Melrose Drive-Through Liquor store to be demolished (Phoenix: appointed, neighborhood)

[New Horizons]

Yet another mid-century treasure slated for demolition:

Pink Phoenix liquor store set for demolition, neighbors upset - ABC15 Arizona

I'm afraid over time Phoenix is going to lose what little character it does have. What a classic little gem from the 1950's. A place where a working stiff can walk or bike to, and seek a little relief after a hard day's work.

You know, Los Angeles's land value has certainly skyrocketed, and yet they seem to be able to hold onto their landmarks. Case in point: the Pink Elephant liquor store in Hollywood, where famous writer Charles Bukowski used to get his fix at:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1045...8i6656!6m1!1e1

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by New Horizons

Yet another mid-century treasure slated for demolition:

Pink Phoenix liquor store set for demolition, neighbors upset - ABC15 Arizona

I'm afraid over time Phoenix is going to lose what little character it does have. What a classic little gem from the 1950's. A place where a working stiff can walk or bike to, and seek a little relief after a hard day's work.

You know, Los Angeles's land value has certainly skyrocketed, and yet they seem to be able to hold onto their landmarks. Case in point: the Pink Elephant liquor store in Hollywood, where famous writer Charles Bukowski used to get his fix at:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1045...8i6656!6m1!1e1

Dang it all.

[exit2lef]

I disagree. Here's the text of the email I sent to Mayor Stanton and Vice-mayor Pastor:

I am disappointed to learn that an online petition has been started urging city leaders to intervene to save the Melrose Liquor store from demolition. In recent years, I have been proud to support historic preservation efforts related to the David and Gladys Wright House, as well as other equally significant structures. This misguided effort to preserve an undistinguished eyesore on the Melrose Curve is, however, a case of preservationism taken too far.

The liquor store is not only an unattractive and poorly maintained building, it is also a drive-through business surrounded by surface parking. Such a design encourages driving over other modes of transport and creates a hot, unappealing space for pedestrians walking nearby. This is not the type of environment Phoenix needs in its urban core, especially near the light rail corridor and within the footprint of the Reinvent PHX initiative.

The developer that owns the land has proposed replacing the store with a pocket park. That is the type of thinking that Phoenix should embrace. Scattered green spaces amid multi-story housing is an appropriate blend for a high traffic corridor such as 7th Avenue. In evaluating this issue, I urge you to consider a long term vision of the type of city Phoenix should become rather than misguided nostalgia for buildings that are merely old rather than truly historic.

[wit-nit]

That liquor store looks disgustingly run down & a neighborhood eyesore. A detriment to the area of the new buildings. If the people want a liquor store there then tear it down and ask the developer to build a new one into the corner area of the new building.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

Agreed. Choose your battles folks. Not everything old is "historic."

[Ponderosa]

I am not familiar with the place but saw the story on TV. The place is ugly, an eyesore. The paint is peeling, there are bars on the windows and weeds in the lot. There is nothing historic about it.

[JGMotorsport64]

It's definitely quirky. But the design is bad for walking, which we need to encourage. I'm sure I, like most people, have seen this building in passing but never thought about it til just now.

This one should be let go. It's just a pink block shack built at a time when the urban plan for this area was different.

[KurtAZ]

Well..on one hand, I kind of see the local resident's stand...it has been there for 50+ years and no one likes change. On the other hand, it is a 50+ year old cinder block liquor store that the land developer owns. Why, exactly, are the residents trying to save it? I would think that with the re-development going on in Melrose they would want to free up that corner for a micro-park...maybe the owner can put a small memorial for the liquor store or make pink the design color for a statue or something there to appease the opposition.

I don't know...but I disagree that it is iconic or historical.

[Magnum Mike]

To me, I'd tear it down or at least repaint it. In my opinion, there's nothing historic about the building.

On a side note, there used to be a bowling alley in that same area (Melrose Lanes) and it was torn down a few years ago. I grew up a little further north of there (3rd Ave & Highland) and my paper route included the streets from Minnezona to the north, down to Turney or Glenrosa to the south, and Central to 7th Ave.

[5thgenzoner]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I disagree. Here's the text of the email I sent to Mayor Stanton and Vice-mayor Pastor:

I am disappointed to learn that an online petition has been started urging city leaders to intervene to save the Melrose Liquor store from demolition. In recent years, I have been proud to support historic preservation efforts related to the David and Gladys Wright House, as well as other equally significant structures. This misguided effort to preserve an undistinguished eyesore on the Melrose Curve is, however, a case of preservationism taken too far.

The liquor store is not only an unattractive and poorly maintained building, it is also a drive-through business surrounded by surface parking. Such a design encourages driving over other modes of transport and creates a hot, unappealing space for pedestrians walking nearby. This is not the type of environment Phoenix needs in its urban core, especially near the light rail corridor and within the footprint of the Reinvent PHX initiative.

The developer that owns the land has proposed replacing the store with a pocket park. That is the type of thinking that Phoenix should embrace. Scattered green spaces amid multi-story housing is an appropriate blend for a high traffic corridor such as 7th Avenue. In evaluating this issue, I urge you to consider a long term vision of the type of city Phoenix should become rather than misguided nostalgia for buildings that are merely old rather than truly historic.

I respectfully disagree. I have lived in this area for more than 30 years and one by one the gentrification is rolling from south to north. Soon it will be as bland as everywhere else no charm nothing that isnt stucco and red tile. I was at the meeting and feel like the developer is trying to pull a fast one on the people that live here. It may look like a run down eyesore to you but many people want it to stay. Not to mention the nice folks that work there will be out of a job. That behemoth going up behind it is already changing the skyline on the Curve, who needs a dinky pocket park? I hope Pinky's stays so i can be a customer for another 30 years.