Blog Archives
Midtown Phoenix empty lot where WWII housing once stood sold
[Source: G.G. George] — The Encanto Citizens Association Board attended the foreclosure auction on Thursday, June 11, 2009 for the vacant land on the north side of McDowell Road between 13th and 15th Avenues. The property that the out-of-state investor, Scott M. Haskins, had purchased in 2006 for $5,400,000 had contained 32 moderate-rate apartments meant to house war workers during World War II. It was just two years ago to the day, June 11, 2007, that Haskins had the historic Palmcroft Apartments demolished. In ECA’s opinion, Haskins’ action irresponsibly wasted a historic resource that, properly managed, could have sheltered low-to-moderate income families for generations to come.
The Encanto Citizens Association opposed both the alley abandonment and the grab for the excess right-of-way at the 15th Avenue bus stop. Councilman Michael Nowakowski, Mayor Phil Gordon, former Councilman Doug Lingner, and the other Council members denied the developer the alley abandonment and the excess right-of-way. The F.Q. Story Historic District also supported ECA’s position.
The property was sold at auction to Michael Sklar of the Sonata Property Group for $500,000. Mr. Sklar is familiar with the neighborhood, having previously lived at 1621 N. 11th Avenue. The Encanto Citizens Association will continue to monitor this property and, in the best of all possible worlds, work harmoniously with a developer who truly has something to contribute to the appeal of Encanto-Palmcroft.
Phoenix ZIP codes tell the story of 2008
Home prices fared better in historic neighborhoods, like F.Q. Story, than others during recent economic slump.
[Source: J. Craig Anderson, Arizona Republic] — When will the housing market hit bottom, and how long will it take to get there? The answer is clear: It depends on where you live. The Valley’s housing slump is really a collection of highly localized downturns, each following its own timeline and trajectory, according to analysis of 2008 Valley Home Values data compiled by the Information Market for The Arizona Republic.
While the market pressures bearing down on home values are universal, the impact of those forces is determined in part by variables such as a neighborhood’s size, age, demographic makeup and location, location, location. A closer look at three ZIP codes in Phoenix illustrates some of the different ways neighborhoods across the Valley are being affected, but no two communities are exactly alike.
- In the F.Q. Story Neighborhood Historic District north of downtown, ZIP code 85007, the data show a slight increase in the median sales price from 2007 to 2008, although real-estate analysts said too few homes sold for a reliable statistic.
- The median sale price in ZIP code 85050, a portion of Desert Ridge north of Loop 101, declined 13 percent in 2008 — a sign prices have begun to level off since the 21 percent decline the previous year.
- ZIP code 85033, in the Maryvale neighborhood of west Phoenix, experienced a one-year median drop of 53 percent in 2008, greater than any other area in metro Phoenix after a decline of just 1 percent the previous year.
[Note: To read the full article, click here.]
RadiatePHX asks what will the headlines be for Phoenix in 2009?
[Source: RadiatePHX] — Now that the dust has settled from the holidays and light rail has opened, it is time to get our rhythm back. This month we gather at SideBar — the hip new bar in the F.Q. Story Historic District to hear special guest Nan Ellin discuss ideas from her book, Integral Urbanism. Nan is Director of Urban & Metropolitan Studies Program for the ASU School of Public Affairs, College of Public Programs. She’ll share some concepts and get attendees involved in a discussion on the headlines for Phoenix in this new year. Questions and ideas welcome.
- Date: Tuesday, January 27
- Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Nan’s portion to begin around 6 p.m.)
- Place: SideBar, 1514 N. 7th Ave., 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ (SW corner of 7th Ave. & McDowell)
- Happy hour specials on food and beverages will be available for RadiatePHX participants
F.Q. Story Home Tour, Dec. 6-7
[Source: Lyle Plocher, Downtown Phoenix Journal] — Always a great historic home tour, the F.Q. Story Home Tour is happening on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. On Saturday night, the streets will be lit up with Luminarias and tour homes will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Then on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour homes will be open again along with street vendors with food, holiday gifts, arts and crafts, etc. Tickets at 9th Ave. and Lynwood, just south of McDowell. For more information, click here.
