Brent Davis, representing Eastbourne, made the declaration before an audience of community business leaders, brought together by the University of Arizona to introduce plans for the proposed Arizona BioPark.
The meeting was intended as an opportunity to describe the potential for the project at The Bridges, a 350-acre master-planned development between Interstate 10 and 36th Street, west of Kino Parkway, but the breakfast turned into a heated discussion about the conflict between Eastbourne, based in Williamsville, N.Y., and the Tucson City Council.
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“We have support from the community for this,” he said adding that he is looking for intervention from the local business community. “We can’t get any movement. Unless we get an indication that we have enough votes on the council to move this we’re not going forward.”
Caught in the crossfire between Eastbourne and the city is KB Home of Tucson, the lead developer of The Bridges project.
John Bremond, president of KB Home of Tucson, said he sympathizes with Eastbourne’s difficulties, “since there is a plan that has circulated to all the council offices.”
Another commercial developer may become an option.
Bremond said Eastbourne owns the land but “if they are considering what’s feasible, that could include sale to another developer. We would welcome anyone who would allow us to deliver on our initial vision.”
Before the July 13 presentation became a discussion about Eastbourne’s conflict, the university outlined its proposal aiming to make Tucson a contender for global bioscience research.
Combining research and development resources in Tucson and Phoenix, and focused on the 65-acre BioPark, “this is a place where we can build a critical mass,” said John Grabo, director of marketing and international programs for the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.
“Technology companies like to be close to each other, a trend that’s even more pronounced among biotech companies,” he said. “That’s why people are paying attention to this project. They recognize its importance in making us a competitor by optimizing our intellectual capacity.”
Speaking to the assembled business leaders, Marshall Worden, director of the university’s Office of Economic Development, said the proposed park is intended to do more.
Bringing together researchers with the Tucson Unified School District, as well as local companies and civic leaders, Worden said this could fulfill the university’s mission of supporting economic development.
“We will be having conversations over the next few weeks to learn how to make this center part of the fabric of our community,” he said.
Bringing together the resources from the Bioscience Roadmap, the university’s Global Advantage program, and centers, such the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, and the BIO5 Institute and Critical Paths Institute in Tucson, Bruce Wright, associate vice president for economic development, said the BioPark can take intellectual capital further. “We could put ourselves on the stage.”
Modeled on the bioresearch park near Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and scheduled to be built in stages over the next two decades, Wright said Tucson’s center can combine bioscience research facilities with small business incubators, large biotechnology laboratories, wet-labs and related sites, such as a hotel and conference center.
Seattle, Denver and Palm Beach are all potential competitors with Tucson, Wright said. “Can we be a competitor? I believe with this center we can. I believe we can be part of this significant new arena.”
E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact Philip S. Moore by e-mail at pmoore@azbiz.com or call (520) 295-4238.
© 2006 Inside Tucson Business. All Rights Reserved
Comments
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neighborhood watch wrote on Dec 18, 2008 4:03 PM:
...He forgot to mention that he is BLOCKING the view of everyone who lives directly to the south and west of this development. There are about 50 homes that used to have views which are now obstructed by giant yellow machines. I have watched this developed destroy the desert, tear precious saguaros from the ground and cause the surrounding neighbors pain. These are working class people who have worked hard to make their houses into homes. Their peace and sanity has been torn from them due to this project. They say they will increase the value of the surrounding areas, I think not. Who is going to want to buy a house surrounded by a bunch of ugly townhomes that blocks their view of any of the nearby desert! I hope these town homes don't sell. The neighborhood directly to the north is full of low income families, and several meth labs have been raided in the area. I don't know any doctors and lawyers like over-looking meth labs, but last time I checked not very many. My hope is that this project will put developers like this in to bankruptcy when their homes don't sell. Then they can get a taste of their own community-destroying medicine. Saying that they are trying to improve this community is a joke. From someone who lives around here, we all hate you and your stupid development!!!! Boycott Spreiser Realty! They are just in it for the money and they have a complete lack of respect for the community. Go check out the construction site today if you don't believe me- they have let it fill up with trash which is now blowing around the neighborhood. Usually when you run a business it is not a good idea to upset everyone off in your community-- but Spreiser has sure succeeded at that! "
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