[Source: Andrea Kelly, Daily Star] -- City efforts to buy the state-owned warehouse once occupied by Zee's Gallery and sell it to the former occupant may be stymied by a law requiring a sale to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, another state-owned warehouse tenant is again hosting concerts after canceling them for a time when an Arizona Daily Star investigation revealed safety issues throughout the Downtown Warehouse Arts District. The city of Tucson hoped to buy the state-owned building known as Zee's Gallery, at Toole and Stone avenues, from the state and then sell it to the former tenant, artist Zee Haag.The state bought several Downtown warehouses 15 to 20 years ago as right of way for the extension of the Barraza-Aviation Parkway. But plans for the road have changed, and the state is looking to divest itself of many buildings that are no longer needed for the road. The city of Tucson wants to keep the warehouse in artists' hands and continue following the goals of the city's Warehouse Arts District Master Plan, city Transportation Director Jim Glock has said. However, legal issues at the state level may require that the building be sold at a public auction to the highest bidder, with no guarantee on how it would be used afterward. That could mean anything, including demolition or redevelopment for another purpose. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
