By Philip Haldiman, Editor-in-Chief | The Dealmaker
The city of Phoenix is serious about preserving its historical landmarks.
On Wednesday, the Council approved PreserveHistoricPHX, a 124-page document intended to inform future decisions and to strategically guide preservation activity in the city over the next 10 years.
It sets out to protect archaeological and historic resources, explore preservation incentives, develop community awareness and promote partnerships to further preservation.
Historic Preservation Officer Michelle Dodds said several cities have preservation plans, and staff did a survey, reviewing a number of them.
Historic preservation plays a vital role in maintaining the character and identity of the city, she said.
“I think the plan lays a good foundation for a common understanding about our program,” Dodds said. “The public input received from our public meetings and survey will help us focus our limited resources.”
PreserveHistoricPHX details ways historic preservation can improve economic development, neighborhoods, revitalization, and build community as well as civic pride, while promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
One path to the goals of the plan is to list significant properties on the Phoenix Historic Register, which protects them from demolition.
Most recently, the plan has informed the addition of to the Register, a post-World War II bank at 48th and Washington streets, which will be rehabilitated and adaptively reused, Dodds said.
“It’s been sitting vacant,” she said. “This meets a number of the items listed in the plan — designation of mid-century properties, adaptive reuse and incentives for rehabilitation. Plus, it is on the light rail line.”
