ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Real Estate: Pro bono legal service group moves in near downtown
- Updated
Step Up to Justice will serve Pima County residents living in poverty.
- Gabriela Rico
An effort to provide free legal services to Pima County residents living in poverty now has a roof over its head.
Step Up to Justice leased 1,783 square feet from the City of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ at 320 N. Commerce Park Loop, just west of Interstate 10 and Congress.
It was formed by a group of attorneys who have volunteered in social justice for many years, said Stacy Butler, chairman of the organization’s board.
“We have about 900 attorneys that have said they would volunteer their services,†she said. “We were lacking the infrastructure.â€
The office has three staffers who recruit the attorneys and match them with clients.
“One attorney could help 20 people with paperwork on a certain subject,†Butler said. “Others really need one-on-one attention.â€
The group only handles civil proceedings, such as foreclosures, evictions, divorce due to domestic abuse and guardianship cases where extended family members are caring for a child.
The operating budget comes from private donations, private grants and charitable state tax credits, Butler said.
It does not take federal grant money in order to assist people living in half-way homes as they transition from prison and people who are undocumented residents — both not allowed under federal guidelines.
Step Up to Justice also fills the conflict-of-interest gap when, for example, one party in a civil proceeding gets services from legal aid and the other party is left without representation, said Michele Mirto, executive director.
She said ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans have been very supportive.
“We live in an amazingly generous community,†Mirto said. “I think people are particularly excited that it’s an all-volunteer model.â€
Clients eligible for the free service must be at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. For a family of six, that would be an income of less than $41,200 a year.
Visit for more information on services, donating or volunteering.
Ian Stuart and Bruce Suppes, with CBRE, represented the city in this lease.
- Gabriela Rico
Civil engineering consultants, DOWL LLC, leased 2,400 square feet at 1101 W. Grant Road from Sloat Family Partnership LLLP. Stephen D. Cohen and Russell W. Hall, with Picor, represented the landlord and Picor’s Isaac Figueroa represented the tenant.
- Gabriela Rico
Scar Family Trust bought a 13,200-square-foot building located at 5123 E. Speedway for $2.6 million from Solar Industries Inc. The Window Depot occupies the building. Stephen D. Cohen and Russell W. Hall, with Picor, represented the seller and Mitchell Stark, with Berkshire Hathaway Realty, represented the buyer.
- Gabriela Rico
On the Level Installations LLC leased 1,440 square feet at 227 E. Valencia Road. Gordon Wagner, of NAI Horizons, represented the tenant and David Blanchette, of CBRE, represented the landlord, MAS Real Estate Services Inc.
- Gabriela Rico
- Updated
Mechanics Tool Service LLC leased 1,730 square feet at 1321 E. Ajo Way from Ajo Business Center LP. Kevin Volk, of Volk Co., represented the tenant.
- Gabriela Rico
- Updated
El Dorado Internal Medicine P.C. leased 8,425 square feet at Fifth & Jefferson Plaza on Fifth Street just east of Craycroft Road. Andy Seleznov and Melissa Lal represented the landlord, Larsen Baker, and Craig Finfrock, of Commercial Retail Advisors, represented the tenant.
- Gabriela Rico
- Updated
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Covenant Group LLC bought an acre of land at 1060 S. Harrison Road from Skinner Capital Investments LLC for $900,000.  Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, represented the seller and Joe Doucett, with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, represented the buyer.
- Gabriela Rico
- Updated
Modern Lift Inc. bought a 7,500-square-foot industrial building at 6080 S. Masterson Ave. from Wells Fargo Bank National Association for $343,000. Pat Welchert, with Picor, represented the buyer.

- Gabriela Rico
An effort to provide free legal services to Pima County residents living in poverty now has a roof over its head.
Step Up to Justice leased 1,783 square feet from the City of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ at 320 N. Commerce Park Loop, just west of Interstate 10 and Congress.
It was formed by a group of attorneys who have volunteered in social justice for many years, said Stacy Butler, chairman of the organization’s board.
“We have about 900 attorneys that have said they would volunteer their services,†she said. “We were lacking the infrastructure.â€
The office has three staffers who recruit the attorneys and match them with clients.
“One attorney could help 20 people with paperwork on a certain subject,†Butler said. “Others really need one-on-one attention.â€
The group only handles civil proceedings, such as foreclosures, evictions, divorce due to domestic abuse and guardianship cases where extended family members are caring for a child.
The operating budget comes from private donations, private grants and charitable state tax credits, Butler said.
It does not take federal grant money in order to assist people living in half-way homes as they transition from prison and people who are undocumented residents — both not allowed under federal guidelines.
Step Up to Justice also fills the conflict-of-interest gap when, for example, one party in a civil proceeding gets services from legal aid and the other party is left without representation, said Michele Mirto, executive director.
She said ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans have been very supportive.
“We live in an amazingly generous community,†Mirto said. “I think people are particularly excited that it’s an all-volunteer model.â€
Clients eligible for the free service must be at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. For a family of six, that would be an income of less than $41,200 a year.
Visit for more information on services, donating or volunteering.
Ian Stuart and Bruce Suppes, with CBRE, represented the city in this lease.

- Gabriela Rico
Civil engineering consultants, DOWL LLC, leased 2,400 square feet at 1101 W. Grant Road from Sloat Family Partnership LLLP. Stephen D. Cohen and Russell W. Hall, with Picor, represented the landlord and Picor’s Isaac Figueroa represented the tenant.

- Gabriela Rico
Scar Family Trust bought a 13,200-square-foot building located at 5123 E. Speedway for $2.6 million from Solar Industries Inc. The Window Depot occupies the building. Stephen D. Cohen and Russell W. Hall, with Picor, represented the seller and Mitchell Stark, with Berkshire Hathaway Realty, represented the buyer.

- Gabriela Rico
On the Level Installations LLC leased 1,440 square feet at 227 E. Valencia Road. Gordon Wagner, of NAI Horizons, represented the tenant and David Blanchette, of CBRE, represented the landlord, MAS Real Estate Services Inc.

- Gabriela Rico
Mechanics Tool Service LLC leased 1,730 square feet at 1321 E. Ajo Way from Ajo Business Center LP. Kevin Volk, of Volk Co., represented the tenant.

- Gabriela Rico
El Dorado Internal Medicine P.C. leased 8,425 square feet at Fifth & Jefferson Plaza on Fifth Street just east of Craycroft Road. Andy Seleznov and Melissa Lal represented the landlord, Larsen Baker, and Craig Finfrock, of Commercial Retail Advisors, represented the tenant.

- Gabriela Rico
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Covenant Group LLC bought an acre of land at 1060 S. Harrison Road from Skinner Capital Investments LLC for $900,000.  Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, represented the seller and Joe Doucett, with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, represented the buyer.

- Gabriela Rico
Modern Lift Inc. bought a 7,500-square-foot industrial building at 6080 S. Masterson Ave. from Wells Fargo Bank National Association for $343,000. Pat Welchert, with Picor, represented the buyer.
Tags
As featured on
New restaurants and longtime fixtures that didn't make it through the year.Â
Most Popular
-
This popular ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ shopping center has a new owner
-
This chef grew up in his family's popular ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ restaurant. Now he's running a restaurant of his own.
-
Tim Steller's column: Canadian visitors scrap ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ stays, start selling homes
-
Prop. 414: Voters soundly reject ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ sales tax increase
-
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is now home to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s tallest mural