We’ve reached a critical point as a city. Now in our hundredth year, the city of Phoenix has a terrible habit of demolishing it’s own history. Most of our historic properties are gone. As a city we need to constantly work to preserve historic properties in Phoenix.
The Lugo Bakery and W.L. Bobo House are two historic sites, built between 1910 and 1920 looking for investors to save the structures from disrepair. Written assessments have been done on both structures, but they need willing buyers to rescue them.
The Luis Lugo Bakery known originally as the La Pantellera was constructed in 1917. It’s a 2,000 square foot commercial structure, complete with a basement, 1,300 square foot addition, and vacant lot for possible parking. Overall, the Lugo Bakery is in poor condition.
Poor design, haphazard construction techniques,weathering, neglect, and unsympathetic renovations have not been kind to certain exterior building elements which require immediate attention to prevent further deterioration and/or lost of historic fabric. This building is in need 
of some serious TLC, ranging just under $400,000 according to the Building Condition Assessment Report.
The building has strong potential as an office, art gallery, sandwich/coffee shop, or bakery (duh). The bakery and grocery store was in continuous use for
nearly 50 years. The Luis Lugo Bakery is a rare example of an early Hispanic commercial
property in downtown Phoenix and should be saved
The property has a two story private residence attached, which is also in disrepair. This update is estimated around $170,000
The W.L. Bobo House is in the McKinley Park subdivision. The W. L. Bobo House, a charming Craftsman
bungalow at the southwest corner of 13th & Roosevelt Streets, is threatened with demolition. It’s on a double lot and has a porte cochere on the 13th Street side and a detached garage at the rear. The house has numerous architectural features that set it apart as an unique design. Character-defining features include:
- Medium-pitched intersecting gable roofs
- Gables with decoratively cut wood shingle siding
- Broad porch on stuccoed brick piers, supported on massive, tapered cobblestone bases
- Cobblestone foundation wall at porch, and battered cobblestone chimney mass
- Trellised porte-cochere
- Double-hung and casement wood windows, some with leaded and beveled glass
It’s a true fixer upper, but the building is in pretty good shape considering it’s from 1912. The house needs new roofing, the foundation needs repair, and some window fixes and a fresh coat of paint would do it some good. The interior needs all new plumbing, heating, electric, and replacement woodwork. Most of the fixes are minor, and according to the Building Condition Assessment Report the total updates would cost approximately $143,240. This residence could have a future at a single family home or a business/art gallery depending on the buyer.
Despite the cost , rehabilitating the residence would undoubtedly broaden the historical setting of the Lugo Bakery and Bobo House and add charm to the street scape. Historic Properties like these are priceless to our community’s history and future.
Thank you again to Amber Harrold of Camelbackpackers Hostel. Amber and her family put out an incredible spread for us, including local craft beer, wine and even camel-shaped cookies. If she went to those lengths for us, you can feel good recommending your friends to say at CamelbackPackers Hostel when they come through town.
