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Mini-dorm controversy heats up on blogs and the JOLT: Take a video tour of mini-dorms in the Feldman Neighborhood (video)

by on Jan. 07, 2011, under Arizona, Capitalism, Historic architecture, John C. Scott, Politics, Tucson

Mini-dorm in the Feldman Neighborhood. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)

The destruction of historic neighborhoods to create mini-dorm villages near the University of Arizona has been a hot topic on this blog, on Facebook, and on the JOLT (KJLL, 1330 AM) this week.

The JOLT’s John C. Scott conducted multiple interviews with Jefferson Park neighbors, developers, and Councilman Steve Kozachik on this topic.

I was heartened to hear Kozachik tell the JOLT audience that he believes the current mini-dorm construction is not in keeping with the intent of the single-family zoning laws, that he feels the scale and design of the buildings in the Feldman and Jefferson Park Neighborhoods do not blend well with the existing homes in these older neighborhoods, and that he supports future mini-dorm development along major arterials– rather than in neighborhoods. Kozachik also announced on Thursday on The JOLT that he planned to organize a meeting amongst the stakeholders.

Jefferson Park leaders reminded the JOLT audience that mini-dorms can be built on any single family lot. One is currently being constructed near Blacklidge and Country Club.

For those of you not familiar with these neighborhoods and how they are changing, I shot video footage yesterday which shows an entire block of the Feldman Neighborhood that has been destroyed and rebuilt. Don’t forget the candlelight vigil tonight (Friday, January 7) at 1036 E. Waverly at 6:30 p.m.

CREDIT: Pamela Powers
CAPTION: Mini-dorms Gobble Up Historic Tucson

This entry was posted on Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 10:00 am and is filed under Arizona, Capitalism, Historic architecture, John C. Scott, Politics, Tucson. Tags for this post: , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Three-Sonorans/144198198931412 Three Sonorans

    Excellent video!

  • JC Jefferson Park

    Nice video, one thing that you may want to do is to go to Google maps and look down on the 400 block of Adams. What you will see that you don’t see on the video is that they have installed a community pool for all of the mini dorms.

    • UofA

      Yes, they installed a community pool. What is your point?

  • JC Jefferson Park

    My point is that this is just the kind of bait and switch that this A-Hole is all about! He has a different story coming out of each side of this mouth. One second he is building homes and the next he is leasing out apartments. So what story is the truth? The truth is that all he wants is to MAKE A BUCK of whoever and whenever he can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Some day he will be in your area and I hope that he builds one of his S–t holes next to your grandmothers house and the tenets go and threaten her, so she calls you and you can see what this BIG HARTED DEVELOPER is all about. Grow up.

    • Crice Cheveneski

      Was the pool salt water? 

  • George

    Hi,
    What a nightmare… Asked M. Goodman to sit down and speak to those long timers in the neighborhood…. He said he has already tried… News to me (resident since 1980′s).
    I am tired of being slandered as anti-student. I am tired of the half truths and miss-information… I am angry at his comment that those living in our neighborhood could not afford to live in his :mini-dorms. Why would I want to? I have an amazing house built in 1937… Family are the original owners…
    I am angry that the city will not enforce zoning laws and everyone in Tucson should be up in arms…
    Seven police officer tonight at the Jefferson Park  vigil… Waiting with Goodman as Grandmothers sang… Goodman… sad, sad  person.
    Goodman – worth your time?
     

    • Crice Cheveneski

      A truth about development is that since the first person moved into an area he and everyone that followed wasn’t happy with the next action of growth.

  • George

    Goodman did you get my numbers as you asked????????????

  • chuck freitas

    Owned property and worked in that area for 20+ years.

    The mini-dorms were/are an improvement compared the trash heaps and other unkempt properties in the immediate area. Try spending some of your vitriol on the existing property owners!

  • Hugh Holub

    One of the long standing fights in the older parts of Tucson is the increasing densities when single family neighborhoods are invaded by apartment building and minidorms…. but there are some ironies and inconsistencies….one being everyone wants mass transit….which only is effective with higher densities of development…second being the opposition to urban growth on the edges of Tucson like the Painted Hills fight….third being the reality that the U of A the surrounding neighborhoods developed with 50-70 years ago is not the same place today…the UA is a city unto itself spinning out higher urban densities around it.

    The City has never really adopted a land use plan for the area around the UA to deal with the emergence of the “city within the city”…and something has to give between retail, parking demands and housing demands….

    • Hugh Holub

      Note…I lived in the area east of the UA (mostly in the Sam Hughes neighborhood)  from 1954 to 1997.

      • http://www.tusconfan.com/index.htm Carol De Priest

        Hugh – long time no see  (UA grad 1966 under surname Hoag)  So why did you move out of the neighborhood I’ve always dreamed of living in? My neighborhood isn’t close to UA, but they’re starting to build mini-dorms there too.  Makes no sense. One land-grabber’s now saying he wants his renters to live in quality neighborhoods  (mine) – but when he gets through with them they aren’t any more.

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  • Facebook: Save Jefferson Park

    Save Jefferson Park and other historic neighborhoods from the blight of student apartments, aka “mini-dorms”! Please sign our petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/stop_historic_home_demolition_in_residential-zoned_neighborhoods
    and visit us on Facebook: Save Jefferson Park and our website: http://www.jeffersonpark.info
    Thanks!

  • http://N.U.N.A.NEWS lib morgan

    its sad that so many are having difficulty keeping their homes looking nice. i agree that the huge houses with multi-member renters are a step away from my ideal American Dream vision of the smaller, single-family bungalo lifestyle, but i have to admit its pleasant to see the newer well-kept properties… but why such an increase in size and capacity? the “mini-dorm” style of architecture looks a bit crammed in to the average lot size/scale… and what ever happened to the concept of houses surrounded by pleasant plantings? i like a green belt around a city and a nice bit of shrubbery and trees around a home – Lib Morgan, secty of N.U.N.A. (North University Neighborhood Association)

  • LJC

    Since when is it a bad thing to make a profit?  Since when is it a bad thing to tear down ugly,  dilapidated old buildings and build something nice that makes better use of the land in its place?  If you don’t like it, buy up these properties yourselves.

  • BRENDA

    This subject is becoming  an annoying cyst that needs to be lanced.   Why cant the city put a cap on how many of these  un-uniform  party houses is allowed to invade our historic neighborhood.  I realize some of the homes are run down and need some remodeling or  something, but to take over many streets is appalling.  What will it take to get some balance around this subject.

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  • patty

    This is America right? If someone is a property owner & follow the correct codes & zoning guidelines, then they have every right to do what they desire. If you live next to someone & don’t agree with what they legally do or construct on their own property then MOVE. Don’t try to control the rest of us. You leave near the Uof A – student Renters are every where. In an apartment or of a single family house. They are going to party regardless the size of the house. At least this Developer is giving the a nice updated safer place to rent.  Besides has anyone thought of the Jobs & revenue that are being created in a down economy.  Doesn’t the city collect on Sales tax revenue for building, Permits, renters Tax, Higher Property Tax…. & all the construction jobs being created. Also most of the renters are from out of state- so they are being there money to Tucson!
     THAT IS A GREAT THING FOR OUR ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!!

  • Crice Cheveneski

    Everyone has the right to do what is permitted by law.  These people should stop wasting their time and the city’s money and get the laws changed in neighborhoods that land is not owned by people who want to do development that is contrary to the neighbors’ wishes.  They need to have the foresight that the potential developers have and to put their money where their mouth is.   If you understand the law, protests like this are a total joke.

  • Gloria Alvillar

    Thank you for providing a forum for those of us affected by the mini dorms.  My biggest concern is the behavior of many of the students.  Drinking, drugs, screaming, littler, you name it.  I do hope they are not on scholarship and that their parents are not doing without to maintain this lifestyle.  Many of us are UA alumni and/or work at UA.  We are all for education and we also deserve a neighborhood that is safe and moderately quiet.  Thank you.

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The Tucson Progressive

Pamela Powers Hannley writes the Tucson Progressive blog on the TucsonCitizen.com and contributes articles to the Huffington Post and Salon.com. She has had more than 30 years of experience in written, visual, and electronic communication—including freelance writing, photography, graphic design, and consulting. In addition to blogging for the Citizen, she is the Managing Editor of an international medical research journal.

Hannley has authored medical research articles, print magazine and newspaper stories, and numerous cancer prevention and self-help publications.

She has been a blogger since 2006, joined the ranks of Tucson Citizen bloggers in October 2010, and started contributing to the Huffington Post in 2011 and to Salon.com in 2012.

Hannley holds a masters’ degree in public health from The University of Arizona and a bachelors’ degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a native of Amherst, Ohio but has lived in Tucson since 1981.