Will the relocation of Tucson Electric Power’s headquarters to
downtown Tucson become the latest tragedy in the revitalization of
downtown? Typically, corporate headquarters become trophy buildings
that have a revitalization impact similar to that of a mausoleum.

The chosen location is the property at Scott Avenue and Broadway
Boulevard, where the grandest of our downtown hotels stood until the
wrecking ball was brought in on a cold December day in 1972. The
original Santa Rita Hotel of 1904, designed by Henry Trost, was
demolished, but an addition constructed in 1917 was retained. In grand
Tucson style, this landmark hotel was replaced by surface parking and a
single-story restaurant.

Now, the current owners plan to “improve” the site by demolishing
the 1917 addition as part of the sale to TEP, thus continuing the
mentality that any existing resources on site are of little value from
an historic or green perspective. Nothing says “no way” like a speedy
demolition before any real plans are completed.

Any claim that the 1917 addition might be historic has been all
tidied up with an evaluation that looks at the stucco-ed 1970s
exterior. It gets messy if you ask whether there are resources
underneath that have integrity. The city always supports the “one blind
date” approach, and there is never time for a second look, even though
we will soon have another vacant lot in the name of downtown
revitalization.

The city of Tucson historic preservation officer endorses this
“don’t look” approach. He is quickly becoming the Neville Chamberlain
of historic-preservation, given this endorsement and his recent support
of demolishing more than half of the Ghost Ranch Lodge on Miracle Mile
Road. We are told not to harbor any thoughts that this project could
become another Thrifty Block, since TEP is all ready to go and will be
bringing 300 employees. And it’s too big to fail.

The 1917 addition is constructed with reinforced concrete and
certainly could be reused, but TEP is taking the same stand with this
as it is the historic issue. Their preliminary plans choose demolition,
despite all the green issues regarding the energy used to make the
materials, build the 1917 addition and demolish the building. TEP wants
a shiny new green building, and one of the closing requirements
is that ever-important vacant lot when the deed is recorded.

A successful downtown revitalization needs to restore what made this
a major gathering spot for the Tucson community in decades past. There
is plenty of space on the site to accomplish this and allow the
headquarters for Tucson Electric Power. The 1917 addition could be
retained and restored for office use now, with design elements that
would allow residential use in the future. Could we actually plan for
future uses or expansions rather than mimic La Placita and other
downtown buildings with little flexibility for residential use? This
could be a great opportunity for future TEP employees who might like to
walk to work and have an urban experience. A new lobby could connect
the 1917 addition to the TEP building and serve as a
community-gathering spot, as did the original lobby of the Santa Rita
Hotel—a public lobby that is designed for people rather
than just as a passageway to the elevators as can be seen at the
UniSource Tower.

The original Santa Rita Hotel quickly became the place in
small-town Tucson during its grand opening in 1904. The two-story lobby
was a marble showplace that in later decades became famous as the site
of cattle auctions, with straw laid down before the cattle were checked
in. The Mission-Revival-designed hotel also featured a rooftop patio
where the community danced almost all night during special occasions.
This rooftop gathering spot could be brought back on the top of the new
lobby, or even the parking garage, as a completely “new” venue for
downtown.

Downtown revitalization is about incorporating the past with the
future, and constructing buildings that can be adapted for different
uses and desires for future urban experiences. This is not interfering
with private-property rights, but changing the mentality and egos of
our movers and shakers, elected or not.

The real tragedy is that except for the protection of a few landmark
buildings, we continue the very actions that have brought our downtown
to its knees.

This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2009.