Back in 1923, an eccentric chap named George Phar Legler decided to build a fantasyland on scrub desert near the Rillito River. Ten years and thousands of stones later, his Valley of the Moon—inspired by the then-popular Spiritualism movement—opened as a quirky crescendo of serpentine paths, towering grottos, and a “wizard tower” high atop the rocky ramparts.
Calling himself the Old Mountain Gnome, Legler wandered his beguiling garden up through the mid-1960s, entertaining local families with lithe tales of magical hijinks. But today, folks hoping to preserve this clever outpost have run smack into the fact that City Hall is no enchanted forest, and even nimble fairies can get tangled in red tape.
Although Valley of the Moon is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preservationists hoped to gain added protection with the Valley’s designation as a local Historic Landmark.
Sounds simple, right? Think again.
Now the shoestring-budgeted George Phar Legler Memorial Society may be forced to lawyer-up. Even with help from the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, the landmark application is bogged down at City Hall. Here’s why: Tucson’s new landmark designation ordinance sends candidates—Valley of the Moon is the first—through a standard rezoning process, as if they were just another Walmart hoping to subsume just another neighborhood. And that means any neighbor with half a gripe can come out to holler.
So, Valley of the Moon is now bottled up with the city’s zoning examiner, who pledges to sit on it until the antique fantasy park agrees to onerous demands from a few nearby residents. The next examiner’s hearing is tonight.
Ultimately, the Mayor and City Council may just tweak the ordinance that caused this kerfuffle. At least that’s what Ward 3 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich has in mind. She actually helped draft the law which, she concedes, proffers a few unforeseen consequences. She has the topic up for a Mayor and Council study-session chat next week.
“It’s obvious to me that the intention of the Mayor and Council was to offer a path for historic designation
for
these kinds of assets,” Uhlich says. “But having the ordinance crafted as it is, these things just get tossed into the normal rezoning process. It should be more of an incentive model than a rezoning model.”
Or maybe it’s just time for the wizard to descend from his tower and raise a little hell.
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2015.
So what are the onerous demands?
I agree with jpk – what are the onerous demands? A little more time reporting please, and less time thinking of creative fairy-tale metaphors. “City Hall is no enchanted forest, and even nimble fairies can get tangled in red tape” Seriously?
Weird how this article says the neighbors have “onerous demands,” but doesn’t say what they are. I remember Valley of the Moon being a fun, trippy place, but’s I also remember it being in a quiet, mellow neighborhood. That can be a bad combination. If the neighbors are complaining about traffic, noise, trash and other problems typical of busy places near residential areas (I’m reminded of an old dance hall I used to live about 100 feet from, whose owners sometimes rented it out for events), I would hope the city would take them into account in a rezoning. I mean, why invite neighbors to a hearing if you have no intention of addressing their concerns?
It’s a good neighborhood. And not precious. Much of this does have to do with legitimate concerns about noise control, parking, and litter. Nothing particularly onerous.
Duh… why is this an issue. Address the “neighbors” concerns with solutions. Valley of the Moon has been there LONG BEFORE any of them moved in from somewhere else. I remember. We all have lived next to 4th Ave street fair, The Greek festival. Tucson meet yourself. Adjust. IT IS A UNIQUE TUCSON TRADITION. MOVE IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT
Disappointing response, freedance. And worthy of some of the right-wingers who troll these waters. I urge restraint in the use of all caps. As a resident, I can only speak for myself regarding the Valley of the Moon. While it’s not my cup of tea (I prefer the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas, it’s less Hobbit-ty) I have no problem having it in the neighborhood. It adds funk. That said, there is nothing wrong with expecting the Valley to be as responsible as any other resident. If the demands are truly onerous (something Vanderpool neglects to detail) then I’ll stand with the Valley. But if they’re being taken to task for failing to control and clean up after the crowds they draw (and make money from) then my sympathies are elsewhere.