Tucson House $50M renovation project marks milestone

Residents of Tucson House are beginning to move into renovated apartments on the 15th floor, offering the first clear look at what a $50 million overhaul will mean for people living in one of the city’s most recognizable public housing buildings. The work is intended to address years of deterioration at the 17 story high rise at 1501 North Oracle Road, while making individual units more comfortable, secure and practical for the residents who depend on them.

Twenty five residents were scheduled to begin moving their belongings onto the 15th floor on Oct. 16, following the completion of that floor’s renovations. The milestone represents about 15% progress in the building’s floor by floor rehabilitation, according to Sally Schwenn, Arizona market president for Gorman & Company, the developer contracted by the city. Construction will continue on the 16th, 14th and 13th floors as the first phase advances, with the entire project expected to be finished in 2029.

The improvements reflect requests made by Tucson House residents during the design process. Ann Chanecka, Tucson’s director of Housing and Community Development, said residents most often asked for more storage, additional counter space and the ability to control the temperature in their own apartments. The renovated units respond to those concerns with expanded storage, more kitchen workspace and individual air conditioning units. Those systems replace the building’s aging chiller system, which had become increasingly outdated.

The apartments shown during a recent preview include renovated kitchens and bathrooms, along with updated living and bedroom areas. The changes are designed not only to improve appearances, but also to make the units more livable for the people who call Tucson House home. Reducing the number of apartments is part of that strategy. Tucson House originally contained 408 units, but the renovated building will have 358, with several studio apartments combined to create larger one bedroom homes.

The project addresses more than the interiors of the apartments. Tucson House will receive expanded security measures and an electronic fob system. Residents will use the fobs to enter their assigned floors and access the building’s amenities. The changes are intended to strengthen security while controlling access within the high rise, although details about the specific amenities and security operations were not provided.

Tucson House was once the city’s largest public housing complex, but its physical condition had become a serious concern. Chanecka said building systems were beginning to fail, underscoring the need for a major investment rather than isolated repairs. The renovation is the largest project supported by a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant that Tucson received from the federal government in 2023 under the Biden administration. City leaders branded the broader investment area in the 85705 ZIP code “Thrive in the 05.”

The future of the building’s housing assistance model is also changing. In 2025, the city announced that Tucson House would move from traditional public housing to the federal housing voucher system. Under that arrangement, residents pay 30% of their income toward rent. Chanecka said the day to day experience for residents should remain broadly similar, while the voucher structure provides more reliable long term revenue for operations and maintenance. That financial stability is important for protecting the improvements now underway and keeping the building functioning after construction ends.

The renovation comes as Tucson faces intense demand for affordable housing. Earlier this year, the city closed its public housing waitlist after demand exceeded 40,000 people. The decision highlighted the gap between the number of residents seeking assistance and the limited supply of subsidized homes. Chanecka said Tucson needs to create more housing, but also must preserve existing buildings. For people living at Tucson House, the current work is a direct investment in keeping one of those existing resources available.

The next stages will require residents and construction crews to continue coordinating as work moves through the remaining floors. While the newly renovated 15th floor marks an important achievement, most of the building’s transformation remains ahead. By the projected 2029 completion, Tucson House is expected to have fewer but more spacious units, updated mechanical systems, new climate controls and stronger access protections. For Tucson residents watching the city’s affordable housing crisis grow, the project represents both a long renovation and an effort to preserve a critical housing option in the 85705 community.