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Rio Nuevo greenlights 3 downtown hotel projects

Posted at 11:49 AM, Aug 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-25 08:22:40-04

Rio Nuevo gave the go-ahead to three plans for downtown hotels at its Tuesday board meeting.

The board approved a plan to re-open Hotel Arizona, and advanced plans for the Moxy at the Depot Plaza, the Caliber Hotel at Tucson Convention Center. 

Combined, the hotels represent an increase of 560 hotel beds downtown.

"The effort to get the Hotel Arizona reopened has been a major focus of the Rio Nuevo Board for more than six years,” said Board Secretary Mark Irvin, in a statement. "This 300?plus? room hotel, with 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, is adjacent to the Tucson Convention Center – the Rio Nuevo District’s primary component – and is a key to its success."

The Hotel Arizona, which is undergoing a $20 million renovation, has been closed since 2012. It will reopen as a Hilton-branded hotel by January 2019.