By Brenna Goth | The Arizona Republic
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Arcadia neighbor, Peter Sperling, in his fight to protect the historically residential Arcadia neighborhood.)
The Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission voted Monday to recommend an Arcadia home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright be listed as a historic landmark, in the first city vote on a controversial plan to open the house to the public.
The commission voted 7-2 to designate 6 acres surrounding the 1952 David and Gladys Wright House as significant.
Comment by Jordan Rose of Rose Law Group who represents Peter Sperling:
“The Historic Preservation Commission is set up as a single-interest commission with the goal of preservation, its vote to preserve was entirely expected. Commissioners are unfortunately not given the power to review the actual commercial proposal that was submitted to the city by the developer in the July pre-application that includes a bar, restaurant, 40-foot outdoor amphitheater, 26,766 square feet meeting center, ability to have 500 people parties on an unlimited basis, and overnight stays.
“We all agree the home should be preserved and will continue to advocate to permit the developer the Historic Preservation designation that would permit him to show the home to school children and architectural students, but not the designation that would permit it to become a major event center.”