Attachment B - Staff Report - PreserveHistoricPHX 2025.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2025-12-03)

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Staff Report: Historic Preservation Plan – PreserveHistoricPHX2025 
May 22, 2025 
INTRODUCTION 
The first comprehensive plan for historic preservation in the city of Phoenix was adopted 
in 2015. PreserveHistoricPHX2025 provides the opportunity to assess the 
achievements made after the adoption of the original plan, new challenges as well as 
new opportunities to advance historic preservation in Phoenix. A copy of the draft 
version of PreserveHistoricPHX2025 can be accessed here: PreserveHistoricPHX | City 
of Phoenix.  
STAFF REQUEST 
Staff requests that the Village Planning Committees review and provide comments 
regarding the draft Historic Preservation Plan, PreserveHistoricPHX2025, and 
recommend its approval. 
BACKGROUND 
The city commissioned the preeminent historic preservation data analysis firm 
PlaceEconomics to conduct stakeholder meetings to identify challenges and create a 
series of recommendations to advance historic preservation in Phoenix based on 
practices occurring across the country. The city began a public engagement effort 
based on the findings of this PlaceEconomics study with a series of public meetings and 
a publicly posted survey from fall of 2023 through summer of 2024 to evaluate the 
relevancy of the original 2015 goals and to set priorities for the next decade.  
The City Archaeology Office played an important role in developing recommendations 
for PreserveHistoricPHX2025 because archaeology is a key component of historic 
preservation. The city of Phoenix Historic Preservation Ordinance – Chapter 8 of the 
Zoning Ordinance – mandates the identification and preservation of archaeological 
resources and the recognition that “archaeological resources found on public land are 
the property of all citizens and are not private property. Archaeological resources found 
on City-owned lands are the property of the City.” (§802.B.2(c)) 
These engagement efforts revealed that the original five goals of the 2015 plan continue 
to have relevance:  
1. Protect Archaeological Resources
2. Protect Historic Resources
3. Explore Preservation Incentives
4. Develop Community Awareness
Attachment B

Staff Report: Historic Preservation Plan 
May 22, 2025 
Page 2 of 2 
5. Promote Partnerships 
Stakeholders helped prioritize the potential tools and incentives to help achieve the five 
goals for the creation of the PreserveHistoricPHX2025 draft plan. The goals and tools 
can be found starting on page 54 of the draft plan.  
PreserveHistoricPHX2025 is intended as a more specific plan to augment 
PlanPHX2025 and to protect and promote the historic and archaeological resources of 
Phoenix. 
PROJECT TIMELINE 
Below is the tentative timeline set for PreserveHistoricPHX2025. 
 
 
DATE 
Encanto Village Planning Committee 
6/2/2025 
Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee 
6/2/2025 
Camelback East Village Planning Committee 
6/3/2025 
Desert View Village Planning Committee 
6/3/2025 
Central City Village Planning Committee 
6/9/2025 
Laveen Village Planning Committee 
6/9/2025 
Rio Vista Village Planning Committee 
6/10/2025 
South Mountain Village Planning Committee 
6/10/2025 
Maryvale Village Planning Committee 
6/11/2025 
North Gateway Village Planning Committee 
6/12/2025 
Deer Valley Village Planning Committee 
6/17/2025 
Estrella Village Planning Committee 
6/17/2025 
North Mountain Village Planning Committee 
6/18/2025 
Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee 
6/23/2025 
Alhambra Village Planning Committee 
6/24/2025 
Historic Preservation Committee Meeting 
7/21/2025 
Planning Commission 
8/7/2025 
CC Subcommittee (Transportation, Infrastructure & Planning) 
9/17/2025 
City Council Meeting 
10/15/2025 
CONCLUSION 
Staff requests that the Village Planning Committees review and provide comments 
regarding the attached draft of PreserveHistoricPHX and recommend its approval.  
WRITER/TEAM LEADER 
Helana Ruter 
5/22/2025