Longtime Tucson concert venue The Rock is set to be replaced by a five-story multifamily residential project, ending nearly three decades as one of the city’s best-known independent music stages.

The law firm Lazarus & Silvyn sent a notification on Oct. 30 to residents within a one-mile radius, saying that its client, California-based Ascent Property Company, is under contract to purchase the 3.6-acre parcel of land between North Park Avenue and North Fremont Avenue, from East 10th Street to East 9th Street.

The parcel includes The Rock, several surrounding buildings and a parking lot owned by Tucson Unified School District, which the governing board recently approved for sale.

The proposed development, called the Ascent Tucson – Sunshine Mile District Project, will include apartments built over a parking structure, public open spaces, bicycle parking and repair facilities, a rideshare zone, shaded seating and pedestrian-friendly design.

A public neighborhood meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. at TUSD’s Robert D. Morrow Education Center, 1010 E. 10th St., where project officials will present details, share design plans and gather community feedback.

The letter was posted to Reddit on Thursday and had accrued more than 100 comments by Friday, with reactions mixed.

Some hailed The Rock as a critical part of Tucson’s music history and scene, while others, including some performers, criticized its acoustics and layout.

Kent Van Stelle opened The Rock in 1997, with many well-known bands playing there over the years, including Korn, the Goo Goo Dolls and Gwen Stefani.

The venue rose to national attention in 2017 when rapper Lil Peep died of a drug overdose in his tour bus ahead of a scheduled concert. Lil Peep, whose real name was Gustav Ahr, was 21. An autopsy ruled his death an accident caused by a combination of Xanax and fentanyl.

A memorial was quickly erected outside the venue and remained for years, with a plaque eventually installed on the building and a mural painted on an adjacent wall.

The Rock’s website lists events through Jan. 10. A representative from the venue did not immediately respond to Tucson Spotlight’s request for comment.

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

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