Structure gets support:

Melrose Liquors, an iconic drive-through liquor store built in 1957 in Phoenix’s Melrose District, wins a reprieve from destruction, at least for the time being. The building owner withdraws its request to demolish the structure after a public outcry in t

A 1957 drive-through liquor store some call an icon in Phoenix’s Melrose District is getting a reprieve from destruction — at least for now.

Melrose Liquors owner P.B. Bell withdrew its request Monday to demolish the building after a public outcry in the past few weeks.

The decision came at a special meeting of the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission for one of the city’s oldest drive-through liquor stores continuously in operation. The pink-and-green structure is an example of exaggerated, cartoonish “Googie” architecture.

P.B. Bell wanted to replace it with a dog park and parking lot for residents of a 204-unit apartment complex the developer is building next door. Nearly 1,400 people signed an online petition in support of saving the store.

The company has heard from a variety of people interested in saving or reusing the building in the past week, when the commission first considered the site’s fate, said Mike Trueman, vice president of development.

P.B. Bell will pause to look at those options and see what’s best for the apartment project and neighborhood, he said.

Indeed, at Monday’s meeting, two people separately offered to buy the building. They presented plans for rehabilitating it and adding businesses in an area known for vintage stores and shops.

Last week, the commission decided the liquor store near Seventh and Glenrosa avenues is worthy of city historic status. Members voted to start the process of protecting the building, which requires extra steps before receiving a demolition permit.

That designation is abandoned for now, the commission decided Monday. Without a pending teardown, the decision brings the building to “net zero” to find a solution, members said.

The commission could restart the historic-protection process if destruction again becomes a possibility.

Stacey Champion, who started the online petition to prevent demolition, told the commission she was “feeling positive.” Community members were concerned about losing interesting architecture in the Melrose District and the neighborhood’s other charms.

“The minute we start letting buildings like this one go, I would say, ‘What’s next?’” Champion said.

Historic preservationists called the decision a win for recent changes to Phoenix’s demolition process. A 30-day hold now applies to the city’s older buildings.

The goal is to give developers and community members time to reflect on plans and look for solutions before a significant building is gone.

“I think this is exactly what the process is intended to be,” said Adam Baugh, a land-use attorney representing the project.

Revoking the demolition permit application and pending historic protection gives everyone a chance to “hit the pause” and look for a new plan, Baugh said.

“The minute we start letting buildings like this one go, I would say, ‘What’s next?’ ” STACEY CHAMPION INITIATOR OF ONLINE PETITION TO SAVE THE MELROSE LIQUORS STRUCTURE