In a move to better protect houses and buildings in Tempe that were built before the early 1970s, a local government commission is proposing to increase the wait times before any such structure can be demolished.
As approved by members of the Tempe Historic Preservation Commission, the proposal would increase from the current 30 days to 60 days the length of time for a demolition permit.
The proposal would also waive application fees in designating a given property as historic, while expanding the definition of what is an archaeologically sensitive area.
According to city documents, historical preservation in Tempe is focused on sites which “represent important aspects of Tempe’s heritage,” with the additional goal of enhancing the character of a community by “taking such properties and sites into account during development.”
Supporters of the proposal say that hundreds of architecturally significant homes and buildings were built between the end of World War II and the 1970s during a time when Tempe’s population jumped from around 3,000 to nearly 64,000 residents.
Some of the homes from that era, according to sources, represent unique examples of the Modern Movement Ranch, Spanish Colonial, and Pueblo-styles of architecture.
But opponents of the proposal contend that it will only make new home construction in the city more problematic. Noah Williams, co-founder of the group Tempe Yes in My Backyard, told the State Press newspaper that it will simply be harder to “build things in or near areas that have older buildings.”
Pointing to the proposed 60-day wait time, Williams added: “For the developer, that means extra legal fees. It’s an extra month after which they’ve borrowed money that they have to pay interest on, that they’re not making money back.”
The proposal is expected to be vetted one more time by the Historic Preservation Commission in November, before being sent to the Tempe City Council for final approval.
By Garry Boulard
