Relic Home may be spared
I thought this article may be of interest to any of you historic home lovers in the Valley. Owning a historic landmark myself (check out our other blog), the Titus House, I am very exited about the future plans to preserve the Farmer-Goodwin House.
Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
An effort to save a 122-year-old Tempe mansion includes plans to build 10 swank townhouses next door to the adobe landmark. A Phoenix architecture firm would move into the Farmer-Goodwin House once the renovations are complete.
Those are early details of the plan, which is a joint effort between an Ahwatukee Foothills couple and Cox James Architects. They submitted a site plan for the project Tuesday.
This is the best shot for saving the Farmer-Goodwin House, the project's backers say.
Those are early details of the plan, which is a joint effort between an Ahwatukee Foothills couple and Cox James Architects. They submitted a site plan for the project Tuesday.
This is the best shot for saving the Farmer-Goodwin House, the project's backers say.
The 1883 adobe was Arizona State University's first dormitory and was the home of its first president. The house is named after two of its most famous occupants: Hiram Bradford Farmer, principal of the school that evolved into ASU, and James C. Goodwin, a businessman who served in the Arizona Territorial Legislature and later the state legislature.
When the property was up for sale last winter, preservationists worried that a new owner wouldn't preserve the house. Though the landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register, city officials could only delay demolition, not stop it.
Enter Doug and Patricia Bruhn. The couple, who own a Phoenix commercial furniture business, bought the Farmer-Goodwin House and a house next door for $1.3 million this year. They plan to build and sell the townhouses to help bankroll the mansion's renovation. The three-story, 2,200-square-foot townhouses would resemble the Farmer Goodwin mansion and sell for more than $500,000 apiece. The renovation could cost up to $300,000, Doug Bruhn said.
Moving into the Farmer-Goodwin House would be a dream come true, said Brian Cox, president of Cox James Architects.
"I looked at it and fell in love with the idea that this would be a neat place to have our office," said the Tempe resident and ASU alum.
When the property was up for sale last winter, preservationists worried that a new owner wouldn't preserve the house. Though the landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register, city officials could only delay demolition, not stop it.
Enter Doug and Patricia Bruhn. The couple, who own a Phoenix commercial furniture business, bought the Farmer-Goodwin House and a house next door for $1.3 million this year. They plan to build and sell the townhouses to help bankroll the mansion's renovation. The three-story, 2,200-square-foot townhouses would resemble the Farmer Goodwin mansion and sell for more than $500,000 apiece. The renovation could cost up to $300,000, Doug Bruhn said.
Moving into the Farmer-Goodwin House would be a dream come true, said Brian Cox, president of Cox James Architects.
"I looked at it and fell in love with the idea that this would be a neat place to have our office," said the Tempe resident and ASU alum.
Some residents who've heard about the plan are happy that the house will be preserved, but others are wary about the townhouses.
The project will encourage other tall condo projects to creep into the Mitchell Park East neighborhood, said PD Lucier.
The Farmer-Goodwin House is 33 feet tall, and the townhouses are 36 feet tall.
"The density is beyond what we have envisioned for the property," Lucier said.
Tall, mature trees are one of the hallmarks of the Mitchell Park East, she said. They mute the height of the Farmer-Goodwin House and cool the neighborhood during brutal Arizona summers. The townhouses will probably have little or no vegetation, Lucier said.
"If it's a choice between the house and a 30-foot building," she said. "I don't know if there's enough history in that house."
The plan goes before the Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 13.
The project will encourage other tall condo projects to creep into the Mitchell Park East neighborhood, said PD Lucier.
The Farmer-Goodwin House is 33 feet tall, and the townhouses are 36 feet tall.
"The density is beyond what we have envisioned for the property," Lucier said.
Tall, mature trees are one of the hallmarks of the Mitchell Park East, she said. They mute the height of the Farmer-Goodwin House and cool the neighborhood during brutal Arizona summers. The townhouses will probably have little or no vegetation, Lucier said.
"If it's a choice between the house and a 30-foot building," she said. "I don't know if there's enough history in that house."
The plan goes before the Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 13.