Development to Move Ahead on 5,000-Acre, Long-Stalled, Former Ranch

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor

A 5,000-acre master-planned community planned for the southeast fringes of metro Tucson is back on track. Dubbed Rocking “K” Ranch, the property was once an active cattle ranch, and adjoins the 66,947 acre Saguaro National Park East.

The Rocking “K” development, which initially included 10,000 homes, four golf courses, three resorts as well as extensive commercial and industrial development, has been on hold for almost a quarter of a century as market conditions slumped. Facing opposition from several environmentalists, wildlife advocates and neighborhood groups, the project was eventually reshaped and is now expected to include 2,000 to 3,000 homes, one golf course and one resort, a 50- to 75-acre commercial center and smaller areas of commercial development.

Equestrian and pedestrian trails will be integrated throughout the community, along with recreational areas and preserved open space which will take up more than 50 percent of the project.

Determined to capitalize on current demand, developers plan to start construction on the large-scale residential complex within two years. “I think Rocking K will be developed as a very nice master-planned community, with integrated open space, great trails, good school sites and a good commercial center. It still has most of the attributes it always had, although not as much of a resort capability as it had before,” Chris Monson, president of Rocking K Development, told the Arizona Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Aerie Development LLC, a real estate company focused on the development of single-family-style rental homes, is set on enlarging its Tucson footprint by adding three more complexes to its portfolio.

Aerie 1000, at 1000 W River Road, will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom single-story, detached luxury rental homes with private rear yards; Aerie Preserve on Orange Grove and Mona Lisa roads will include 184 units; and Aerie at Sabino & River, near Sabino Canyon and River roads, will feature 59 units on the southwest corner and 200 units on the southeast corner.

Aerie Development opened its first Tucson complex in March 2012 on Tanque Verde Road and its second, near Ina and Thornydale roads, earlier this year. Both complexes are fully leased and the new properties are pre-leasing at a fast pace, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Photo credits: Aerie1000 official website