By Brenna Goth | The Republic
Crews on Wednesday demolished a 1954 bank building, known by historic preservationists as one of Phoenix’s “Midcentury marvels,” to make way for residences north of Margaret T. Hance Park.
The plans announced last year to turn what was once the Willetta Branch of Valley National Bank to rubble drew concern from preservationists. Phoenix’s Historic Preservation Commission didn’t take action to protect the building, but used it to spur changes to the city’s demolition process.
The building was eligible for city historic designation, which would have temporarily prevented its destruction, but it was never listed.
