TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The forecast is sunny for people who want to live downtown, and apartment developers who want to build places to live.
Apartment projects are booming and still more are in the works.
Projects sell a simpler lifestyle with interesting downtown attractions.
People who live at One West Broadway get a great view of downtown's revival from apartments that are part of the transformation.
Broker Crystal McGuire-Moore says the complex opened in November with 40 units to lease and the downtown market's so hot there are only 10 units left.
KGUN9 reporter Craig Smith asked her: “You remember what this place (downtown) was like ten years ago?”
Crystal McGuire-Moore: “I've been down here since 2001: yes.”
Smith: “What do you think of the amount of change you've seen?
McGuire-Moore: “Look. In 2001 there was half the restaurants there are. It was bleak and not very much activity, especially night and weekend activity. Downtown as you know, would get dark. I live here and there's not one night a week that there isn't something going on."
The streetcar is a big part of the residential transformation. It makes it a lot easier to get by without a car or with a car you keep in the garage most of the time. There are plenty of places to go, plenty of things to see, plenty of places to eat within easy walking distance of these units.
In 2015 the Downtown Tucson Partnership estimated about 22 thousand people lived within a half mile of downtown. Now plans for LaPlacita call for almost 250 apartments and anticipate 350 to 500 new residents.
At Church and Broadway a foundation meant for an office tower is planned for more apartments.
Places like Johnny Gibson's Downtown Marketmake it more practical to live downtown. Pati Velasquez works there and made her own move downtown in July.
"There's homes for older people, low income, student housing, there's apartments a lot of professionals, business people live in."
