In the heart of South Phoenix, a slice of local history is being seasoned with modern utility. Omar Fabian, a Phoenix native, has his sights set on breathing new life into the former Yaun Ah Gim Groceries. This storied property, a nod to the city's Chinese immigrant past, is eyed for transformation into studio apartments and potentially a community space or food market, according to ABC15 News. "I've had my eye on this project for a long time," Fabian, who is also a local school district employee, told the news outlet.
Not far behind, the Historic Hill Street School, an over-century-old schoolhouse in Globe, is preparing to school the area in affordable housing, this time for those aged 55 and up. Positioned in Globe, a mining town with a considerable portion of its population over the retirement age and living under the poverty line, the project is seen as a lifeline by many. Globe Mayor Al Gameros said in a statement obtained by the Arizona Central that "This project will add much-needed housing and will save a historic building that was previously deteriorating."
Fabian's plan for the Phoenix property extends beyond mere housing; the former market could morph into an art gallery, bringing a cultural heartbeat back to the locale. In concert with these revitalization efforts in Globe, the old schoolhouse's basketball court will be reinvented as a multi-purpose community space, with the project set for completion in fall 2024.
Both projects tap into a well of government assistance and tax credits, embodying ambitious adaptive reuse ventures. In Globe, the project flaunts a steep $21 million price tag, stitched together with federal and state aid, said Gorman & Co.'s Arizona market president Sally Schwenn. Taking advantage of available funding, including a generous ladle of American Rescue Act dollars, has become a cornerstone in the project's fruition. Not only keeping alive the structure's historical essence is the goal but also providing affordable living options. "We’re trying to keep what we can of the original," Schwenn stated in an interview with the Arizona Central.
As Phoenix and Globe embrace their past, repurposing these relics into spaces for living and community engagement, the residents await with bated breath to see how these transformations will serve their cities' futures and honor their histories.
