INTRODUCTION
· MAP · REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS [1-62]
TIMELINE
· CREDITS
· DEDICATION · 3D
HOME
The founding and development of Tempe and its downtown is woven into the fabric of Arizona history. Modern settlement of the Salt River Valley began after the creation of Arizona Territory in 1864 and the subsequent establishment of Fort McDowell. Newly arrived Hispanic and Anglo farmers excavated the still visible canals and ditches left behind by the prehistoric Hohokam culture in order to irrigate their fields. Charles Trumbull Hayden, a merchant and freighter, passed through the area in 1868, en route from Tucson to Prescott, the territorial capital. Delayed by the flooding Salt River (Rio Salado), Hayden envisioned a ferry service and a milling enterprise. Hayden returned in 1871 to establish his ferry operation and build an adobe "hacienda" in the Sonoran tradition. By 1874 his water-powered flour mill was in operation and the foundations of a community in place.
 
Meanwhile, the Territorial Legislature, recognizing the need for higher education to serve the territory's growing populace, appropriated funds for the establishment of a normal school in Tempe. Founded in 1885, what is now Arizona State University has grown from humble beginnings to become a major institution of research and academics in the region and nation, as well as a major component in the vitality of the downtown and identity of the
community.
 
The arrival of the Phoenix & Eastern Railroad in 1888, connecting Phoenix and Tempe with the mainline to the south, combined with the establishment of the Normal School 3 years earlier, brought new opportunities for commerce and construction. The Tempe Land & Improvement Company was formed, land subdivided and the first fired-brick commercial and residential buildings were constructed. Victorian-style facades became popular with the availability of new materials and designs. "Hayden's Ferry" was incorporated in 1894 as the Town of Tempe and boasted a population of 500.
Farming continued to be the area's basic enterprise at the turn of the 20th century, yet was continually plagued by floods and droughts. Local farmers organized to form the Salt River Valley Water User's Association in 1903. Their efforts led to the organization of the Salt River Project and the securing of federal reclamation funding, resulting in the construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Completed in 1911, one year prior to Arizona's statehood, Roosevelt Dam assured the valley of a consistent supply of water - the essential ingredient to continued existence in this arid region.
 
Growth in the region was steady, but slow, throughout the early part of the century. Classical and Victorian architectural styles gradually gave way to Arts & Crafts, followed by Spanish Colonial Revival and Moderne. The depression years of the 1930's, followed by World War II, saw little development in the community. The cessation of hostilities in 1945 and the subsequent enactment of the G.I. Bill and FHA/VA housing legislation, combined to spur an unprecedented period of growth in the region, especially in Tempe. The invention and spread of air conditioning, together with the expansion of the Salt River Project system, also contributed mightily to the population "boom." The open-plan "ranch-style" house became the standard for the new subdivisions, while the easily designed and executed International or Modern style dominated commercial and institutional construction.
With growth, however, came detrimental consequences for downtown Tempe. As the community expanded outward, primarily to the south, from the original town site, the central business district declined. Businesses suffered as shopping centers, catering to residents of the new subdivisions, sprang up. Other facilities and institutions replaced those in the downtown as primary centers of activity. In addition, the 1959 designation of Mill Avenue as a state highway, followed by road widening and the removal or screening of portions of building facades, contributed to the deterioration and furthered the impression that downtown Tempe was a place to get through, not a destination to go to.
By 1968, the Tempe City Council faced a momentous decision. The need for expanded City facilities was obvious, but debate centered on the location for a new city hall. Sentiments were divided over redevelopment of the existing downtown property, or relocation to a more geographically central site at the southwest corner of Rural Road and Southern Avenue, adjacent to the new City library. Downtown was the selection, by the narrowest of margins. Completion of the strikingly modern Municipal Building in 1970 symbolized a commitment by the City Council to the revitalization of downtown Tempe and a desire to be seen as a progressive community. This commitment was bolstered in 1973 with the creation of the University-Hayden Butte Redevelopment Area and participation in the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program.
Although targeted for redevelopment, opinions varied as to the appropriate methodology for downtown Tempe. Many community leaders touted the wholesale demolition and replacement tactics of "urban renewal" employed by many cities in the 1950's and 60's. Others favored a hands-off approach. Ultimately, the "Par 3" strategy, proposed by a team of local architects, that called for the preservation of significant historic structures, combined with compatible new construction, was adopted. Public involvement, by such means as utilization of federal funds, tax credits and deferrals, generation of master plans and development concepts, and implementation of capital improvement projects, proved essential to the success of the redevelopment process.
Redevelopment has become the norm, rather than the exception, in Tempe, due to its "land-locked" situation. Completely surrounded by other municipalities and jurisdictions, Tempe, unlike most other valley communities, must continue to focus its efforts on revitalization, especially in the downtown, in order to maintain its economic base and enhance the quality of life for its residents. With the rehabilitation of key historic buildings, the development of mixed-use centers that incorporate retail, commercial and residential uses, and coordinated management and promotion, the downtown has become a destination for shopping, dining, living, working, socializing, recreating and enjoying arts and events. Over 3 million square feet of retail, restaurant, office and residential space has been added to the downtown since 1973, with an equal amount proposed. It is estimated that Tempe has received more than a 50-to-1 return on investment in the downtown. Annual sales have skyrocketed from around $12,000,000 to $160,000,000, while employment has soared from a few hundred to over 9,000.
3 Decades of Development: The Tempe Downtown Redevelopment Guide
is an illustrated history of the rebirth and regeneration of downtown Tempe as the functional and symbolic heart of the community. It is intended that this Guide, in addition to chronicling Tempe's redevelopment efforts and plans to-date, will be a primer for future successes.
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