An appeals court has temporarily stopped Pima Community College from razing three historic Tucson motels that need expensive renovations, in a ruling Monday that gives preservationists time to appeal a lower court’s decision in PCC’s favor.
The college has until Jan. 15 to respond to the preservationists’ petition, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled.
This decision came about a month after Pima County Superior Court Judge Brenden J. Griffin rejected the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation’s bid for a preliminary injunction blocking the demolition.
The PCC Governing Board unanimously voted in November against restoring the motels for a cost of $35.7 million, and to instead demolish them at an estimated cost of $500,000 while trying to preserve the motels’ neon signs.
Three of those board members, Luis Gonzales, Wade McLean and Maria D. Garcia, lost their reelection bids on Nov. 5 and are being replaced this month by Karla Morales, Nicole Barraza and Kristen Randall. The other members are Theresa Riel and Greg Taylor.
A block party was held Dec. 12 to celebrate the lighting of the Tucson Inn sign near Pima Community College's downtown campus. The sign's restoration started as part of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation's Neon Sign Project.
Wednesday's event, hosted by the PCC Governing Board, featured a preview of the lit sign, which is set to be full operational in early 2023. Video by Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star.
“We hope the newly elected and just seated board takes action to pause the demolition and legitimately collaborates with the community stakeholders,” said Demion Clinco, CEO of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation and a former PCC Governing Board chair, “to find a solution that saves the buildings or designates/rezones them a local city historic landmark and sells them to the public or private sector for redevelopment.”
PCC said in a statement Tuesday, “The College has been transparent and diligent in determining the best path forward for these properties. We thoroughly explored preservation and redevelopment options, issued a Request for Proposals to attract viable private-sector partners, and engaged extensively with community stakeholders. Despite these good-faith efforts, no financially sustainable or mission-aligned alternative emerged.”
The 1940s-’50s era motels — the Tucson Inn, Frontier Motel and Copper Cactus — are on Drachman Street north of downtown Tucson and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
They were purchased by the college in 2018 and 2019, while Clinco was on the PCC board, at costs of more than $1 million for the Tucson Inn and about $1.3 million for the Frontier Motel and Copper Cactus.
“These properties are quintessentially Tucson,” said Clinco after the board’s demolition decision in November. “Their neon signs, particularly the Tucson Inn’s, have been featured on the cover of the travel section of the New York Times.”
The Tucson Inn, far left, Copper Cactus Inn, middle, and the Frontier Motel along West Drachman Street north of downtown Tucson.
Preservation groups filed a lawsuit against the college in December, which led Griffin to initially pause the demolition to hear arguments on both sides before he eventually rejected the preliminary injunction bid.
Griffin’s December decision was based on his finding that PCC is a “political subdivision,” not a “state agency” subject to state laws on preserving historic properties.
Clinco has said the preservationists are appealing because, “Ultimately, we believe that Pima Community College is subject to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act and has responsibilities under the law to consult with the State Historic Preservation Office and protect these resources.”
Over the years, the college considered possible uses for the properties, including a culinary and hospitality program; a diversity, equity and inclusion center; a teaching and learning center; an innovation center; or an education technology lab, with cost estimates ranging up to $35.7 million.
In addition to the financial burden, PCC has said, the abandoned properties pose “significant safety risks” including “ongoing incidents of break-ins, thefts, a fire, graffiti and illegal squatting.”
“Every dollar spent defending against extended legal challenges is a dollar not invested in our students and community. We remain committed to ensuring safety, fiscal responsibility, and the prudent use of public funds, and we continue to seek a resolution that allows us to uphold these values and advance our educational mission,” the PCC board said in a statement Tuesday.
