New Homes & Lifestyles
Green Valley & Sahuarita - Welcome Young and Old
The towns of Green Valley and Sahuarita span Interstate 19 about halfway between Tucson and Nogales. At the base of the beautiful Santa Rita Mountains, the 2,900-foot elevation communities enjoy temperate weather that is much cooler than the metropolitan Phoenix area. Green Valley and Sahuarita boast 65o average high temperatures throughout December and January, and average 100o in June and July. The pleasant temperatures and more than 300 days of sunny skies annually make the area ideal for outdoor recreation.
Green Valley has been a popular retirement destination since its first age- restricted community debuted in 1964. Growing at about 3 percent a year recently, Green Valley is still predominantly a retirement community with age- restricted active adult communities accounting for approximately 90 percent of the developed communities. Residents enjoy the relaxed small town atmosphere but have easy access to all that Tucson and Phoenix offer without having to deal with urban issues on a daily basis.
An unincorporated area of Pima County, Green Valley has no elected officials or municipal government. Pima County government provides municipal services to Green Valley residents. Organized in 1973 by six homeowner organizations, the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council is Green Valley’s unofficial government. Representing more than 60 homeowner associations and more than 20 business members, the Council, as it is generally called, operates as a liaison between county, state and federal government and the local residents. It also serves resident’s interests in areas such as planning and zoning, and architectural review.
Green Valley Recreation, Inc. (GVR), a non-profit, membership-based organization provides recreational facilities and programs for more than 12,300 households (approximately 22,000 individual members) within the GVR geographic boundaries. GVR membership is tied to a property, although not all Green Valley households are GVR members. Residents become GVR members by purchasing a home where membership is already deed restricted to the property, or by signing a deed restriction and paying the appropriate fees. Founded in 1978, GVR is nationally recognized as an outstanding leisure service organization. GVR operates 12 recreation centers within the community and also has more than 60 special interest clubs.
Sahuarita, incorporated in 1994, has grown from a small mining and farming village to a vibrant family community. Affordable housing, the small town atmosphere and the convenient commute to Tucson employment has made Sahuarita attractive for young family homebuyers. The town population has grown nearly 500 percent since 2000 and the school district is growing at a 20 percent rate.
Sahuarita has embraced the challenge of protecting the quality of life during rapid growth. The town’s efforts have produced results. The Department of Transportation rebuilt the I-19 Duval Mine Road interchange to accommodate increased traffic and a second interchange at Sahuarita Road is under consideration.
Local hospital care will be coming to Sahuarita in the near future. Carondelet Health Network will open medical offices in Sahuarita in the next few years and is preparing to open a $61 million hospital facility by 2011.
The town leaders have encouraged residents to become involved in park planning, economic development and infrastructure planning. The town is building a municipal complex that will house the Municipal Court, police department, and Town Hall administrative services. The complex will also include an outdoor civic plaza to accommodate town gatherings and community events.
Golf courses, historic ranches, missile silos, pecan groves, copper mines, caves and caverns await residents and visitors to the Green Valley and Sahuarita area. The Santa Rita Mountains offer endless outdoor recreation possibilities for bikers, hikers and bird watchers. Madera Canyon for example is a nature lover’s paradise. Only 11 miles southeast of Green Valley, the canyon is home to plants and wildlife that can only be experienced in this special place. Bird enthusiasts from every corner of the world come to see the more than 200 different bird species that frequent the canyon.
Historical sites, ancient and contemporary, are also close by and ready to be explored. The nearby town of Tubac is the oldest European settlement in Arizona. Established by Spain in 1752 Tubac is now home to artists, galleries and studios. The Titan II Missile Museum in Sahuarita attracts local and worldwide visitors. The intercontinental ballistic missile site, deactivated in 1986, is now a National Historic Landmark.
Clear skies make astronomy a natural for Green Valley and Sahuarita. The Mount Hopkins’ Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) in the Santa Rita Mountains is a tourist attraction and a contributor to Arizona’s reputation as the “astronomy capital of the world.” A field installation of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory, experiments that require extremely dark skies and dry weather conditions are conducted at the FLWO. The Observatory frequently presents public lectures on astronomy and astrophysics including recent discoveries in astronomy and findings from local research projects.
Living the good life in Sahuarita and Green Valley also extends to the varied and numerous cultural events available. The Green Valley News and Sun newspaper keeps residents up to date on theater, dance, musical performances, art exhibits and all that’s going on in the local area. There is always something to do in Green Valley and Sahuarita.
Whether looking for a beautiful location to begin a new life chapter of recreation and relaxation, or seeking a friendly community atmosphere to raise a family, Green Valley and Sahuarita have much to offer.
