By
Katie Clark
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Bidding will start at $6.9 million for former grad-housing complex
FLAGSTAFF - The Arizona Board of Regents approved a motion yesterday to allow the University of Arizona to sell the land where the now-vacant Christopher City stands.
The complex, which was used to house graduate students and families, will be demolished by the end of June and the UA will then auction off the property.
Joel Valdez, senior vice president of business affairs at the UA, said the bidding will start at $6.9 million.
He also said about $3 million will be used to cover demolition costs for the building, which closed after toxic mold was discovered in some apartments. The remaining money will be set aside for new housing.
Saundra Taylor, vice president for campus life, said that ideas for new housing are already being developed.
Taylor said that campus life is interested in relocating graduate students to a building at 1010 E. 10th St., currently owned by Tucson Unified School District.
She said the UA Facilities Management department would move into the building, but that there is room to house graduate students and their families.
Those who lived in Christopher City before the complex closed have been alerted of the sale, Taylor added.
"Only one person had a negative reaction so far," she said. "Otherwise, we haven't had any response."
Also approved at the meeting were plans to acquire land adjacent to the UA Science and Technology Park, 9000 S. Rita Road.
The acquisition will require UA to go through court proceedings since the owner of the land has previously refused to sell it.
"It's basically a junkyard," Valdez said.
The regents also approved expansion plans for the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, totaling $7 million for an added 28,820 square feet.
