By Benjamin Leatherman | Phoenix New Times
The Valley has lost any number of major landmarks over the past few years. Iconic structures like downtown Phoenix’s Hotel St. James, sprawling retail complexes like Metrocenter and Paradise Valley Mall, and famed Tempe restaurant Monti’s La Casa Vieja have all been shut down or torn down before fading into local lore.
You can add Phoenix Greyhound Park to the list, as the historic dog track located at Washington and 38th streets is currently in the process of being demolished. For the past couple of weeks, workers from Gilbert-based Breinholt Contracting Company have been tearing down the enormous grandstand on the 60-acre property, which has been owned by the city of Phoenix’s Aviation Department since 2007. (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is located immediately north of the park.)
It’s a mercy killing in a sense, as the grandstand and dog track has been vacant and blighted since the park closed in 2009 after 45 years in business. And it shows every sign of abandonment: weeds and broken concrete were everywhere (even before demolition crews began their work) while the towering building’s paint job was long since faded.
