Affordable housing project planned for Tucson’s Barrio Anita neighborhood | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — The City of Tucson is preparing to request federal funding for a new affordable housing development planned in the Barrio Anita neighborhood.

According to the City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department, officials are expected to submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or about May 29 for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds for the Barrio Anita Casitas project.

The development would include six single-story, single-family affordable housing units on vacant parcels owned by the Pima County Community Land Trust (PCCLT).

Plans for the project include a mix of housing sizes, with three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes planned for the western portion of the property and one-bedroom, one-bathroom homes planned for the eastern side.

Officials said the homes will be sold to low- and moderate-income families through the community land trust model, which is designed to help preserve long-term housing affordability.

The design of the casitas is intended to reflect the neighborhood’s architectural and cultural history. According to project documents, the homes will feature Sonoran Pueblo-inspired architecture, including stucco facades, high-vaulted ceilings, vertical windows, and metal hip roofs influenced by Post-War Pueblo design.

The project also includes infrastructure improvements such as new sidewalks along North Contzen Avenue and West Delong Street, paved driveways, concrete walkways, steel carports for larger units, and native landscaping.

PCCLT said its programs serve households earning below 80% of the Area Median Income. The organization also requires homebuyers to complete housing counseling and financial education workshops before and after purchasing a home.

The total estimated cost of the project is approximately $2 million. Funding sources include more than $573,000 in federal HOME funds administered through the City of Tucson, along with additional support from Pima County and national housing organizations.

The Barrio Anita Casitas project is planned near Interstate 10 and Speedway Boulevard.