By
Lora J. Mackel
We see crumbling buildings around us all the time. Boarded-up convenience stores, old shopping centers and dilapidated houses are everywhere in this city, which might lead people to believe they are all equal in value.
Most people react like developers do: They want to tear down the old structures and build something shiny, new and of course, profitable. But there is a flaw in this way of thinking because many of the buildings and properties that are marked for destruction have significant historical value. It is important, therefore, for communities to get involved in preserving their history by carefully considering each building's destruction and allotting funds to protect historic buildings.
Tucson is getting better at preserving its history. The Fox Theater project is a prime example of how community involvement can save significant landmarks. The Fox Theater is a committee effort, but for every joint effort, there are even more individuals who take up the burden and cost of historic preservation themselves. Nearly all the bed and breakfasts downtown have been bought and renovated by individuals, and it is only thanks to their efforts that these buildings have survived to be enjoyed by the next generation of Tucsonans. Organizations like the Historical Society have also had a hand in keeping the history of Old Tucson alive, but there is still plenty to be done. Occasionally the city of Tucson intervenes.
Currently, the city of Tucson is considering buying two properties in the historic Fort Lowell district. The properties are privately owned and are scheduled for sale and development in the very near future. These two properties include two fort warehouses and three officers' quarters, one of which is intact. To the untrained eye these properties look like useless crumbling adobe buildings on plots of land, but to the experts these structures illuminate the Army's Indian Policy in the West during the late 19th century. The actual values of these properties have been assessed in the millions, but their historical value cannot be measured.
To some, the idea of using millions of tax dollars to buy dilapidated buildings seems foolish and wasteful. But it is not - investing city money in these properties could yield plenty in educational dividends. Tucson already owns some buildings that were built for the Army, and operates a tiny museum on the Fort Lowell Park property. If the city bought more of the properties, they could expand their museum and open the area up to excavation and scholarly pursuits. Their findings could be put to good use in educating people on the Indian Wars of the late 19th century. This period of our nation's history is nothing to be proud of, but it merits study nonetheless.
Of course, in these preservation issues, the concerns of the surrounding residents should always be considered. The city does not have unlimited funds to put toward preservation. If the public at large is not interested in preserving a historical building, then small groups might try to organize a preservation effort. The Fort Lowell case, however, is a perfect case in which the city and the community should involve themselves. Fort Lowell residents have joined en masse to urge the city to preserve the sites, and they deserve as much community support as they can get.
In the end, the issue of historical preservation boils down to a question of what our community finds valuable. Some people will certainly settle on the side of progress and development. But it is dangerous to approach everything from that perspective.
As clichˇ as the phrase is, it is true that those who are unmindful of the past are doomed to repeat its failures. There have been plenty of failures as well as triumphs in our city, and they deserve to be studied and preserved.
