Canoa Ranch Resort goes forward in Green Valley
By Philip S. Moore, Inside Tucson Business
Ground was broken last week on the "crown jewel" of the Canoa Ranch Resort, a full-scale resort hotel destined to be the centerpiece of the commercial south of Green Valley.
"This should be a spectacular hotel and a spectacular center, a valuable addition to Canoa Ranch and to the (Green Valley) community," said investor Bob McMahon, CEO of Metro Restaurants. He noted the site of the May 26 ground-breaking was where, by December, the lobby of the hotel would be. "A water feature will be right here and the windows will look out on this spectacular view of the mountains."
Others at the ground-breaking included Dave Williams, principal owner of Fairfield Homes; Steve Powell, project manager; Andrew Karic, president of Triumph Builders; Evie Coakley, project engineer; Frank Thomson, planning consultant; and Gail Wright, project architect.
"This has been a long time coming for us," said Williams. Conceived as the central core of the Canoa Ranch masterplan, the complex of commercial buildings, a resort hotel and adjacent swimming pool, lake and golf course, Williams said he conceived it as a way of making Canoa Ranch more than just a housing subdivision.
To create it, Williams said he needed guidance and cooperation throughout the process. "As a result, this has been a team effort, from its beginning until now. So, we appreciate everybody's effort, because together, we made this possible."
Thomson said planning for the resort goes back 18 years, when the first plan for development of Canoa Ranch was conceived. Eight years later, in 1995, those plans moved forward, with the planner being asked to come up with concepts and ideas of how the complete center would look and function. "That developed into a plan that will make this a unique place for Tucson," Thomson said.
Construction on the project is scheduled to start next week and be finished by January.
Philip S. Moore may be contacted at pmoore@azbiz.com or at (520) 295-4238.