The Rio Nuevo Board unanimously agreed to provide incentives to a Tucson lawfirm that recently purchased the former Visit Tucson building at the southwest corner of Broadway Blvd. and Church Avenue. Farhang & Medcoff, a longtime Tucson firm, will relocate their corporate offices from E. Broadway to downtown and renovate the remaining corner at this gateway intersection.
The board approved a standard 25-year Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), a rebate on site-specific construction sales taxes, and will provide parking assistance for up to three years.
In other news, the board unanimously approved a $19,650 contract with FORS Architecture + Interiors to prepare a design assessment and concept for the Solot Block in the Sunshine Mile portion of Broadway Blvd.
The Board also voted to set aside up to $250,000 to provide ongoing support to the major Downtown entertainment events for 2020 that have been cancelled due to COVID-19 – El Tour de Tucson, The Arizona Bowl and Downtown New Year’s Eve Block Party, Second Saturday, Dusk, and the Jazz Festival. Members of the Rio Nuevo Executive Committee will meet with event organizers and determine the extent of the challenges and potential assistance going forward.