Growing Pains in the Borderlands
Tucson, Ariz. is a border town, or at least close enough to be considered one.
Located about an hour away from Nogales on the Arizona/Mexico border, the close proximity provides easy access for cultural and economic exchange between the two countries.
On any weekend, you will find Americans crossing the border to shop in Mexico, and Mexicans crossing the border to shop in Arizona.
Soon, those from south of the border will have even more reason to make the trek northbound on shopping excursions.
Some of the retailers that are already doing business in Phase I include: Home Depot, Target, Office Max, Michaels, Pets Mart, Verizon, Cingular, Payless Shoes, Footlocker, Fashion Bug, EB Games, Anna’s Linens and Marshalls.
In Phase II, The Barclay Group has contracted new retailers that include: Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Old Navy, Kirklands and Bed Bath and Beyond.
Harkins Theatres, a primo deluxe Arizona theater chain owned by Dan Harkins, will have 18 theaters in the complex.
Restaurants, including Peter Piper Pizza, El Charro, Red Lobster and Applebee's, may also take residence.
However, the expected increase in commerce also means an increase in traffic.
“Traffic’s gonna double,” said Randy Scott, 50, a resident in the area.“They need to do something…they need to fix the streets.”
A morning commute to work already takes his wife, Colleen Scott, about 35 minutes because of traffic congestion.
Top drawing represents the new Harkin's Theater.
Middle and bottom drawings represent retailers now available
Middle and bottom drawings represent retailers now available
While the increase in traffic will be a new problem, the construction brings a solution to an existing problem: occasional flooding from the Santa Cruz River.
The Santa Cruz River, located across from the complex, is dry most of the year, but can overflow during the heavy summer monsoons, creating a flooding hazard for both shoppers and residents.
Construction efforts include reshaping the riverbed to direct water flow in a way that will prevent flooding. Concrete will also be poured along the river bank for reinforcement.