City of Tempe negotiating to purchase 2 historic buildings
The city of Tempe is negotiating to purchase two historic buildings in a preservation effort, officials announced on Friday.
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PHOENIX — The city of Tempe is negotiating to purchase two historic buildings in a preservation effort, officials announced on Friday.
The city is looking into the possible purchase of the Tempe National Bank building, owned by Wexford Developments, and the Tempe Hardware building, owned by Stu Siefe.
The Tempe City Council approved the negotiations for both buildings at its regular council meeting on Thursday.
“This could be a vital purchase for our community. We continue to diligently pursue new, local businesses for our downtown (area) that offer something for all ages and incomes in the community,” Mayor Corey Woods said in a release.
“There is a real demand from residents for the kind of authenticity you can only find in downtown Tempe.”
Should a sale happen, the city would create new opportunities for small, local businesses to move into the properties. The city said it plans to use the buildings as retail and restaurant spaces.
In a similar move, the owners of Thai restaurant Glai Baan will be opening a new concept in the Gov. B. B. Moeur House, a building listed in both the Tempe Historic Register and the National Register.
The Tempe Hardware building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register.
The Tempe National Bank building is also listed in the Tempe Historic Property Register.
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Comments
2 Comments
I was wondering what they were doing with all the money they are saving by not fixing the crumbling streets in south Tempe
Buying banners and hanging them on streetlights, encouraging residents to take a bus, ride a bike or walk - all of which reduce the need to maintain streets. This must be "progress" and "sustainability" at work. They are also saving money by not maintaining public landscape around intersections and driveways on major thoroughfares - hindering a clear view of traffic for the motoring public. At least the expense of purchasing useless and tasteless public "art" seems to have been reduced.