New Life for an Old Mill?

Both Momz and Paul sent me an interesting news item from my hometown of Tempe, Arizona. The city's Hayden Flour Mill has laid dormant for years and redevelopment of its iconic concrete silos has become a controversial subject. As grandiose plans for the site have been ceremoniously proposed and unceremoniously dropped over the years, some Downtown leaders have advocated for the demolition of the historic mill, claiming it gives the city a "hayseed" feel that belies the Phoenix suburb's cosmopolitan image.

Link to article here (text follows):

<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>

Aussie firm sees condos in mill silos

Katie Nelson
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 6, 2005 12:00 AM

The Hayden Flour Mill silos could become condos if an Australian development firm has its way.

The Sydney-based Constellation Property Group has requested a meeting with city leaders this month to discuss the idea. Constellation completed a similar project in Australia, turning a silo into a sleek, chic place to live.

For the Tempe project, Constellation wants to team up with The Lab, a California-based developer that has built two "anti-malls" - one art- and fashion-based, the other focused on sports and recreation - in Orange County. The Lab could create a similar non-corporate approach to retail on the Mill site as well.

The groups, though, have considerable obstacles to overcome.

Although the mill site is regarded as one of the important pieces of real estate by the City Council and city planners because of it's history and location between downtown and Town Lake, the property's complex history left it with plenty of complications.

For one, there's an ongoing lawsuit against Tempe; the city is the current owner of almost the entire mill site but the former landowner, MCW Holdings, contends the city owes them more than $40 million in damages.

In addition to the lawsuit, there are height restrictions and use restrictions on the site, and a severe lack of parking. Plus, there's the City Council's position that the concrete silos not be destroyed.

Never mind that the structure doesn't have water or electricity.

Mayor Hugh Hallman said people propose ideas for the old mill about once a month. The many restrictions usually scare developers off, he said.

Those same restrictions could make Constellation just one in a long line of now disinterested uninterested suitors.

But Shaheen Sadeghi, the creative juice behind the California anti-malls, said he's not deterred. After visiting the area for years, he sees his focus working in Tempe, because of - not in spite of - the space.

"We like the historical integrity of the building and the location," he said. "And from a cultural standpoint, the area has a lot of potential . . . our approach with specialty art and culture focus would do well there. There are certainly already enough Wal-Marts and Gaps and Banana Republics."

<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>

I like the idea of the Hayden Mill structures being redeveloped into condominiums and an "unconvential" retail center. It is important to respect the historical value of the site, nestled along the western slope of Hayden Butte near the junction of Mill Avenue (Tempe's main drag) and the Salt River. The mill was the brainchild of Charles Trumbull Hayden, who founded the city after establishing a ferry across the river (the town was known as Hayden's Ferry before being rechristened Tempe by "Lord" Darrel Duppa, who is also credited with giving Phoenix its name). C.T. Hayden's original home, La Casa Vieja (birthplace of his son, legendary former U.S. Senator Carl Hayden), is located just across the street from the mill. It would be a grave mistake to demolish any of it.

It's important to note that the Hayden Mill property is currently a "dead spot" between Downtown Tempe and the Tempe Town Lake. Redevelopment of the mill site is key to the city's future vitality. As suburban sprawl took hold in the years following World War II, Downtown Tempe entered an era of decline; by the 1970's its historic buildings had become home to little more than biker bars, tattoo parlors, and other unsavory businesses, offering little to students at nearby Arizona State University or to the other residents of the growing suburb. Largely due to the efforts of former Tempe Mayor Harry Mitchell, Downtown bounced back and is now widely recognized as one of the most exciting and urbane environments in the entire Phoenix region. The recent development of Tempe Town Lake was the culmination of decades of planning, bringing vitality to the formerly dry bed of the Salt River. In addition to providing numerous recreational amenities, Town Lake has attracted development along its shores, the most notable project being Hayden Ferry Lakeside.

I especially like the idea of utilizing part of the Hayden Mill for an "anti-mall." One of the downsides of Downtown Tempe's renaissance is that many local businesses have been "pushed out" by chain stores and chain restaurants. There's a definite need for "alternative" retail, especially stores and services catering to local artists, allowing for the preservation of the "bohemian" lifestyle that has given Tempe a unique feel among Phoenix's "cookie-cutter" suburbs.

I snatched and appended the following image from Google Earth to show the relationship of the Hayden Mill to the larger environment of "central" Tempe (click to enlarge):

Here's a second Google Earth image showing how the Hayden Mill is a crucial link between Downtown Tempe and Tempe Town Lake (click to enlarge):

I'd like to end this post with five photographs of the Hayden Mill taken by Tempe legend G.D. Thurman: