Tucson Citizen, October 18, 2007
Ritz-Carlton resort coming to Dove Mountain development
By Teresa Truelsen
After years of speculation, rumors, stops and starts, Tucson is finally getting its Ritz.
Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is under construction in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains. With a 250-room resort golf club and residences, the project encompasses 850 acres in Marana
Developer David Mehl, president of Cottonwood Properties Inc., said he begun talking to Ritz-Carlton in 2003, after a planned Ritz resort in Oro Valley fell through.
"We thought the Ritz-Carlton quality and the power of their brand was going to be a perfect fit for what we have planned for the area," Mehl said.
Cottonwood is developing the half-billion dollar project
with Greenbrier Southwest Corporation and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
The Ritz-Carlton development sits at the base of the Tortolita Mountains,
abutting Tortolita Park to the north.
The Ritz-Carlton,
Dove Mountain resort, set to open in fall 2009, will be a four story building made of
adobe block, stucco, clay tile and native stone. Two ballrooms 9,000 square
feet and 4,000 square feet, offer special event space, and a spa, pool,
hiking trails and three restaurants round out the offering.
"It really just puts us in that stratosphere of the luxury resort destination," said Jonathan Walker, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitor Bureau.
Walker said he does not see the resort as competition with other area luxury resorts and its distance from Tucson is not a drawback for tourism.
"The type of guest that would frequent a hotel like that usually does things on-property," Walker said, adding that they would also be the types of guest interested in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and other Tucson attractions.
"Everybody will benefit from this. It will bring in another level of traveler," Walker said.
For Marana, the resort is a boon. Town Manager Michael Reuwsaat said the scope of the project has changed since the town did its initial study, so he doesn't have estimates of its financial impact. However, he said, the resort will spur further economic development.
The convention facility should spawn more hotels, motels and restaurants," Reuwsaat said, "We already have a number of hotels with interest in some of the interchanges we're working on.
Vivian Deuschl, vice president of public relations for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, said the hotelier has been looking for a second Arizona location sing the 1980's, when it opened its Phoenix property.
Deuschl said the Dove Mountain project is the biggest Ritz-Carlton has ever worked on. She did not have an estimate on the number of jobs it will creates. But she is convinced of its success.
"I know that this is exactly what today's affluent person wants," Deuschl said.
The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain will eventually include about 320 luxury residences, aimed at buyers of retirement property or second homes.
"We think the residences will be a tremendous attraction," Deuschl said. "They are very attractive because they get a chance to own a beautiful home, but have it serviced by the Ritz-Carlton."
Deuschl said homeowners will be able to take advantage of the hotel room service, know their homes are secure when they are away, and even call ahead before a return to have the home stocked with groceries.
Mehl said the state of the current housing market does not concern him.
"The Ritz-Carlton community
is a 10-year development, so we thing if the first two years are slow,
it's OK," Mehl said.
The Dove Mountain development has about 30 percent open space, and Mehl
said it's possible that ratio will be higher within the resort area. He
also said the two golf courses will be watered with treated effluent.
"Dove Mountain has dealt with numerous environmental challenges" from the beginning Mehl Said.
News
- The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain offers exciting
Charter Membership, first 25 Homebuyers receive significant benefits.
Read the full press release » - Our newly finished models are now open! Come by and pay us a visit.
- The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club,® Dove Mountain welcomes the world’s top 64 players to the World Golf Championships® – Accenture Match Play Championship. Read more »
- The New York Times: "When completed, it will be the largest Ritz-Carlton development in the continental United States." Read the full article (PDF file).