TUCSON, Ariz. - The city of Tucson has taken the next step toward widening part of Houghton Road on the southeast side of town.
On Wednesday, the city council voted to allow the city manager to buy land along Houghton between Mary Ann Cleveland Way and Valencia Road.
Now, the city manager is authorized to negotiate with the owners of that land to acquire it for city use.
Guidelines in the city council resolution state that the city manager is authorized to offer 5% more or $500 than the appraisal value of the land.
Altogether the City of Tucson needs to buy 18 full or partial parcels of land to complete the project.
If negotiations fail the Tucson City Attorney can use eminent domain laws to take the land anyway.
Construction on this project is set to begin in 2020.
