Raze or revonate? It’s a fair question
Encroaching midtown growth puts pressure on State Fairgrounds
The Arizona State Fairgrounds have witnessed many of the most important moments of Arizona’s history. But it’s unclear if they will survive to be part of the state’s future.
Throughout its 134-year existence, the fairgrounds in midtown Phoenix have played host to some of the world’s most influential leaders, musical performers, professional sports teams and world-champion cowboys and cowgirls.
“This is, has been and should ever be a point of pride for the state,” said Don Ryden, a historic preservation architect.
But not everyone shares his affinity for the stretch of concrete and aging buildings on the northeast corner of 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.
In recent years, a growing number of complaints about the fairgrounds have surfaced as midtown Phoenix has become one of the Valley’s hottest areas for growth.
When the fair or other large events aren’t in progress, the grounds are a “dead zone” — an ugly “sea of parking,” according to neighbors. When the fair is in town, some who live and work nearby grumble about the noise, the traffic, the mess and the crowd the event draws.
Additionally, the buildings on the fairgrounds, many of which were built in the 1930s and 1940s, are aging and require major financial investments to get them back to full functionality. The Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board estimates it would take more than $16 million to remedy all of the issues on the grounds.
In 2014, the board nearly demolished arguably the most historically significant building on the fair-
grounds, which began discussions about the long-term plan for the property.
Gov. Doug Ducey added uncertainty about the fairgrounds’ future when he said last year he would be open to moving the State Fair to a new location.
Over the weekend, the Governor’s Office, fair board and state historic preservation office invited residents to participate in a four-day planning session to share ideas for the future of the fairgrounds.
While all participants said the grounds needed significant changes to remain viable, the vast majority of them — who were mostly neighbors in nearby historic districts, architects and preservation advocates — said they wanted the depression-era structures and the fair to stay.
“I think that the ideas that came out of there could breathe life into the fair if it stays in its current location,” state Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix, said.
Bob Graham, a Phoenix architect who specializes in historic preservation, said he believes the State Fair board wrongly assumed the surrounding neighborhoods don’t support the fair.
“They told us that they felt like they weren’t wanted,” Graham said. “I said, ‘Look, if you reached out to ... the historic neighborhoods, the preservation community and ... all these other groups, you’re going to find that we have a lot of people who are really interested in helping you. You’re not alone in this.’”
G.G. George, president of both the Encanto Citizens Association and Phoenix Historic Neighborhoods Coalition, said the neighbors want the State Fair to stay where it is — but they want the grounds beautified.
George recently wrote a book chronicling the history of the State Fair and said she’d like the depression-era buildings — or possibly the entire fairgrounds — placed on the National Register of Historic Places to ensure their longterm protection.
“We would hate to see the fair leave. We want to help the fair in any way that we can,” she said.
At the beginning of the seminar, participants were asked to take sticky notes and write down what they’d like to see in different areas on the grounds. Here’s a sampling of those ideas:
❚ “Buy out residents to east and make it bigger.”
❚ “Maintenance deferrals notwithstanding, the patina and character of the fairgrounds is as familiar and comfortable as Frasier’s dad’s recliner in the midst of its otherwise cosmopolitan surroundings. It has a therapeutic value that, though difficult to quantify, is of immense value and must be preserved.”
❚ “Garden space inside cattle barn during summer.”
❚ “Build parking garage.”
❚ “Why not introduce neighborhood retail in north portion.” ❚ “Murals.”
❚ “Grass field for dog training events/ classes.”
❚ “Meeting room space for community groups.”
❚ “Kill all the parking lots — connect to Grand Ave Streetcar line!”
❚ “Move ‘carney’ (sic) RVs to 19th Ave instead of near houses.”