Request for Information - Redevelopment Ideas for the Joel D. Valdez Main Library

Summary

To inspire a broad range of visionary and context-sensitive responses, the City encourages respondents to consider the following guiding themes and design considerations: Urban Context & Public RealmActivation of Jácome Plaza and street frontages as vibrant, shaded, and welcoming public spaces appropriate to a Sonoran Desert city.Integration with the surrounding downtown environment, enhancing walkability, connectivity, and civic presence. Adaptive Reuse and Redevelopment PotentialCreative approaches to reimagining or redeveloping the existing Property Components.Mixed-use opportunities that may include residential, commercial, retail, civic, cultural, or educational functions. Future-Oriented InfrastructureConsideration of evolving mobility, including shared, electric, and autonomous vehicles.Potential reuse or reconfiguration of the underground parking garage.Integration with future transit improvements. Sustainability and ResilienceEnvironmentally responsible site planning.Water stewardship, heat mitigation, and climate-adaptive design.High-performance building systems. Community & Cultural ValueOpportunities to foster inclusivity, civic engagement, cultural programming, and public amenities, including, and not limited to, a new cultural center occupying up to 40,000 square feet of new or existing space, a commercial kitchen, arts/music classroom space, and a concert space.Strategies to preserve or reinterpret the civic identity of the site and surroundings. Zoning and Dimensional StandardsNo minimum setbacksNo maximum lot coverageNo maximum densityNo minimum parking requirements300’ maximum building heightRespondents are encouraged to interpret these considerations broadly and to propose bold, context-sensitive concepts that advance Tucson’s cultural, economic, and civic life.Information RequestedRespondents are invited to submit a written narrative (maximum 6 pages), with optional accompanying visual materials, that addresses the following: Conceptual Use Ideas - Proposed mix of uses, programming, or activities.Community Impact – Describe how the concept could contribute to the vibrancy, identity, and economy of Downtown Tucson. Financing & Partnership Models – Describe partnership, joint venture, leasing or other structures that would facilitate transformation of the site.Design Approaches – Renderings, diagrams, or other visual materials that illustrate the concept are recommended, but not required. Reuse of existing materials or prior project examples is welcomed. Next Steps The City will host a site tour and Q&A session Friday, February 6, 2026 at 10:00 A.M.at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library. All interested parties are requested to register in advance, as space is limited. Register at the following link:https://ticketbud.com/events/7cdec70a-f301-11f0-b302-42010a7170e1The City intends to showcase selected responses in a physical and/or digital exhibit within the Joel D. Valdez Main Library or adjacent public facility, and provide public recognition of respondents through press releases, social media, and official City communications. Select responses may be highlighted by the City for their creativity, feasibility, and civic value through public presentation, exhibition, and media features. Recognition does not constitute selection or preference in any subsequent solicitation.The RFI process is intended solely for information gathering. Submissions will not be competitively evaluated or scored. Following review of responses, the City of Tucson intends to undertake a competitive RFP process to identify a development partner or team. If a subsequent Request for Proposals is issued, all parties submitting responses to this RFI will be notified.

Full description

The City of Tucson invites visionary partners to participate in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the civic heart of Downtown Tucson. The City of Tucson seeks input from experienced firms, institutions, developers, architects, planners, cultural organizations, and community partners to help reimagine 101 N. Stone Avenue, which includes the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, associated underground parking garage, adjacent mixed-use building, Jácome Plaza, and adjacent public space.This Request For Information (RFI) is intended solely for information gathering. Responses will inform the City’s understanding of development potential, market interest, and community value propositions. Following this RFI, the City intends to undertake a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process in early calendar year 2026. Respondents to this RFI will receive early notification and invitation to subsequent procurement stages.Property Location: 101 N. Stone Avenue, in the heart of downtown Tucson.Property Components: Joel D. Valdez Main Library (approx. 90,000 sq. ft., constructed 1990)Underground parking garage (266 parking stalls, constructed 1990)149 N. Stone (approx. 23,000 sq. ft., constructed 1959, renovated 2009)Jácome Plaza, a central public gathering space Property Components are owned by the City of Tucson. The property is currently zoned OCR-2 and C-3. The City may entertain a zoning change to Planned Area Development (PAD) or other suitable designation. The property is within the Central Business District. The property is within the Rio Nuevo Tax Increment Financing District. The Joel D. Valdez Main Library opened in 1990, constructed by the City of Tucson to serve as the central branch of the City of Tucson free library system. The building is over 90,000 square feet, accommodating a large library collection, as well as administrative/office, and community gathering spaces. Beneath the library lies an underground parking garage with 266 total spaces, which is managed by Park Tucson.Adjacent to the library is a multi-use building owned by the City of Tucson, located at 149 N. Stone. Originally constructed in 1959 and extensively renovated in 2009 to achieve LEED Silver designation, renovation was funded with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funds. The City presently occupies a portion of the office space, and maintains short-term leases of first floor retail space, generating revenue in accordance with FTA policies and guidelines. Surrounding the library building is an open public plaza, known as Jácome Plaza, bounded by W. Alameda Street to the north, N. Stone Avenue to the east, W. Pennington Street to the south, and N. Church Avenue to the west. “Sonora” by David Black (1991) is a prominent permanent sculpture located in the plaza near the entrance to the library. Jácome Plaza serves as an important civic and cultural gathering space for the Tucson community.In 2006, governance of the library system shifted to the Pima County Free Library District. The City and County entered into a long-term lease agreement, which runs through 2056. Under the terms of the lease, the Library District is responsible for internal building operations and maintenance, and the City retains responsibility for the exterior of the structure, the plaza, and the parking garage. In June 2025, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the former Wells Fargo building, located at 150 N. Stone Avenue. The County intends to acquire and renovate this property for future use as the downtown library branch. County officials anticipate a minimum of two years before the Library District is prepared to terminate the lease agreement with the City and vacate the Joel D. Valdez Main Library building.The City envisions dedicating up to 40,000 square feet of new or existing space, with direct access to the plaza, to a new cultural center. The City also anticipates the need for an as yet undetermined amount of municipal office space within one or more new or existing facilities.

Attachments

• ATTACHMENT-_DRAFT_BROCHURE_FOR_101_N._STONE.pdf
• Library_drawings.zip
• RFI_260158.Tour_List_Feb_6.pdf

Contact

Email:

mike.czechowski@tucsonaz.gov

Phone:

(520)837-4058

Title:

Project Manager

Address:

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