Civano, Arizona

Contact:
6280 S. Campbell Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85706 
tel: (520) 889-8888
fax: (520) 889-6207 
email: info@civano.com 
http://www.civano.com/

Description

Civano, Arizona is an 820-acre traditional neighborhood development designed to promote economic growth while maintaining important social values and ecological harmony.  Located in Tucson, Arizona, Civano is named after a period of development within the Hohokam civilization, which exhibited a balance between natural resources and human needs.

Within about eight years, Civano will become home to more than 5,000 people supported by light industry and commercial and retail businesses, and will use proven, available technology to reduce natural resource use substantially below prevailing levels in comparable developments.

Civano started out as the Tucson Solar Village, a small development of 10 solar homes.  Bruce Babbitt, then governor of Arizona, saw the Village and asked its developer, John Wesley Miller, to replicate the community on a larger scale.  Miller worked with the city's Metropolitan Energy Commission, local builders and environmental activists on the design of Civano and the Arizona Energy Office provided funding for planning.  In 1996 the community came together when the land for the development was purchased from the State Land Trust for $2.7 million.

Civano will cluster commercial, cultural and civic activity in the village center to foster a small town feel.  Half the residences and two-thirds of the jobs will be located no more than a five-minute walk from the town center.  Businesses in Civano will provide jobs for many of the residents, reducing the need for automobile travel and thereby reducing air pollution.  The plan aims to create a job for every two households, although not all jobs will be held by Civano residents.  Ideally, Civano will attract businesses engaged in solar power and other renewable resource fields.

Civano buildings will use the best available technology including passive solar designs and photovoltaics (as they become economical) to reduce energy demands.  Harvested or reclaimed water will irrigate xeriscape vegetation and conserve precious potable water while solid waste recycling will reduce landfill use.

"People come to live in Tucson because of its beautiful desert environment," says John Laswick, Civano's project manager. "Ironically though, more of the desert must be destroyed in order for more people to live here. Our goal is to attract people and to preserve the desert environment."

Civano's grand opening is scheduled for Fall 1998.

Program Highlights

Development Details

• Civano's developers envision that the community will become a leader in the implementation of efficient solar design, enabling the community to attract businesses engaged in solar power and other renewable resource fields.
• Tree-lined biking and walking paths throughout the community will reduce auto use and air pollution.
• Narrower streets with shade trees will help create livable neighborhoods and result in a cooler microclimate.
• More efficient lot layouts will encourage social interaction, and allow conservation of large natural areas for wildlife.
• Convenient markets, offices and parks will allow residents to shop, work and play near home, reducing the costs and side effects of auto dependence.

• The community recognizes that architects and builders will require technical and market support to succeed in this innovative effort. A consortium of committed agencies and individuals has already begun to develop this program, using Austin, Texas' award-winning Green Builder Program as a model.
• The City will promote sustainable development to the general public, while committed designers and builders will receive high quality training and technical assistance to meet the rising demand for sustainable technologies.

• Bonding for On-Site Infrastructure: Tax-exempt financing has been made available for all or a part of the water and sewer lines, roads, sidewalks, bikepaths and other infrastructure in public rights-of-way.
• Demonstration Projects: The Arizona Energy Office has allocated about $400,000 to the City to assist with such projects as resource conservation demonstrations in community buildings, development of model homes meeting Civano standards or similar efforts.
• Public Infrastructure: The City is considering helping fund construction of reclaimed water distribution lines and bikepaths.

Vital Statistics

• Program Management/Partnerships: Civano is a joint venture of the Community of Civano LLC, Trust for Sustainable Development and Case Enterprises in partnership with the City of Tucson, the State of Arizona, the Arizona Energy Office, the Metropolitan Energy Commission and the State Land Trust.
  
  
• Budget: Please contact the program directly for the latest budget information.
  
  
• Community Served: Residents of Arizona, who will benefit through an improved environment as a result of reduced energy and water use and reduced air pollution.
  
  
• Measures of Success:  The Civano project is projected to save energy and water and to reduce solid waste and air pollution.
  
  
  • Energy:  Solar design, conservation and efficient use will reduce energy needs by 75 percent over traditional technologies.
  • Water:  Residential consumption is planned not to exceed 40 gallons per capita per day -- a savings of 65 percent.
  • Solid waste: Aggressive recycling efforts will reduce landfill-destined solid waste by 90 percent over Tucson's 1989 average.
  • Air pollution: Through a circulation pattern that encourages walking and biking, air pollution will be reduced by 40 percent.

Success stories designed by Mark W. Nowak

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