Arizona republican., 1915-12-02
Central School Block and the Civic Center

$ well known, the election two years ago, The Republican vigorously supported the proposed sale of the Central School block the city and county jointly, for civic center, where the offices of the city and county might be centrally installed, simplifying the public business, in creasng its efficiency, offering many methods of closer cooperation between county and the city, resulting in distinct economies.
 Another reason for The Republicans support a; that time of the purchase of the block for the of the people was that it's remarkable natural loca ton adjoining, as did the public buildings on the block Immediately west and located it is on Central avenue. our main north and south thorough fare and on the state highway the north, made it the ideal site for such centralization of public busi- ness The recent construction of the Monroe street loon and the broadening. now under way, of Van 77nren street makes this site more ideal for civic center than before.
 This is a bright future picture. There is a darker one There is another disposition that might De made of this propertyits sale to private individuals spectators who in the present depression or real estate values would buy it at small part or us actual value and. perhaps it for the disfigure- ment instead of the Identification of the city we do not think the voters of the district will submit to this Such disposition it would be the aban- donment forever the greatest opportunity PhoenlX will ever have for a in city planning It would not only spoil permanently the future picture. It would paint Of retrOgression
 When the present proposition was submitted by the school trustees asking the authorization of the electors of the school district to sell the property as whole for not less than s2OOOO0 or in parcels for the same aggregate sum, expressed our dis approval of this plan for the reason that we feared that with this authorization there grave danger of the property being sold to private parties and the opportunity for the natural and appropriate use of this property civic center would be lost Since that date. chairman of the school board in a public statement, has clearly indicated that the school board greatly favors the continued use of this property public purposes; in other words for civic center either for city solely for the city and county jointly, and on behalf of the board has stated that school board will be glad to do all in it's power to cooperate with-the city commissioners in any movement toward securing this property for the of the city. Two mem bers of the school board stated yesterday that if necessary in order to give the commissioners ample time to present to the electors of the city they would be prepared to hold the property for the city several months, during which time we believe that the immense advantage to the city of Phoenix utilizing this site for murlc1pal purposes will become apparent to a large majority of the voters of this city.
 Tn view of this attitude the school board in whom we have the highest confidence see no objection to the authorization to sell, by the electors school district, for which the school trustees have asked, and feel confident that through public spirited efforts tEe part of the school trustees the commissioners of Phoenix, and all citizens who are looking forward to the greater Phoenix, the modern Phoenix. and the Phoenix which cannot be stopped in it's development before many months nave passed the of the Central School block as a civic center will have become an estab- Iished fact