Future of Marana (Phoenix, Tucson, Oro Valley: appointed, apartment complexes, rentals)

[PNG12977]

How built up, more populated, do you see Marana 10 years from now, like the areas by I-10 and Tangerine/Marana Rd? If we were able to travel 10 years in the future, would the area look almost unrecognizable to us?

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by PNG12977

How built up, more populated, do you see Marana 10 years from now, like the areas by I-10 and Tangerine/Marana Rd? If we were able to travel 10 years in the future, would the area look almost unrecognizable to us?

Yes.

Ken

[swbrotha100]

I wouldn't be surprised if most of the I-10 corridor in Marana was built up within 10 years.

[Jukesgrrl]

Yes, I agree. Marana accumulated a lot of set-asides from the builders who constructed huge developments like Gladden Farms, Dove Mountain, Tangerine Crossing, Sky Ranch, etc., and by and large has invested the money wisely in attractive and sensible public properties. The Marana Health Center and its satellites should be a standard for the nation. The civic center, fire stations, library, parks, etc., are well-designed and accessible. The school system seems to be good and right now homes are very well-priced. You can get a new, beautifully appointed, nearly 3,000 sq. ft. home with a 3-car garage and a pool at Sky Ranch for less than $350,000 right now. Lower taxes than Oro Valley and low HOA fees complete the come-on. There's even a small airport in Marana, which is good for business and the trip to Phoenix is not bad since access to I-10 is easy.

A couple of huge "luxury" (isn't everything luxury?) apartment complexes are being built along Tangerine Road near the interstate exchange. I suspect that if a market for condominiums instead of rentals becomes viable, these could easily be turned over. They seem well-designed and are nicely set back from traffic. They appear to be what the young who can't qualify for a mortgage want.

The only serious misstep I've seen is that hideous Arizona Pavilions shopping center at the Cortaro Road exit of I-10. You know something is poorly designed if it's sitting in the middle of hundreds of empty acres and has serious traffic problems. As for the rest of the story, try googling "Arizona Pavilions." What kind of giant shopping center doesn't have its own website?! Adjacent to that mall is another good thing: a cluster of name-brand hotels and chain restaurants to serve the visitors, something the NW suburb of Tucson needed badly.

A lot of newcomers to the NW suburb don't realize it, but that large, ever-growing shopping area on the west side of Thornydale Rd. (where Costco and Home Depot are) is in Marana, too. More tax money being collected.

Right now Marana still retains a rural flavor, but I have no doubt it will continue to grow, along with Oro Valley, because both have better management than either the City of Tucson or unincorporated Pima County. Do you notice how they were successful in insisting to the Golf Channel and CBS that the Accenture Match Play tournament be branded as being in "Marana, Arizona" and not "Tucson," which is what the announcers always said in the early years? That must have taken some doing but it was a very smart move for the great publicity. What viewers nationwide are seeing on their screens every time the voice-over says "Marana" is very beautiful scenery. A secondary message is that the Ritz-Carleton chain thought enough of Marana to build a ritzy resort there.

Yes, if the economy every burgeons, Marana is going to explode.

[tumamoc]

You can't really fault Arizona Pavillions. That project was conceived when all the Town of Marana consisted of was a Circle K, some old dilapidated adobe farm buildings, and ten miles away, a Home Depot and Price Club.

[phoenixmike11]

I just read an article today about the planned mall

Dueling outlet centers planned for northwest Tucson

[LIRIDI]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

Yes, I agree. Marana accumulated a lot of set-asides from the builders who constructed huge developments like Gladden Farms, Dove Mountain, Tangerine Crossing, Sky Ranch, etc., and by and large has invested the money wisely in attractive and sensible public properties. The Marana Health Center and its satellites should be a standard for the nation. The civic center, fire stations, library, parks, etc., are well-designed and accessible. The school system seems to be good and right now homes are very well-priced. You can get a new, beautifully appointed, nearly 3,000 sq. ft. home with a 3-car garage and a pool at Sky Ranch for less than $350,000 right now. Lower taxes than Oro Valley and low HOA fees complete the come-on. There's even a small airport in Marana, which is good for business and the trip to Phoenix is not bad since access to I-10 is easy.

Could you describe more about the Health Center? I don't know much about it.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by LIRIDI

Could you describe more about the Health Center? I don't know much about it.

If you google maranahealthcenter.org, you'll find TONS of information about all their services, locations, etc. This is the page that introduces info for patients and has links to a lot of other info you'll find useful.
Marana Health Center :: Patients

One important thing to know about MHC, they take practically every insurance there is, but if you have NO health insurance at all (which will be less of an issue in the future as the new ACA is expanded), they have a sliding fee schedule (SFS) offering SERIOUSLY discounted fees for services. The SFS is determined based on gross family income. You have to speak to an intake person there to get enrolled (which is discreet and simple) and you will be made aware of the percentage or portion of billed charges that uninsured clients are responsible for. People who go there are treated with dignity and respect, as well as good care, no matter what their financial circumstances.

Some of the outlets — including the huge main one on Marana Main Street in Marana (very new and modern) — have walk-in clinics Monday through Friday that don't require an appointment. You'll see a physician's assistant (PA) and will be referred to an MD for additional care, if necessary. Among MHC's many other services are a pharmacy (where prices are lower than a lot of other places), a low-cost dental clinic, mental health services, a radiology department, etc. The main HQ is pretty much a one-stop shop for excellent healthcare for people of all income brackets and many of the employees are bi- or multi-lingual. This is key to MCH's value to the community for one important reason. While Marana these days is filled with beautiful developments of lovely homes, much of the huge area called Marana is still rural and scattered with people whose families have lived there long before there was a Continental Ranch or Dove Mountain. In fact, 25% of the residents of Pima County live below the Federal poverty line and that's true of many of Marana's rural population.

Please know I have no connection whatsoever to MHC, except as a happy patient for more than three years now. I got a blood test for my thyroid problem at MHC's Ellie Towne Center outlet on Wetmore Road in Flowing Wells just last Friday. It was my first time at that place and the people were as nice and skilled as I have found at the main headquarters. One other important piece of information: you don't have to live in Marana to go there. Many of the satellite outlets are in other parts of Tucson. MHC is an asset to all of Pima County.