Action Alert! from Arizona Preservation Foundation

[hectoracuna]

Action Alert!
Help provide fast, effective action to influence key decisions on Arizona's historic treasures
November 15, 2006 ~ Arizona Preservation Foundation

Today, the City of Phoenix received a demolition permit application today for 1115 N. 2nd Street. The city has a hold on the demolition permit until Monday, November 20.



This is the Edward Morin House, the oldest house in Evans Churchill, dating from 1909. The Historic Preservation Commission initiated HP zoning on this property in 2004, largely at the request of the community, but then withdrew the case after the owner, Orcutt/Winslow, protested and committed to the HP Commission that they would keep the HP Commission apprised far in advance of any sale of the property and any plans to demolish or redevelop the site.

Because there is no historic preservation zoning, the house could be demolished as soon as Tuesday of next week.

What you can do?
You are welcome to express your opinion about this matter to:
The Honorable Michael Johnson, Member of Council for the district in which the structure is located ~ michael.johnson@phoenix.gov, 602-262-7493

The Honorable Doug Lingner, Member of Council & Chair of the Housing, Neighborhoods, and Historic Preservation Subcommittee ~ doug.lingner@phoenix.gov, 602-262-7492

The Honorable Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix ~ phil.gordon@phoenix.gov, 602-262-7111

Cynthia Seelhammer, Deputy City Manager ~ cynthia.seelhammer@phoenix.gov, 602-262-6941

Barbara Stocklin, Historic Preservation Officer ~ barbara.stocklin@phoenix.gov, 602-262-7468
Evans Churchill Community Association, 602-614-8727

About Arizona Preservation Foundation
The Arizona Preservation Foundation (APF) is Arizona’s only non-profit statewide historic preservation organization. Founded in 1979, APF is dedicated to preserving Arizona’s historical, archaeological, architectural, and cultural resources. APF offers a variety of services and programs, including sponsorship of Arizona’s annual Historic Preservation Awards in conjunction with the State Historic Preservation Office; presentation of workshops, including heritage tourism, adobe conservation, maintenance of historic properties, and government ordinances’ impact on local preservation; and initiation of Arizona’s list of most endangered historically significant sites. For more information, visit http://www.azpreservation.org.

The fine print:
Who publishes this? Action Alert! is published by the Arizona Preservation Foundation. Information contained in this e-mail is drafted, reviewed, and approved by designated APF representatives.

Threatened buildings or sites. If you know of a threatened landmark, architectural or archaeological, contact info@azpreservation.org. APF representatives will work with you and other interested parties to help determine a course of action.

[JC]

Thanks Hector- I just sent an email over to the entire list...

[azpreservation]

Gosh, I didn't think to post this Action Alert on ModernPhoenix.net since, well, the structure is not so modern! But thanks so much for thinking of this 1909 beauty...again, the oldest remaining structure in the Evans Churchill neighborhood. The interior is wonderful, by the way.

I chatted with the Mayor last week, and he said, "we're working on it." Barbara Stocklin, HP Officer, is coming up with alternatives. I know of at least two parties that wish to have it moved (an alternative better than demolition, of course). Fingers crossed.

[JC]

AZPRES- I emailed and I sure hope others do soon!
It's so easy!
Copy mine- here it is:
(I got back, "Thanks" from Micky J)
(Please email Mo-Phos!- This building is so cool! -Not Modern but Historic and cool historic at that!)


Thanks!


Joel Contreras <joelcontreras17>
11/17/2006 12:38 PM
To Michael Johnson/PCC/PHX@PHXENT
cc Phil Gordon/MYR/PHX@PHXENT, Barbara Stocklin/MGR/PHX@PHXENT, Doug Lingner/PCC/PHX@PHXENT
Subject 1115 N. 2nd Street; Edward Morin House


This email is in response to the application you received for a demolition permit for the Edward Morin House.

I grew up in Downtown Phoenix and this home and others like it were the only allure to living Downtown at the time. We have lost enough of our old buildings, our culture, our historic charm and character.
There are so many lots that are prime for development Downtown, I am failing to see the need for this tear-down!
How are we going to be competitive with other Downtown's when we continue to allow this demolition at the heart of our City?

Please believe me when I say I speak for thousands on this matter.
If there is anything you can do, please help save this beauty.
The Edward Morin House is an historic treasure!

Thank you for your consideration,
JC

[hectoracuna]

Thanks JC.

I understand the home is not modern and post is on the off-topic area for that reason.

Preservation is about the value of a structure to the public. The expectation we have of having some of our relatively young homes to be considered as historic or valuable has to be preceded by other acts of preservation. Without preserving our turn-of-the-century homes, there is less reason for consider the "mid" in our mid-century loves and presents no comparative balance to the modern structures of this turn of the century. But I don't need to remind you fine folk, I have a feeling you all understand. Let's help.

[JC]

(Email I got from Bill Scheel)

On behalf of the Mayor, I wanted to let you know that the Morin House has not been demolished and we are working diligently to find a solution. To their credit, the property owners have postponed any demolition to give us an opportunity to find a way to keep the house on the site or develop a plan to move the structure to another suitable location. We will let you know if we are successful.

In the meantime, thank you for your support for historic preservation in Phoenix.

Bill Scheel
Deputy Chief of Staff
Mayor's office
602-261-8823

[azpreservation]

An individual has stepped forward to preserve this building. A site has been located for it to be moved. Private and public funding has been secured for its preservation and moving to the new site (which should be quite a sight)! The move has to happen before Light Rail closes down Central Avenue this fall.

Details to follow!

[azpreservation]

Good news for a change: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/jimmu78/2470

[JC]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... c0721.html

[azpreservation]

Dan Klocke said that the move has been delayed to the weekend of Sept 7/8.

[azpreservation]

The day is almost here and the latest weather forecast says that the rain should be done by Thursday night/early Friday. Everything is a go. We will be finishing up the moving permit submittals tomorrow and be ready to move around 2 am Saturday morning...

It sounds like if all goes well the move will take around 4-6 hours. Currently, the wheels are going on underneath the house-there will be 42 wheels supporting it and distributing the weight.

Thanks to everyone working on this project. I have to admit that while it has been a wonderful experience working with everyone I will be breathing easier once the house is on the lot and then on a foundation.

If you are not involved with specific activities that evening and have insomnia or just want to see the last house that will ever travel across Central Avenue come on by. We will get the house rolling around 2 am from 1115 North 2nd Street and hopefully be on site at 621 North 5th Avenue by sunrise for you early morning joggers. I hope the next report will be about the new home for the Edward Morin house.

[azpreservation]

From the first Arizona Preservation Foundation "Action Alert" on November 15, 2006 to early this morning, it's been a wild ride. Congratulations and thanks to Dan Klocke and everyone who supported Dan in making this happen!

Some photos and video snippets at http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandin ... y=naiiim&U

DAN'S LAST E-MAIL MESSAGE:

At approximately 4:30 this morning the Edward Morin house began its next century at 621 North 5th Avenue. The house is still raised up on wheels but is placed where it will sit for at least the next 100 years.

The journey could not have been better. For a trip that was supposed to take 4-6 hours to be complete in 2 1/2 hours shows just how great of a job everyone did. Almost every utility, traffic light, and streetlight was down by the time we pulled off the lot at 2 am so the house "cruised through the downtown streets without stopping except for 10 minutes at the hardest crossing where APS managed to lift the high powered wires and get us through. I know it may sound a bit much and perhaps it is because I have not slept in awhile but the City, APS, Cox, Contractors West, the city and county police, and of course the house mover Canyon State Performance, could not have done anything else to make it smoother. It truly was an amazing.thing to watch--and many people did. There is nothing quite like watching a house take up the full width of a street. I think many spouses were receiving cell phone photos around 3 am.

The next steps are to get the wheels out from the house and stabilize it. A foundation should begin in the next two months, as well as alot of the site work. Then once permits and certificate of appropriateness are approved for the porch a new one will be built and the interior clean-up will begin as well. The hope is to have the building done and a tenant in it by next July. If I can get a good photo of the move I will send one out later.

Thanks again to all of you for working so hard to make this happen. There is a lot more work to be done but perhaps the most daunting part is complete.

Dan

[matthew]

ah bummer i missed it. i was so tired. glad it went well though!

[roma]

This gives me goosebumps, it is so cool that someone has the vision and tenacity to take on this type of project.
Imagine how Dan felt this morning walking up to his new home and opening that door. Congrats on his noble endeavors.



I grew up in a home that was previously a small "country club" that was going to be demo'd. My parents had a piece of property, and moved the house....

I own an infill lot on Phx and am very interested in doing something similar. Does anyone know who I contact for homes up for demo--- Doesn't have to be historical in my case. Just an architecturally "interesting" property... I've read that the number of demo permits is up in PV, Arcadia. I'll take another man's junk, and make it my treasure. Any leads would be greatly appreciated...

[azpreservation]

While all historic preservation advocates advocate for a structure to remain in its original setting, sometimes that just can't be done. Hence, moving is an option.

Below is another person with similar ideas, plus a response from the City of Phoenix. Do you wish to be contacted re the RFP?

Jim


ORIGINATOR

Hello,

I am looking for contacts who can help me locate a home to move to an infill lot at 325 E. Cheery Lynn. This is my first step in reaching out to someone about this. My lot is 50 X 125. I would love to have the Al Beadle (White Gates) home on Camelback or some other modern structure. However, I would consider any architecturally interesting home. I understand that there are more homes up for demolition in Arcadia and Paradise Valley, but I'm not sure how to get in contact with the appropriate parties. Is there a contact that you can forward.

I grew up in a "preserved" home in Michigan. It was targeted for demo, so my folks moved it to a lot. I know first hand it can be done. Many people think I'm crazy for wanting to do this, but I totally believe in preservation of history.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bridget

CITY RESPONSE

The Downtown Development Office (DDO) will be issuing in the next few weeks a RFP to dispose of four residential structures located on the North of Fillmore properties.

Rob please contact the citizen referenced in the email and let her know of the upcoming RFP.

Thanks.

Jason