A local soup kitchen has bought a second motel to provide affordable housing to working families.
Casa Maria, in South Tucson, bought the Arizona Motel, 1749 S. Sixth Ave., for $3 million. It has 32 units and 25 motor home parking spaces on the property.
Earlier this year, the nonprofit bought the El Camino Motel, 297 E. Benson Highway.
The soup kitchen has also acquired some small multifamily properties in South Tucson and now has a total of 84 units with a goal of obtaining 362 units in the next five years.
The latest buy was helped by longtime Casa Maria worker Brian Flagg, who recently received an inheritance and put the money toward the Arizona Motel purchase.
The Arizona Motel has 32 units and 25 motor home parking spaces on the property.
“We really value taking property off the speculative market and giving it to families,” said Roxanna Valenzuela, a community organizer for Casa Maria.
Several nonprofits in the Tucson area have reached out to offer support, such as the Primavera Foundation, La Frontera and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
Valenzuela said the motel needs some fixing up, and a campaign is underway to raise $7 million for more motel or apartment purchases for poor, working families with reduced rent.
Rents are expected to be around $600 to $700 a month, including utilities.
“I think a lot of people have this misconception that we’re a shelter,” Valenzuela said. “We are a nonprofit, but we are not a shelter … we need to pay our bills.”
Visit casamariatucson.org to learn more.
Other local commercial transactions include:
Tucson I-Buyer bought the 16-unit Roger Plaza at 222, 228, 230 and 236 W. Roger Road from Bundy Family Properties LLC for $1.9 million. Allan Mendelsberg and Joey Martinez, with Picor, represented the buyer. Bob Collopy, with Fort Lowell Realty & Property Management, represented the seller.
Vermont LLC bought the nine-unit Los Altos Apartments at 2614 N. Los Altos Ave. from Nine Doors Down LLC for $975,000. Allan Mendelsberg and Joey Martinez, with Picor, represented both parties.
ModLogics LLC leased 6,470 square feet of industrial space at 722 E. 46th St. from 46th St Investors LLC. Alex Demeroutis, with Picor, represented the tenant and Max Fisher, with BRD Realty LLC, represented the landlord.
Batey Puerto Rican Restaurant leased 2,265 square feet at Oracle Wetmore Shopping Center, 4230 N. Oracle Road, from Zeviya LLC. Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, handled the lease.
Knucklehead Boxing LLC leased 1,600 square feet at Town Central Business Park, 5067 E. 29th St., from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker and Andrew Keim, with Picor, represented the landlord.
Arias Salon LLC leased 1,120 square feet at The Plaza at Williams Centre, 5480 E. Broadway. The landlord, Larsen Baker, was represented by its brokers Isaac Figueroa and Elaina Elliot.
The Homing Project is working to build a village of tiny homes in Tucson. This pop-up house is one of 15 planned in the first village and can be seen at the Tucson Mall starting Jan. 13. Video by Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star
