Latest Monti’s Newsletter
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
