Opinion

Encourage local brewery in Downtown bid

Shape Downtown into a destination where people can live and play, and watch it succeed. That's the lesson from cities across the United States. A new proposal from the owner of Nimbus Brewing Co. to relocate a brew pub and music venue Downtown gives us hope that Tucson is making progress toward that goal. While the particulars of the plan from Nimbus owner Jim Counts are still being worked out, we're encouraged that Counts believes his business can succeed Downtown. He is seeking a tax break to cover the costs of moving, but no business person would move a going concern without a strong sense that ultimately it's a good financial move. Nimbus now attracts patrons to a brewery tucked into an industrial park just south of the Palo Verde overpass, at 3850 S. 44th St. It is, to say the least, an out-of-the-way location, and for the last year, reconstruction of the overpass has kept traffic away. As Assistant City Manager Karen Thoreson points out, "The fact that he's been able to be successful where he is holds a lot of promise." One of the attractions of the proposal is that Nimbus is local. Revitalization should not turn Downtown into a generic collection. The Nimbus proposal comes on the heels of proposal by manufacturer Don Martin and restaurateur Bob McMahon to build CenturyTower, which included plans for shops, a restaurant and 20 floors of condos south of the Main Library. The pair ran into criticism after seeking a no-bid purchase for the city-owned land at market value. As for the future of this project, McMahon said, "My partner is motivated; I'm not." Many questions must be answered before we know whether the $23 million Nimbus plan is solid. Here's what he wants to build on 2.8 acres along North Stone Avenue just south of the railroad tracks: a brewery and restaurant, an indoor/outdoor performance area, gallery space, 61 high-rise condos aimed at 20-somethings and a 426-space underground parking garage. It's an ambitious proposal from a micro-brewery, and it is much too early to talk of serious tax breaks. The project would fall within the boundaries of the Rio Nuevo Downtown revitalization project, which means some public parts of the project - such as street-scapes or parking - could be eligible for tax money connected to Rio Nuevo. But we must first know whether the Nimbus plan is compatible with the neighborhood and the Historic Warehouse Arts District. The Counts plan differs from an existing plan for the warehouse district plan in that it contains less open space and leaves out a re-creation of the 1906 railway freight office envisioned for the property. Counts would also build housing for 20-somethings rather than low-income housing, which is a need that would still need to be addressed. Other questions include figuring out the proximity of a bar to nearby charter schools, zoning or other restrictions and the need for solid financial projections. Thoreson is right to caution that Tucson isn't "standing here … saying we'll give you a bucket of money to come Downtown." But it's a good sign that the city, warehouse district representatives and neighbors are willing to explore the possibilities. - S.G.G.