By Barbara Andersen · 24 October 2016
If you love old houses like I do, you probably had a few tears in your eyes this week as you drove by 3rd Street and Northern Avenue in north central Phoenix. A house built in 1914 was being demolished. I got to tour it a few weeks ago, and it was in very bad shape. But there is something in me that always wants to see an old house preserved rather than torn down. This house was originally a two bedroom, one bath house with a formal living room, dining room and kitchen. The living room had a fireplace and built in bookcases. Both of the formal rooms had wonderful, decorative hand painting on the beams in the ceiling. Over the years a large family room, dining room, entry hall and bathroom had been added. No one had lived there for at least ten years so you can imagine the condition. Rumor is that there will be a new house built on the third of an acre lot. Look for it to be for sale next year.
This got me thinking about the old houses we still have in Phoenix. Did you know we have 35 Historic Districts? If this house had been in one of those Districts, it could not have been torn down or even externally remodeled without the permission of the city of Phoenix. This house was far outside even the closest Historic District, which is Medlock Place near 7th Avenue and Missouri. When this house was built it was way beyond the city limits, but today it is probably near the middle. If you want an historic house to live in, there are some trade-offs. You will probably get a larger lot with mature landscaping, but you will pay more for less square footage. You will get the convenience of traveling to downtown events easily, but you will also get the challenge of old plumbing and wiring.
Make your choice, but realize that Phoenix has far fewer historic homes than other cities its size. In my professional opinion, that means these homes increase in value faster than new homes.
First published in The Bodeen Team’s quarterly client newsletter, Third Quarter 2016.