A historic home on Speedway and Euclid is being relocated to a new area in the West University neighborhood to make room for new student housing in Tucson on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Five historic homes are being relocated to make way for new student and workforce housing near the University of Arizona.
Joel Ireland, who acquired the historic homes, says he was given the houses for free by the developer Capstone Communities, who will also assist in moving the homes and their repair.
“Those houses there had been uninhabited,” Ireland said. “They were filthy, dirty. They were getting in a state of dilapidation, where if we didn't do something, or somebody didn't do something, soon they were going to dissipate into nothing.”
For Ireland and his sons, the opportunity to refurbish and rehab these homes meant they could continue their family’s passion project.
“Although it wasn't my father's profession, we've been working on these houses for over 40 years–just one at a time,” Aaron, Joel’s son, said. “It’s very much a part of our family culture…We personally have a long history of working with these houses and so it just felt pretty golden that this opportunity came up.”
The bungalows were the epicenter of Tucson’s underground music scene in the mid-80s. Coined as the “818 Club,” punk and hard rock music flourished behind what seemed to be the doors of a standard home. Now, since the homes are a part of the historic West University Neighborhood Association, they cannot be demolished. Instead, they will be moved to a plot of land that Ireland owns in the area. He hopes the homes will be repaired and ready to rent by the end of next year.
In its place will be the proposed student complex that will be made up of 150 units for rent–about 450 bedrooms. All units will be furnished, including an in-unit washer/dryer. As a compromise with residents in the area, there will not be any balconies or rooftop swimming pools at the complex.
In addition to student housing, there will be a separate complex meant for those in the workforce field. For five years, Capstone Communities engaged with the West University Neighborhood and the city to ensure the development of this housing. The developer connected with nearly 500 households, held open houses, and worked with the West University Neighborhood Association to find ways to appease all parties. Of the eight historic buildings in that area, five will be relocated, one will be demolished and two will remain on site for renovation.
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