The Developers’ Hour on the JOLT: Mini-dorm building is community service
1036 E. Waverly St.-- an old house being destroyed by Michael Goodman. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)
A full hour of yesterday’s John C. Scott Show on the JOLT (KJLL 1330AM) was devoted to promoting the value of mini-dorms. Ick. (Hopefully, they had to pay for this lengthy advertorial on mini-dorms. If not, the JOLT missed an opportunity to make some serious change.)
Michael Goodman, Richard Studwell, and another developer chatted on the radio about the selfless community service they provide by knocking down old houses in historic neighborhoods and replacing them with mini-dorms for UA students.
Their schtick is that since the state of Arizona is too poor to build student housing, big-hearted developers– like them– must come to the rescue and build mini-dorms. Not enough student housing has been a long-term problem at the UA. Since the state makes money on students living in dorms, I don’t understand why the UA rarely builds them– unless, of course, the developers lobby the state not to build dorms. (After all, dorms would cut into their action.)
The latest flash point of mini-dorm construction is in the Jefferson Park Neighborhood (between Campbell and Park, south of Grant). On the radio yesterday, the developers’ contention was that the Jefferson Park is a ramshackled neighborhood of decaying 1950s ranch houses that have no architectural value. They said that many of the houses are so far gone that they can’t be renovated and should be torn down and replaced with mini-dorms.
They also tried to paint the neighborhood activists who oppose the rape of their neighborhood and demolition of family homes as small group of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) kooks who don’t like living near noisy college students.
Territorial style house directly across the street from the demolished house which will soon be a mini-dorm. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)
To fact-check their statements on the radio, I drove around Jefferson Park on my way home yesterday.
Yes, there are some rundown rentals– as there are in all midtown and downtown neighborhoods in Tucson, thanks to local slumlords. (BTW, City Council Members, isn’t there something you can do about slumlords who allow their unkempt properties to blight our older neighborhoods?)
The majority of the Jefferson Park houses were well-kept older homes with mature vegetation. There was a mix of 1930s Territorial style homes and 1950s brick bungalows. I didn’t see any traditional ranch houses, as there are on the east side. The houses on East Waverly Street that surround 1036 (above), which is being demolished by Goodman, are all very nice. It’s sad that this residential street filled with well-appointed older homes will be plagued with the blemish of a mini-dorm.
Another Territorial style house on East Waverly, near the new mini-dorm site. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)
Many long-time Tucsonans lament the loss of Barrio Viejo historic homes that were demolished when the Tucson Convention Center was built. I believe that in 10 years when the mini-dorms are crumbling we will lament the loss of historic homes in the city’s core.
Don’t forget the candlelight vigil in front of 1036 E. Waverly on Friday, January 7 at 6:30 p.m. Also, don’t forget to take the mini-dorm poll.
17 comments on “The Developers’ Hour on the JOLT: Mini-dorm building is community service”
Top Posts & Pages
Progressive Action
Tucson Progressive 
Here’s a link to Google Streetview to see the Waverly house before demolition:
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1036+East+Waverly+Street,+Tucson,+AZ&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.114729,58.623047&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1036+E+Waverly+St,+Tucson,+Pima,+Arizona+85719&ll=32.245736,-110.955903&spn=0.000646,0.000895&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=32.245736,-110.955903&panoid=snTyUVBe5VuManVMPq4Rfw&cbp=12,184.39,,0,4.34
LikeLike
If these homes are so “historic”, maybe their owners should have put a deed restriction on them before they were sold. Since they didnt, obviously they didnt care enough about their “historic” status.
LikeLike
Sign the petition to stop demolition of historic homes and enforcement of residential zoning:http://www.change.org/petitions/view/stop_historic_home_demolition_in_residential-zoned_neighborhoods orhttp://tinyurl.com/2anxh74
LikeLike
When it comes to standing up to mini-dorm developers and other irresponsible landlords, we could learn a thing or two from Washington, DC. Specifically, from the neighbors of Georgetown University.
One of them got so tired of being sleep-deprived by partying students that he created a website to document their behavior. See:
http://www.drunkengeorgetownstudents.com
And here’s the letter that he sends to the owners of problem properties:
http://www.drunkengeorgetownstudents.com/p/dear-landlord.html
LikeLike
Pamela,
Thank you so much for putting this story out. We need this kind of support to save Jefferson Park from this group of big-hearted developers that only want to pocket a lot of money at the expense of the neighborhoods. Kind of reminds you of the wall street mentality that just about broke this nation.
LikeLike
The mini-dorm stories have been very well-read. I hope they wake some people up downtown.
LikeLike
These guys are not doing any service but to their own pocketbook. Charging up to three- to four thousand dollars per mini-dorm per month and owning dozens of properties, these guys are raking in the bucks. Why not go to the tax appraisers website and see how many properties each one of these guys owns to get an idea. If they were interested in serving the community, they could buy old historic homes, put people to work renovating them, and then rent them to smaller groups of students. Let´s not confuse unbridled greed with community service.
LikeLike
“these guys are raking in the bucks.”
“Let´s not confuse unbridled greed with community service.”
Hehe….if there were no so called “greedy” people then there would be no “rich” people to make “pay their fair share”
Community service does not pay the bills.
LikeLike
…there would be no “rich” people to make “pay their fair share”
You favor a tax increase for the wealthy? I’m surprised. I’d have thought you were one of those guys who say, “It’s their money, why shouldn’t they get to keep it”?
LikeLike
THANK YOU!
I do hope something happens…. We need a miracle. And yes, they care (Studwell and Goodman) nothing for the community nor for Tucson. Students are their gravy train. It is about the almightily dollar are %#@@%@*&^% everyone else.
Any word from John C. Scott? I would never imagine he would just turn over his show to Studwell. Please keep us informed!
And again thank you for actually covering the story. The Sentinel, The Star… were not interested.
Truly thanks…
LikeLike
The Citizen is on your side! Both the 3 Sonorans and Tucson Progressive blogs are watching this issue. City Council members have asked to meet with US on the mini-dorm issue!
LikeLike
Not me – as is usual with TC.com I resent “progressive” being hijacked by whichever blogger has a petty grievance.
I don’t care about the dorms – rich white people fighting each other over property.
With all the things in AZ we need to be concerned about, this rates a big zero on my list.
LikeLike
Tip
Thanks for the good ol’ fashioned belly laugh, I needed it.
LikeLike
” rich white people fighting each other over property”
Is this the same stolen property/land that rightfully belongs to the indiginous peoples?
LikeLike
Dont let all that power go to your head.
LikeLike
Pingback: Mini-dorm controversy heats up on blogs and the JOLT: Take a video tour of mini-dorms in the Feldman Neighborhood (video) - Tucson Progressive
Pingback: U of A Neighborhoods and Single Family Zoning « Urban University Interface.com