Garfield, North Garfield Become Historic Districts

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 Phoenix 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 Historic District when it comes to Phoenix 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."

Central Phoenix now has 36 historic districts. Many of these neighborhoods host annual or biennial historic-home tours.

Most of the homes in the historic Garfield neighborhood are modest bungalows and period revival-style homes built between the 1890's and 1940's.

"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.

Historic Phoenix Homes Information: Garfield, North Garfield Become Historic Districts

To search for historic Phoenix homes in the Garfield or North Garfield historic Districts, go to:

http://www.historiccentralphoenix.com/phoenix-historic-home-districts.html

http://www.historiccentralphoenix.com
www.historiccentralphoenix.com