100 South Mill Avenue

This is my latest propaganda screed:

July 18, 2006

++++++++++

Okay, I have been AWOL.

But now, in the heat of a searing summer I am untroubled by very many of

you customers demanding food and service at all hours, so I have time to

write. I was pleased this week to see that we were briefly mentioned as a

family-friendly place in the August edition of Sunset Magazine in an

article featuring Tempe, as part of a section about Southwest getaways.

National press is good–especially as we are celebrating the 50th year of

my family doing business here as Monti’s La Casa Vieja.
“So, what’s going to happen to that old mill across the street?”

Well..I wish I had a nickel for every time I have heard that question. If

I did I could probably have bankrolled the project myself by now. It is

natural, given that I do business just across the street in the

associated historic Hayden House–a.k.a. La Casa Vieja, that people think

I would know what the heck is going on. But the players–private, public

and political–involved in the haggling over the Mill each had their

reasons to work in silence. If we still smoked in Tempe I am sure that

the deal would have been made in the proverbial smoke-filled room.

Back in 1998 the Mill shut down operations; but we were all rife with

optimism, down here at the forgotten North end of Mill Avenue, at the

prospect of seeing Tempe’s founding business (1874) reborn as a hub of

urban retail and recreation. It was not to be, however. The developer was

challenged by a number of complications on another project further up

Mill Avenue and things stalled at the Mill–birthing a local soap opera

with more twists and turns than a Sydney Sheldon novel. Time passed, and

a few years ago vagrants broke in and set the place on fire, scaring the

daylights out of us in the process. The charred husk has lingered ever

since, prompting the many aforementioned questions.

Now, when millions of dollars are boiling away like spit on a hot griddle

you can expect plenty of finger pointing. It was no surprise that the the

Mill (and the consequences of its non-development) became the subject of

a $43 million lawsuit against the City by the developer, claiming a

breach of contract. My first reaction to this was a groan and the doomed

feeling that my grandchildren might finally see the development of the

site.

However, to the credit of the Mayor and the City Council (and staff), the

preservation of the Mill and its iconic silos always remained essential

to any resolution of the disputes over the property. The first sign of

sunlight peeking through the clouds (or smoke) was when I heard from a

friend, Susan Shaffer Nahmias, that Archaeological Consulting Services of

Tempe had won a contract to do archaeological research of prehistoric and

historic activity on the Mill site.

You can see a small display of some of the results of the early ACS

research in our Mural Room, just to the right of the main foyer as you

enter the restaurant. (Don’t fail to take note of the chunky, masculine

table it is displayed on–my brother Konrad’s former desk, still

emblazoned with his six-inch-tall initials “KPM” just in case you weren’t

sure of the identity of the eminent personage who once shuffled papers

there.) The display of photos and documents is entitled “Hayden Flour

Mill: Landscape, Economy & Community Diversity”. As archaeological work

continues we hope to host an ever-expanding display of artifacts that may

come to light. You can follow the progress at:
http://www.tempe.gov/haydenflourmill/news.htm

The good news is that the City of Tempe approved an agreement to settle

the lawsuit on the Mill on June 15. Cross your fingers–we are hoping

for the terms to come to fruition: a mixed use development of up to

469,160 square feet (retail along Mill Avenue, office, residential, and

possibly a hotel). The 1951 silos and 1918 Mill building must be

preserved. That’s a victory for Tempe’s heritage.

That’s the Cliff’s notes, G-rated version, anyway. After all, I don’t

want to be a party to the NEXT round of Mill lawsuits. If you catch me

here sometime I will gladly give you my extensive off-the-record opinions

about various issues and events related to the Mill Avenue District as

well as the cast of characters– elected, unelected and incarcerated

(well, OK, I don’t think anyone actually went to jail, despite some of my

wishful thinking) that have shaped its evolution.

Now, to wrap up this issue I am going to run a little trivia contest

(ripped off, mostly, from an event I attended). The person who submits

the first fully correct set of responses to this gets dinner for four. (I

am the sole judge; some restrictions apply blah blah blah…) I will also

award dinner for four to the most creative reply–you figure out what

that means.

1. Arizona leads the Nation in production of ______ .
2. _______ is the offical gemstone of Arizona.
3. The age of a saguaro cactus is determined by its _____ .
4. Arizona became the 48th State on _month__ _day__, _yr__.
5. What are Arizona’s “Five Cs”?
6. This AZ town is called “The town too tough to die.”
7. This FOX News investigative journalist graduated from the University

of Arizona in 1965.
8. The highest point in Arizona is known as _____ Peak.
9. This well-known singer was born in Tucson on 7/15/1946.
10. Carl Hayden served ____ years in the U.S. Congress.

You know, each human body emits about as much heat as a seventy-five watt

light bulb. So why not bring in the family and enjoy the air conditioning

here at Monti’s at my expense. Kids eat cheap and your home a/c gets a

break. Such a deal…

Thanks for reading. We hope to see you soon!

Michael Monti

If you are so inclined, tahe a look at my posting today at  http://azcrblog.wordpress.com

I was setting up a membership here on WordPress to enable me to post over to the Arizona Chain Reaction blog, and it was convenient at the time to establish my own blog…but I had no specific agenda, aim or theme in mind. So I opted for geography; specifically, the street address that has defined my life.

It was not always 100 S. Mill Avenue, though. When I was growing up it was 3 West First Street. That was also back when local phone numbers hereabouts began with two-letter exchanges. Ours was PL, for “Plaza.”

 In 1998 when America West–now US Airways–finished their new headquarters and the City realigned Rio Salado Parkway adjacent to us along the path of the former 1st Street we asked to be redesignated “1 West Rio Salado Parkway.” After all, isn’t it better to be number one than number three? Or so it seemed. However, it seems that the name of Rio Salado Parkway just hasn’t seeped into the popular consciousness to the degree we had hoped and expected. Given the opportunity, we opted to become 100 South Mill Avenue. Everyone knows Mill Avenue.

I was born at the old Tempe Community Hospital on Mill. I attended Tempe High School next door and did my undergratuate work at ASU. This street really has been the axis of my life, for which I am grateful. It is fitting that my blog will emanate from “100 South Mill Avenue” in spirit, even if I may be posting from some other physical location.

So…three addresses in my lifetime, but one unchanging location. The old Hayden House has worn many masks. As Tempe’s founding pioneer hme, it has endured astonishing changes, and I am sure that what is yet to come, even in a few years, will make all of the preceeding Tempe history appear to be a prelude.

I will be posting whenevr I have something to say. If you have any thoughts to share, and you have found this blog, feel free to email me at this address “mmonti”atmontisdotcom  (get it?) You can also call me at work, 480-867-7594 and ask for my voicemail box.