White Gates Beadle residence potentially saved

[MrX]

Does anybody have any experience removing a curse from a home?

this whole process makes me feel like this:

[roma]

it's been awhile since any updates on preservation efforts ?? How likely is it that the owner will be able to renovate ??

[MrX]

It is not likely that the current owner will be able to take on what needs to be done, but there is still hope that a new owner will be able to handle it.

I am out of the state right now, and as of tomorrow I will be out of the country until the 16th of Sept, so I won't be able to sink my teeth into any recent developments until I get back.

here is the latest development:
http://azmostendangered2007.blogspot.com/2007/08/white-gates-house-phoenix-maricopa.html

[TMUhlmann]

I found the link off to the blog site and the most endangered sites a bit of a puzzle. Not having been around for much of Al's rise in popularity and respect as one who was truly an architect in the matter of building in the Sonoran desert, nevertheless I don't quite think the White Gates drive house is his first design for a residence. In Constructions, the chronology lists two houses in Minnesota, then houses 3 through 9 in Phoenix and three of them are listed as being on White Gates Drive. This listing itself is a little confusing (to me at least) because I remember the Dickerson house and the Mendelsohn house already in existence when we moved to our house on Saddle Rock Drive (corner of White Gates and Saddle Rock Drives) in 1958. The Mendelsohn house which I never see mentioned in the discussions of Beadle houses anywhere was "around the corner", that is off White Gates Drive on a street heading up the mountain called Cliffside Dr. I make note of it because it appeared to be an exact replica of the White Gates Drive house under discussion. I came home one day (from grad school in Minnesota) and it was just gone.

Anyhow, I was under the impression that the 4918 White Gates Dr. house was constructed after the Saddle Rock Drive house (ours). But I'm not betting the bank on it. What I am hoping to accomplish is a bit of keeping the record straight, you know, for historical reasons.

P.S.--Beadle house #11 on McDonald Drive happens to be one of my favorite houses ever. The man's designs are so close in our neighborhood on Camelback, but I personally think the genius broke out on McDonald Drive. But I'm not an architectural critic just an observant first grader.

P.P.S--Hey everyone guess who shows up on the FIRST PAGE of links in Google when you type in the words succulent karoo and gardens?

[MrX]

an interesting email that I received today:

Shawn,

Thanks for the email. I can’t wait to hear or see your photo journal from your trip.

Sorry for the crazy spam type letter—I don’t usually forward those things but that one hit a soft spot in me.



We got a remodeling permit and are ready to submit a set of plans for a full restoration of the property.

Do you have time to put a note on Modern Phoenix regarding a request for critiques? Heather is flying in to help brainstorm next week before submitting to the city—end result if I am on the wrong page or missed the target I will not submit.

I did not want to bother you or anyone until I had a full plan to show and compare apples to apples.

I have all of the engineering for the cantilevers, structural, civil, etc. However I need the Beadle knowledge base to look it over and give some input. I wish I had given you more of a heads up but Heather was able to wangle some free time this week. The most important factor needed at this point is the Modern Phoenix Brain Trust for input and comments regarding the plans. If this is at all possible I could do a get together at my house which is at 12th Street and Osborn. Or if anyone comes forward I will make myself available anytime night or day from Monday until Thursday and Friday if necessary (Heather is leaving on Friday.)



I did go to court and we prevailed (it was a bit scary and I was freaked that I might mess up) fortunately the two citations were removed. I think Al Beadle has taken residence in my soul somehow—now I know I am sounding like a nut but it is true—this thing is definitely bigger than life at least in my mind.



I spoke with Jason the artist and he is going to get together with us and let us use his picture in post card size to kind of help get neighborhood good faith. I really do not want to have a war up there and I do believe that in the end everyone will and or should be happy to have probably one of the best examples of a part of our history preserve.



If this request is out of line I understand—just let me know.



Love you and take care.

Best Regards,

Lynda

[PixelPixie]

Wow, that's a great report on progress, X! The world works in such mysterious ways. Can you believe that all of us even made a little difference?!?! I wonder what the drawings look like? How can we get in touch with her?

I missed your comment from earlier, TMUhlmann. You must be stalking my garden If you google "succulent garden" my site is numero uno. I have such a huge stash of unpublished photos of my plants that I intended to update on the site, its embarrassing. I was actually thinking of moving that whole area over to be hosted under ModernPhoenix but I'm afraid of losing my hard-earned pagerank! Ah, vanity!

[roma]

goosebumps.... my favorite mcm house in the valley....

[modeddie]

Am I dreaming? After the big push before, then nothing, all seemed lost. I'm still mourning Beadle's soon-to-be-demolished Qwest (Mountain Bell) building. If White Gates lives again, then at least there's something right with the world.

[MrX]

I am thinking Wednesday evening would be good for me. I will get with her and figure out a time, address, etc.
I will also fire off a heads up to everyone on the White Gates email list from back in the good old days.

here is Lynda's email if anybody else wants to set up a different arrangement to head over there this week:
builders@cox.net

I want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and hope. At the end of the day it is just a house, but it is a house that we find has artistic, sentimental, and historical value, so we would rather it survived.

remodel stories are better than bulldozer stories

Sincerely,
The Artist Formerly Known as MrX

[MrX]

I sent out the details for Weds to everyone on the magic list. If anybody else is interested, please PM me your info.

thank you

[PixelPixie]

Bummer, I have to teach wednesday night. Good luck everyone and take some photos of the historic occasion!

[MrX]

bring your class
errr.....students....you know what I mean...
field trip:)

[modeddie]

I plan to bike over; I live close by. I hope to see many mophos there.

[PixelPixie]

Wish I could! But Hector is going to be with me and I can't take him ANYWHERE public

[MrX]

Hmmm....the old Hector Factor(Hactor)..ah yes, the world already has too much ownclay ornpay. good call