19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study

Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study and selection of measures to mitigate the proposed major impact of demolition of the property.

Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study with selection of mitigation. Cornerstone Environmental Consulting, LLC, was contracted by Capri Flagstaff LCC to conduct a Phase I Cultural Resource Study. This building has not been previously studied. It is located within the Downtown Historic Overlay Zone, but outside of the Railroad Addition Historic District. The owner proposes to demolish the existing building and associated infrastructure on the parcel to construct a hotel. At this time, the site plan for the hotel has not yet been submitted for development review. The demolition and new hotel proposal will be subject to a Certificate of Appropriateness and scheduled for public hearing with the Heritage Preservation Commission during the development review process.

1. The Commission could request modifications to the study or proposed mitigation measures and include them as conditions of approval.
2. Continue the HPC review to a date certain and ask the applicant to come back with a modified proposal that meets those conditions.

At the May 21, 2025 meeting, the Heritage Preservation Commission reviewed a previous submittal of the Phase I study and moved "to not accept the report and ask for revisions with a further re-evaluation of Flagstaff Criteria B and D and do further research into courts or the role of the courts in the building, social movements, construction methods and processes, and the post-WWII boom in Flagstaff, through documents such as oral histories, historic photos, architectural and City records and NAU newspapers, and to reduce the focus on interior integrity in their assessment."