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Tucson studies new hotel, convention space

Tucson City Manager Mike Hein advised the city to reject a plan to buy the 250-room Hotel Arizona in downtown Tucson because it would cost too much to renovate and run. Instead, Hein said, the city should begin planning a 700-room Sheraton Downtown to accommodate convention-goers at the Tucson Convention Center and pay $17 million for about 7 acres just west of the center. Hein will ask the council to approve an agreement giving Garfield Traub Development of Dallas six months to do the first phase of planning for the project, including construction schedules and costs for the hotel and a proposed arena, proposed development agreements, financing plans and commitments from hotel and arena operators. The council also will hear a proposal for a $54 million exhibition expansion of the Convention Center, which Hein said would draw bigger conventions to Tucson.