A local homebuilder is once again bringing new life to the site of a closed Tucson school.
Pepper Viner is building 71 homes at the former Corbett Elementary School, on 29th Street west of Wilmot Road.
Corbett Village will have one- and two-story homes, ranging in size from 1,041 to 1,624 square feet with two- and three-bedroom floor plans.
This is the third former school Pepper Viner has redeveloped into a housing community.
The builder also created housing at the former Van Horne Elementary, 7550 E. Pima St., and Wrightstown Elementary, 8920 E. Wrightstown Road.
“On one hand, we were happy to find infill property available for new housing. On the other, a little sad that these neighborhood schools are disappearing,” said CEO Bill Viner. “At each site we incorporated a small remembrance of the former school.”
Corbett Elementary School, 5949 E. 29th St., closed in 2013.
Affordability is a priority for Pepper Viner.
With prices starting at $259,990, 13 homes have already sold.
The development is expected to sell out quickly, as the average new home price in the Tucson market now stands at $483,751.
“We were lucky at Corbett Village to have contracted for the property several years ago — giving us a reasonable basis in the land, which gave us an edge in offering homes with a base price of $259,990,” Viner said. “Corbett Village is Pepper Viner’s opportunity to showcase a community of entry-level homes at a competitive market price.”
The homes will have open floor plans with two-car garages and private yards.
Tucson Unified School District began closing and merging school campuses as a money-saving measure more than a decade ago as enrollment dropped in certain neighborhoods.
Construction on Corbett Village at 29th Street and Sahuara Avenue is underway in Tucson. Pepper Viner, a local homebuilder, is building its third housing community on a former Tucson Unified School District school site. There will be 71 homes when completed.
What became of some of those former schools?
Brichta Elementary, 2110 W. Brichta Drive, is TUSD infant and early learning center.
Corbett Elementary, 5949 E. 29th St., is a Pepper Viner housing community.
Duffy Elementary, 5145 E. Fifth St., is TUSD Duffy Family & Community Center.
Fort Lowell Elementary, 5151 E. Pima St., is Buena Vista Recovery.
Jefferson Park Elementary, 1701 E. Seneca St., is International School of Tucson.
Lyons Elementary, 7555 E. Dogwood St., is East Gate Ministries.
Menlo Park Elementary, 1100 W. Fresno St., is TUSD School Safety & Security.
Reynolds Elementary, 7450 E. Stella Road, is Sonoran Science Academy.
Richey Elementary, 2209 N. 15th Ave., is leased to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
Roberts Elementary, 4355 E. Calle Aurora, is Pima Community College 29th Street Coalition Center/Adult Learning Center.
Rogers Elementary, 6000 E. 14th St., is Sky Islands High School.
Schumaker Elementary, 501 N. Maguire Ave., is TUSD Infant and Early Learning Center.
Van Horne Elementary, 7550 E. Pima St., is a Pepper Viner housing community.
Wrightstown Elementary, 8920 E. Wrightstown Road, is a Pepper Viner housing community.
Carson Middle School, 7777 E. Stella Road, is vacant and still owned by TUSD.
Fort Lowell/Townsend Middle School, 2120 N. Beverly Ave., is now Pima Medical Institute.
Hohokam Middle School, 7400 S. Settler Ave., is Pascua Yaqui Tribe administrative office.
Wakefield Middle School, 101 W. 44th St., consolidated its space and leased remaining portions to Higher Ground and Lapan College Club before it reopened once again as Wakefield Middle School.
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