Soon, if the state Department of Economic Security has its way, and if developer Alan Levin has his, 12th Street will be even more hoppin'. DES wants to move its downtown welfare office from a building across from the Ronstadt Transit Center to a weedy industrial lot Levin owns on the eastern edge of Armory Park. Since they're moving only half a mile away, DES officials claim, they're not legally bound to get public comment. Right now, the project is stymied in litigation. The City of Tucson has repeatedly denied Levin the permits he needs, so he filed a lawsuit.
Buildings abutting the historic district have to match in scale, texture, style and color.
DES, in turn, has been putting the screws on Levin. He didn't, so now he's paying. The case ended up in Pima County Superior Court last month before Judge Robert Donfeld. After a couple of days of inflammatory testimony by Levin's team, Donfeld directed the two sides to get together for talks, and to report back to him November 24. There's been some movement on all sides.