The Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission will meet next Tuesday to consider an architectural design for the proposed HSL Encantada 320 luxury apartment complex at the Oro Valley Marketplace. This review is a required step before construction can proceed. The focus will be on how well the proposed architecture aligns with the town’s established design principles and the existing Marketplace design plan. The site is near the southwest corner of Tangerine Road and Water Harvest Way, placing it in a high-visibility location that will become an important part of Oro Valley’s commercial and residential landscape. While the Town Council approved the Master Development Plan in November 2023, the architectural specifics are subject to separate approval to ensure compatibility and design quality.
The Town of Oro Valley is counting on grants to provide significant funding for many of our capital projects. The town has requested more than $22 million in grants in the past year and a half and was awarded a little over 3 million as of the end of February. About half of the requested grant amount is waiting for approval. One of these is the grant for bridge repairs in Oro Valley. Another portion is funding for planning of a new police facility. Hopefully, at least some of this money will come through. (Our previous grant status report)
(Phony survey says that) Oro Valley Is America’s Safest and Wealthiest Retirement Town
There "buzz" in town about a survey that claims Oro Valley is the safest and wealthiest retirement community in the United States. It’s even being referenced as people consider the development of 2025 General Plan. The survey was created by a website called GoBankingRates.com. Our research tells us that this survey really isn't worth much and that it certainly should not be relied upon for town planning purposes. Here's why.
GoBankingRates.com is a marketing site that publishes surveys and rankings designed to draw attention and generate business leads for financial products like mortgages, credit cards, and retirement accounts. While the survey uses data from credible sources, such as the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics, the way that data is combined and weighted is unclear and uses median retirement income rather than true wealth. It ignores factors like home equity, debt, and regional cost of living differences. Add to this the fact that every survey they do looks the same, possibly AI-generated writing. It may be fun to read, but it should not guide serious town decisions.
Kohls closes 27 stores this weekend... Oro Valley spared
Retailer Kohl is closing 27 stores nationwide. Oro Valley is not on the list. Kohls business is "off." The retailer's sales declined 9.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 7.2% for the year. The company emphasized that these closures are necessary to support its long-term growth strategy.
