HR2.10 El Banco - Pima County Housing Center
Total Actual Cost: $551,115
Project Number: CCDHRBANC
Funding Sources: 2004 General Obligation Bonds
Completion Date: August 2011
Managing Dept.: Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation
Project Map: GIS Map
The Pima County Housing Center Project (El Banco Remodel) restored and preserved one of our most important architectural assets. Originally El Banco de Las Americas, this building represented the nation’s first minority-owned bank and Romana Banuelos, the first Latina Treasurer of the United States attended the ribbon cutting ceremony in 1972. The ‘Aztec Temple’ design created by Tucson’s native son and architect, Frederico Palofaxo, reflects the pride and culture of this rich cultural neighborhood surrounding the project.
Today, it’s the center of partnerships between government and nonprofits working together to provide affordable, healthy housing. The project involved rehabilitation of the building’s interior; substantial demolition and conversion of the former bank’s drivethrough into a large, high tech community room; and parking lot reconstruction. In its final phase, a complete re-landscaping will convert the grounds into a water harvesting xeriscaping.
Situated along the future Tucson Light Rail line, next to El Rio Health Center and across the San Augustin mixed use development, the Pima County Housing Center is well-situated to meet the growing population and changing needs of Pima County. Serving a wide range of needs, housing center staff are prepared to assist first-time homebuyers, homeowners or renters with program information and referrals to obtain emergency rental or mortgage assistance, down payment assistance,budgeting assistance and more. Adjacent to the housing center is the Menlo Park Linda House and Community Garden supporting neighbors and their friends in a sustainable lifestyle. Slated for renovations, the Linda House will demonstrate the features of an aging-in-place, green living, adaptive reuse of residential property. Residents will learn how to modify their homes as their housing needs change.
