In a bid to salvage slices of its past, Phoenix is betting big bucks on breathing new life into two historic landmarks. The Phoenix City Council has greenlit sizable grants aimed at refurbishing a pair of downtown relics, the Yaun Ah Gim Groceries property and the former First Baptist Church, now known as Monroe Street Abbey. These funding initiatives mark a clear nod to preserving the district's architectural heritage amid urban renewal.
The Council, on May 1, rubber-stamped a $200,000 grant for the Yaun Ah Gim Groceries property rehabilitation, designated for a facelift of the 1920s building. Omar Fabian, a south Phoenix dweller and the property's current custodian, intends to transform the 850-square-foot market and adjacent residential structure into new housing and a community space, according to the Phoenix Business Journal. In exchange for the funds, a 30-year conservation easement has been secured, ensuring the property's preservation.
Meanwhile, the Monroe Street Abbey, a phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes of the First Baptist Church, snagged a $137,000 grant for essential restorations. The project helmed by former mayor Terry Goddard, spearheads the efforts to reinvent the space, which was severely damaged by fire in the 1980s, into a vibrant events hub complete with planned restaurant and retail space. The latest grant earmarks funds for extensive structural repairs, safeguarding a piece of the city's spiritual history.
Furthers, the city previously heaped $82,156 in 2015 to patch up the church's roof, with a 25-year conservation easement in tow. That agreement was later bolstered by an additional $200,000 grant in 2019, in tandem with, another 30-year easement. With the 2024 allotment, the building's protection is now set to stand until 2096, a decision reflective of its construction in 1929 and the urban fabric it weaves, reported by ABC15.
Both projects are symptomatic of a broader urban trend where cities are seeking to juxtapose the old with the new – repurposing structures that encapsulate local history within modern development narratives. As these historical gems undergo restoration, they stand testament to Phoenix's commitment to honor its past even as the cityscape continues to evolve.
