The Voice of Marana since 2007
Volume 30 • Number 14 April 5, 2023
www.Maranaweeklynews.com
Summer Kids Camp Preview
Towns, museums and theaters hosting classes and camps this summer | Special Section
Inside
Habitat Tucson opens construction hub
This Week
BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Staff
W the town’s improvement plan will allow for many more. “One of the things I’m most excited for is breaking that barrier to get to 250 species, which is quite a lot for Southern Arizona,” Grodman said. “It’s one of the things we’re really proud of in the town of Marana and with
ith the dramatic increase in housing prices, organizations are stepping up to create solutions for Southern Arizona. Habitat for Humanity Tucson recently showcased its new CHUCK Center, a project CEO Charlie Buchanan called a comparable answer to the growing problem. “This is a crisis we haven’t experienced in generations,” Buchanan said. “It’s not a low-income challenge anymore, it’s an everybody challenge. It’s redefined housing affordability.” The purpose of the new Connie Hillman Urban Construction Knowledge Center is to support the lack of affordable housing in Greater Tucson and to address the need for a skilled workforce in the trades. Habitat Tucson will be able to prefabricate homes and store materials in a temperature-controlled warehouse. The center will not only accelerate housing production but the education of schools, colleges and other programs in the area.
see PRESERVE page 4
see CONSTRUCTION page 6
BUSINESS...................10 Label this legacy family business successful
The El Rio Outdoor Birding Program watches birds from a town-built observation deck. (Jason Grodman/Submitted)
Finding balance in improvements to preserve BY VERONICA KUFFEL
CHOW........................ 12 Sky Rider Coffee Shop keeps the eggs frying and the bacon crisp SPORTS......................................... 28 HEALTH........................................ 30 YOUTH.......................................... 32 WORSHIP/CLASSIFIEDS............ 34 MLS #22300749
Tucson Local Media Staff
W
hat was once a local barrow pit has been transformed into a thriving riparian, known to locals and birders as El Rio Preserve. To date, the preserve is home to over 249 documented bird species, and Jason Grodman of Marana Parks and Recreation noted
$499,000
4BD/3BA +DEN (2,533 SQ FT) IN GATED PRESERVE Lisab@LongRealty.com 520-668-8293 AT DOVE MOUNTAIN #1 LONG AGENT & #1 REALTOR IN ORO VALLEY 12572 N New Reflection Dr, Marana, AZ 85658
MAR0405.indd 1
Voted Best of Northwest Realtor & Realtor Team
$460,000
MLS #22224969
3BD/3BA (2,088 SQ FT) IN GATED PRESERVE AT DOVE MOUNTAIN
112060 N Golden Mirror Dr, Marana, AZ 85658
4/3/23 4:44 PM