Residents push to expand Coronado Historic District

Audrie Garrison ~ The Arizona Republic
June 25, 2007

Some residents in and around the historical Coronado district are pushing to expand its boundaries.

The city’s Historic Preservation Office will hire an outside consultant next year to determine how much of the proposed area is eligible to be designated as part of the historic district, said Barbara Stocklin, the city’s historic preservation officer. The district could be expanded by 2009.

The existing district is approximately the area south of Virginia Avenue, east of Seventh Street, north of McDowell Road and west of 14th Street. Residents have proposed expanding the boundaries to Seventh Street, 16th Street, Thomas Road and Interstate 10.

The city will begin the process next June but Stocklin said the entire expansion process would take up to two years.

“We are committed to hiring the consultant - it’s on our work plan,” she said.

The residents met informally Saturday to hear from neighbors and discuss the process.

Wayne Murray, who lives within the current district, said benefits of being part of a historic district include a property tax reduction and available city grants for renovations.

“What we’re hoping is that when a district like this expands, then the neighborhood would go out and let the residents know that have then been included and that there’s money available, as well as the benefits,” Murray said.

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