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TAAA NEWS RELEASE: February 23, 2009
For Immediate Release
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE TAAA ASTRONOMY
COMPLEX
Photo by Bill Lofquist: TAAA members
participate in the transfer of the deed for the TAAA Astronomy Complex
in the office of the club's attorney. President Ken Shaver gives
Robert Crawford the one dollar the club is giving for 16 acres of
property for the Complex. Robert Crawford, Representative for the
Perseus Group, Receives the dollar and hands the deed of transfer to
the club. Perseus Group members Crawford, John and Liz Kalas, Sam Rua
and Erich Karkoschka have purchased the land and donated it to the
club. Bill Lofquist has worked with the planning process for the
Complex.
TUCSON, AZ, FEBRUARY 23, 2009:
"Several important events have taken place as we move toward the
construction of the TAAA Astronomy Complex near the Chiricahua
Mountains in Cochise County," advises Bill Lofquist, immediate Past
President of the Tucson Amatuer Astronomy Club.
On Wednesday, February 11, the deed for the sixteen acres of property
where the Complex will be located was transferred from The Perseus
Group to club President, Ken Shaver. "As many members know, the
Perseus Group consists of Sam Rua, Robert Crawford, Liz and John Kalas
and Erich Karkoschka. These four members purchased 60 acres of land in
October 2007, with a view toward donating a portion of it to TAAA to
develop the Complex," Lofquist noted. The sixteen acres are located
within a square 40 acre parcel and buffered by the surrounding
property. As a result of this very generous gift, TAAA is able to use
the resources which have been donated by many members over the years
to develop the Complex.
Noted Lofquist, "Now that the property has been transferred and
belongs to the club, we are able to obtain our first building permit."
Toward that end, the construction plans have been completed and
requests have been made to three candidates for a general contractor
to build the restrooms. A volunteer architect, Mr. John Riggs, has
prepared the Master Site Plan and the plans for the restrooms. The
Strategic Planning Group has overseen the preparation of the building
permit, with John Kalas coordinating that effort. We are hoping to
have the application for the permit submitted in early March.
Construction will begin when we obtain the building permit.
The first phase of building will include installation of electric
service, completion of the water system, building of the restrooms and
septic system, and improvement of the roads leading to the Complex and
the parking area within the Complex. Once this first phase work is
completed, we will be able to begin using the site for observing. We
hope we will be able to see first light in late spring or early
summer.
"Many members have made significant contributions to bringing us along
this far. But no one has contributed more than Robert Crawford," said
Lofquist. Robert is the chairman of the Perseus Group, but he has also
contributed his many skills at project management and his careful
approach to planning to the details of purchasing the property,
creating the CC&Rs, design of the various parts of the infrastructure,
coordinating the legal activities, and otherwise participating in the
many decisions that have brought us this far. TAAA is indeed indebted
to Robert for his diligence and commitment to seeing us create an
excellent Complex.
As TAAA begins the construction of Phase One it will also look toward
the future and plan toward additional features of the Complex. This
will involve more members helping to plan the clubhouse, the sleeping
rooms, the large and small observatories, the landscaping and other
amenities. TAAA will provide announcements of special meetings to
focus on these matters.
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Information Contact:
Bill Lofquist
Phone: 520 297-6653
Email: past-president [at] tucsonastronomy.org
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