\n Ken Cook
\nSpecial to the Arizona Daily Star\n <\/p>\n
When Randi Dorman arrived in Tucson in 2001, downtown was a shadow of its former self.<\/p>\n
Boarded-up buildings lined empty streets where families once strolled on Saturday shopping trips. The vibrant heart that had beaten strong until the 1970s had flatlined, a victim of suburban sprawl and the mall boom that hollowed out American downtowns from coast to coast.<\/p>\n
But Dorman saw something many others didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were good bones,\u201d she recalls, \u201cbut it needed a lot of work.\u201d Where most people saw decay, she spotted original brick walls, vintage windows and hardwood floors waiting to tell new stories.<\/p>\n
From Manhattan to the desert<\/p>\n
Dorman came to Tucson with an unusual pedigree.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d worked for Interbrand, one of the world\u2019s largest marketing and branding firms, and lived in the heart of Lower Manhattan \u2014 the quintessential American downtown.<\/p>\n
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When she met Rob Paulus, who would become her husband, she began splitting time between New York\u2019s energy and Tucson\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n
The contrast was striking, but the possibilities were irresistible.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t arrive as an observer. Dorman became a downtown evangelist, a passionate advocate who converts vision into action.<\/p>\n
Within months, Rob and their friend Warren discovered a dilapidated ice factory building that seemed to whisper its potential. When Rob thought it could be converted into incredible lofts, the New Yorker intrinsically understood the vision and its potential.<\/p>\n
So she helped make it happen.<\/p>\n
The Ice House gamble<\/p>\n
With four partners and a three-year timeline, Dorman embarked on a risky venture in a city with little appetite for change. The Ice House Lofts became Arizona\u2019s first successful loft conversion project \u2014 a foundational achievement that proved downtown living could work and paved the way for the conversions that followed.<\/p>\n
It was the first domino, and Dorman kept pushing.<\/p>\n
She joined the board of Tucson\u2019s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), eventually serving as president for six years and guiding the museum\u2019s move to a 25,000-square-foot former firehouse.<\/p>\n
She is the former chairwoman of the Downtown Tucson Partnership and remains active on the executive committee. Her passion for Tucson, especially downtown, even led her to run for mayor.<\/p>\n
A movement, not a solo act<\/p>\n
Dorman\u2019s leadership style reflects her philosophy: one person can spark change, but lasting transformation requires a committed team. She\u2019s quick to credit the constellation of players revitalizing downtown.<\/p>\n
Fletcher McCusker and Rio Nuevo. The Oserans and Hotel Congress and The Century Room. Herb Stratford\u2019s vision for The Fox Theatre. The Flores family and the El Charro concepts. And so many more.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever underestimate the power of an individual or small group of people and the changes they can bring about,\u201d Dorman told me.<\/p>\n
What downtown Tucson offers today<\/p>\n
More than two decades after Dorman arrived, downtown Tucson is still evolving \u2014 and thriving.<\/p>\n
The architecture remains genuinely authentic, blending cowboy-era character with sleek 21st-century design. You\u2019ll find some of Southern Arizona\u2019s best housing, entertainment and dining. And there\u2019s more on the horizon.<\/p>\n
The transformation isn\u2019t complete \u2014 it may never be. But that\u2019s part of downtown\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n
Downtown is a living, breathing neighborhood that honors its past while writing new chapters.<\/p>\n
Advocates like Randi Dorman are passionate for a reason.<\/p>\n
Downtown Tucson now offers virtually everything urbanites crave: walkability, culture, community and authenticity.<\/p>\n
As Petula Clark sang nearly 60 years ago \u2014 and as Dorman has proven through action \u2014 things really are great when you\u2019re downtown.<\/p>\n
So don\u2019t wait another minute. Go see for yourself.<\/p>\n
Be the first to know<\/p>\n
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