Alternatives for the Future of our Region
Imagine Greater Tucson has developed four alternatives for the future of the Greater Tucson Region based on input received during community workshops (learn more at the bottom of this page). Read more about the alternatives below (you may view larger maps when you click to read more about each option). These alternatives are currently being evaluated by our community. To provide your feedback please take the survey, or find a paper version of the survey at these Pima County libraries:
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Alternative 1: The Trend
“What if we continue to grow in the same way we have in the past?”
The Trend Alternative presents a future for the region in which new residents are accommodated by continuing current regional growth patterns. Read more
Alternative 2: Suburbs and Centers
“What if new development occurs mostly in suburbs with somewhat expanded downtowns and town centers?”
The Suburbs and Centers Alternative presents a future for the region in which mixed-use downtowns and town centers are created or enlarged primarily in existing communities. Residential and employment areas remain largely separated from each other in most areas and the majority of new residences are single-family homes on currently undeveloped land outside existing communities. Read more
Alternative 3: New Centers
“What if we create compact new centers on new land outside of existing communities?”
The New Centers Alternative presents a future for the region in which most new development is located in or near mixed-use centers on undeveloped land outside existing communities. The centers will serve as “villages” or “hubs” located around the region. These new centers will bring work, homes and the needs of daily life closer together. Read more
Alternative 4: Urban Centers
“What if most new growth is focused in city and town centers within existing communities and along major transportation routes?”
The Urban Centers Alternative presents a future for the region in which new development is concentrated in and around downtown Tucson and other city and town centers. Expansion into currently undeveloped land is minimal. Mixed-use development is located around the region along major transportation routes. This alternative seeks to create vibrant city and town centers in areas such as downtown Tucson, Sahuarita, Marana, Oro Valley and along Houghton Road by adding a mix of housing, jobs, shopping, arts and entertainment. Read more
Compare the alternatives
How do the alternatives stack up? Click here to find out more about how the alternatives rate on the things that are important to you.
Where did these alternatives come from?
The four future alternatives were developed from information gathered at six public Scenario Building Workshops held in May and June 2011. Over 600 participants that attended the workshops were asked to decide within their small groups how and where to place an additional 1 million residents and ½ million jobs throughout our region. The way in which each group completed the task led to a unique vision for the future of our region. See a short video of the Scenario Building Workshops.
After the workshops a total of 100 collaboratively created maps were scanned and digitized. See all of the maps. The information was analyzed with support from regional planning experts, Fregonese Associates, as well as IGT staff and volunteers. The collection of maps were reviewed to identify common themes and concepts. The dominant aspects of the maps were used to create three alternative futures (the fourth alternative is based on current growth and development trends in the region).
How will the alternatives be used?
The alternatives are presented as concepts/archetypes, intended to express major themes and ideas. They allow us to examine these ideas, explore what is both good and bad about each, and ask hypothetical questions about how the alternatives impact our Shared Regional Values. By isolating the major ideas within each alternative we can better explore the impacts of these concepts, and gain an understanding of how well these concepts fulfill the goals of our region.
None of the alternatives alone are intended to be a literal blueprint for the future. They are NOT land use plans, directives or predictions – they are expressions of the major ideas developed through the public Scenario Building Workshops. The information received through the surveys will help us to understand how effective the concepts expressed within the alternatives are at fulfilling our regional goals. The surveys are not intended to be a traditional “vote,” in which one of the four alternatives “wins.” Instead, the feedback from the public evaluation will most likely lead to a “blended” outcome, which will attempt to express the best aspects of each.