Pieces of the terra cotta brick facade have been falling off the Pima County Legal Services Building in downtown Tucson recently.
No one has been hurt.
The county will begin construction later this week of scaffolding along the sidewalks in front of the building at 32 N. Stone Ave., just north of East Congress Street to protect pedestrians.
A similar structure will be in place above the patio of the Nook restaurant next door at 1 E. Congress St.
It’s unclear why the bricks have been falling off of the nearly 60-year-old building. The county has hired consultants to examine the building’s west and south sides.
The 20-story skyscraper, designed by Tucson architect Lew Place, was first used as the headquarters of Home Federal Savings and Loan.
Pima County bought the property in 1987.
It would seem that Bud Howton was not one to be bothered by heights. On Feb. 10, 1972, he made his monthly check of the lights on the time and temperature sign atop the Tucson Federal Savings Tower. The 20-story building, at 32 N. Stone Ave., is now occupied by Pima County Legal Services.
View of Tucson from the top floor of the then Tucson Federal Savings and Loan tower at 32 N Stone Ave. Photo is looking east with the Hotel Congress just right of center. The photo was taken on October 26, 1966.
This is a view of the proposed urban renewal area that included La Placita Plaza which was later built to the left of the gazebo which is left of center. The view is from the then Tucson Federal Savings Tower. The photo was taken on June 15, 1965.
Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Looking south on Stone Ave from Alameda St. The Wells Fargo Bank, Pioneer Hotel and Tucson Federal Savings building.
Photos: Downtown Tucson Then and Now
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Stone Ave in Tucson, including Arizona Land and Title, Pima Savings, Jacome's and Steinfelds, looking south from Alameda Street from the northeast corner in 1962.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Alameda Street and North Stone Avenue in Tucson looking south from the roof of the county building at 200 N Stone on Thursday, November 7, 2013. The old department stores (Jacome's and Penney's) were replaced by the central library and plaza. Steinfeld's was replaced by the Bank of America tower.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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ARCHIVE PHOTO --- Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Looking south on Stone Ave from Alameda St. The Wells Fargo Bank, Pioneer Hotel and Tucson Federal Savings building.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The Wells Fargo Bank, Pioneer Building and Pima County Public Defender's Office on Stone Avenue looking south near Alameda Street in downtown Tucson.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings on S. Stone taken June 1965 from the East side of the street, looking North.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the view of One East Broadway at Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard looking northeast with the Chase building in the background. The plans for the building are to have commercial businesses on the ground level with office space in the upper floors. The offices for the Regional Transportaition Authority or RTA and the Pima Association of Government or PAG are expected to occupy space in the building.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The Westerner Hotel, which opened in 1949, on the southeast corner of Stone Ave and Broadway Road in 1965. The building was converted for office use.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The former Westerner Hotel building on Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard looking Southeast.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings on Broadway and Stone taken June 1965.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a photo of Stone Avenue looking south toward Broadway Boulevard.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Standard Oil gas station and Albert Steinfeld Hardware at 100 block of N. Stone in 1957. They were demolished to build J.C. Penney building. It is now the main library plaza.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the northwest corner of Stone Avenue and Pennington Street and the main library plaza in Tucson.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Citizen Photo S.H. Kress Co. 44 N. Stone temporary location while construction of new Kress store at 97 E. Congress. Formerly Montgomery Ward Store. No information on Langers Florists picture taken 1955.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the corner of Stone Avenue and Pennington Street looking southeast. It is currently used as the University of Arizona Downtown facility housing the College of Architecture Planning and Landscape Architecture.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Northeast corner of 6th Ave. and Congress Street in Tucson in 1965, including Dee's Shoes, Nationwide Finance, Johnny Gibson's Gym Equipment and the Manhattan bar. It's now the Ronstadt Transit Center.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Congress looking northeast at the Ronstadt Transit Center.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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6th Avenue and Broadway Road in June, 1965, including the back of the Santa Rita Hotel (right), Nick's Liquors, Western Union, the Roosevelt Hotel and Danny's Cafe.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Broadway, part of which was the site of the Roosevelt Hotel and Santa Rita Hotel and now the home of Tucson Electric Power in downtown Tucson.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the parking lot at 35 E. Pennington, the site of the "new Woolworth Building" in May, 1956.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a photo of the Chase Building looking south through a parking lot on East Pennington Street from the front doors of City High School at 48 E Pennington St.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The Bank of Douglas at Alameda and Stone taken 1958.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court building on the corner of Stone Avenue and Alameda Street looking southeast.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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ARCHIVE PHOTO --- Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Tucson Citizen file photo.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the intersection of Broadway and Sixth Avenue looking northwest.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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ARCHIVE PHOTO --- Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Dial Loans the the old Federal Courthouse on Broadway, east of Stone Ave. Tucson Citizen file photo.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a photo of One East Broadway in downtown Tucson on Broadway Boulevard and Stone Avenue looking east toward the Walsh Federal Courthouse. The plans for the building are to have commercial businesses on the ground level with office space in the upper floors. The offices for the Regional Transportaition Authority or RTA and the Pima Association of Government or PAG are expected to occupy space in the building.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Dave Bloom and Sons men's clothing at the northwest corner 6th Ave and Congress in 1956. The company moved to that location in 1931.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the exterior of the Hydra store which at one time was the Dave Bloom and Sons store on Congress St and Sixth Avenue.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Aaronson Brothers Apparel Store at Congress and 6th Ave. Now the Chicago Store.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This a photograph of the Chicago Store on Congress and Sixth Avenue looking west.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings taken May 1953, including Stein's clothing and Leed's Shoes and Souther Arizona Bank and Trust.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the northeast corner of Congress Street and Stone Avenue looking northeast, including the empty US Bank and Pima County Public Defender's Office, formerly the Tucson Federal Savings building.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The Fox Theatre in downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a photo of the Fox Theatre on Congress Street and Stone Avenue toward the north on Thursday, October 24, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The MacArthur Hotel at 500 E. Toole Ave. in 1965.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is the MacArthur Building on Toole Avenue and Pennington Street.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings taken June 1965. Scott Ave looking south from Pennington St toward Congress.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a photo of North Scott Avenue, north of Congress Street.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Perkins Motor Co. , pictured in 1955, at the northwest corner of Stone and Alameda occupied the site for 15 years until it was demolished to make way for the Arizona Land Title Building, which was converted to Pima County Public Works Center in early 2000s.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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The Pima County Public Works Center on the northwest corner of Stone Avenue and Alameda Street.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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Downtown Tucson buildings on Pennington Street looking west from Scott Ave towards Stone Ave, ca. 1960. Pennington Drugs is at left.
Downtown Tucson Then and Now
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This is a view of the Pioneer Building, right, on East Pennington and Scott Avenue looking west.
