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Garfield,
North Garfield become historic districts By
Marcia Gaysue The
Arizona Republic
CENTRAL
PHOENIX - After 12 years of planning, the
Garfield
and North Garfield neighborhoods in central
Phoenix
have been declared
Phoenix
historic districts.
"We started the process in 1994," said Dana Johnson,
Revitalization and Economic Development Committee chairman.
"We made tiny steps, but we finally got what we
wanted."
There are 728 properties in the Garfield Historic District and
290 homes in the North Garfield Historic District.
"Being
a historical district increases the values of properties. Look
at what it did for the Roosevelt and
Fairview
districts: Their property value went up," Johnson said.
"It doesn't increase overnight, but it's nice too see it
increasing."
The Garfield Historic District is bounded by Roosevelt and Van
Buren streets between Seventh and 16th streets.
The North Garfield District boundaries run from Interstate 10
to
Roosevelt Street
between Seventh and 16th streets.
For properties to be considered for designation, they must
display high architectural or artistic value or have had a
significant historical impact on the city. It's also required
that the properties must be at least 50 years old or have
achieved exceptional importance within the past five decades.
"Most people think of the Roosevelt District when it
comes to historic districts, but
Garfield
is the new booming district," said Barbara Stocklin,
director of the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office.
"There's a lot of activity going on here."
Phoenix
now has 35 historic districts. Many of these neighborhoods
host annual or biennial historic-home tours.
Most of the homes in the
Garfield
neighborhood are modest bungalows and period revival-style
homes built between the 1890s and 1940s.
"
Phoenix
's historic homes may be somewhat younger than the typical
historic homes back East, but it is just as important to
revitalize and preserve our heritage, which is the heart and
soul of our city," Stocklin said.
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