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Historic Status Bestowed On Two Homes in SB |
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By Melissa Evans
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Wednesday, June 20 2007 |
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It was built originally to serve as the home of a rich cattleman, and was later used as an inspirational boarding house, a hotel during World War II and a ladies’ undergarment clothing store.
 The Huning Mansion is widely regarded for its neoclassical and Mission Revival architecture. Photo by Melissa Evans/SBN
The council also bestowed the special historic status on a house at 1710 Mira Vista Avenue that was designed by the famous builder and architect Alex D‘Alfonso, who lived there for more than six decades.
Granting historical status on structures means an added layer of review goes into any proposed changes to the property to preserve the character and aesthetics in perpetuity.
With its Mission Revival and Neoclassical architecture, the Huning Masion on the corner of Sola Street is a striking spectacle from the outside, said Jake Jacobus, an urban historian for the city.
On the inside, “It’s a true jaw-dropper,” he told the council. “It is quite stunning when you walk into this house.”
The 7,000-square foot mansion was designed by J.W. Bagley and constructed by Edward F. Edwards. It served as a home for Arizona cattleman Henry Huning and his wife in 1904.
After various uses throughout the years, it is now occupied by Brian Gregory, who asked the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission to name it a historic landmark.
“I feel I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that long after I’m gone I can count on the city to preserve and protect this structure,” he said.
The Spanish Colonial home on Mira Vista is significant more because of the man who designed and lived in it for so many years. D’Alfonso built hundreds of homes, including the Coca Cola bottling company, Guadalupe School, the El Prado Motel, the St. Francis Medical Convent and the original Sambo’s Restaurant.
He used his home as an informal office where he sketched many of his drawings for building projects. |
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