New sign at Stone & Drachman in midtown Tucson.
A Pima County Superior Court judge has temporarily halted the Pima Community College District Board’s demolition and asbestos abatement of three motels, including the Tucson Inn.
The decision follows claims by the Arizona Preservation Foundation and the Tucson Historical Preservation Foundation that the demolition would violate state preservation laws. Initially, the judge allowed the abatement to continue, but attorney Benjamin Rundall, who represents the preservation groups, argued that abatement activities were crossing the line.
“They're removing key parts of these hotels that are necessary for their historic identity and recognition,” Rundall told AZPM News.
According to their filings, the board’s actions looked to be “the first step of demolition, not merely abatement.”
“Premature removal of key architectural elements such as doors, windows, and roofing materials could significantly compromise the Drachman Hotels’ historic integrity, creating challenges and issues of authenticity for future preservation or restoration.”
In response, the judge revised the order to pause all abatement until the case can be argued in court later this week.
The college purchased the properties years ago to expand its campus, but restoring the buildings would cost $35 million—a price they say is too high. The college also maintains there’s no legal requirement to preserve the structures, despite calls from the community to save them.
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