surrounding neighborhood associations and organizations, and with their help and support achieved a project that balanced community needs and developer/investment interests.

The project also involved the successful negotiation of a major joint-venture project with the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, wherein 25 acres of the property was dedicated to same for their construction and maintenance of a joint-use flood control project and public park which not only solved a long-standing flooding problem in the surrounding region, but which also now provides for a new park and recreational amenity for the project and surrounding community.

In the end, The Bridges ended up being one of the most politically challenging projects in the City's recent history. Despite overwhelming neighborhood support and the significant and demonstrated economic benefits that would accrue from it, political objections by some of the local Councilmembers delayed final approval. Ultimately, these issues were successfully resolved through intensive negotiations and strategic efforts.

Presently, The Bridges is in the early stages of site development for the commercial component and for the University of Arizona Biosciences Park. Residential development has been delayed due to the current economy and struggling housing market. Nonetheless, design development and planning activities have recently begun for the first phase of residential development.