Tempe Mayor Corey Woods announced the historic Hayden Flour Mill’s restoration during the city’s state of the city address Nov. 13 at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The city will first evaluate the mill’s machinery and structure to determine funding and a timeline, he said, following voters’ rejection of a sales tax increase that left a $25.7 million deficit.
TEMPE — The city will seek bids to assess the mill’s interior machinery and structural integrity, a process officials said will inform how the project is funded and scheduled.
The evaluation comes as the city grapples with a $25.7 million budget shortfall following voters’ rejection of Proposition 424, a sales tax increase proposal, on Nov. 3.
Woods said the mill, which operated until 1998, holds a central place in the city’s identity.
“Before there were towers along the lake, before generations of Sun Devils made their memories downtown, there was the mill,” Woods said, according to YourValley.net. “Mill Avenue carries its name, our city grew around it.”
The financial constraints facing the city extend beyond the mill project. The Orbit bus system costs more than $15 million annually to operate, and the City Council discussed potential cuts or changes to those routes during a work study session Nov. 12, according to the report.
Woods acknowledged the fiscal challenges during his address, which marked the city’s 28th annual state of the city event.
“We will be clear about the options we are considering, the savings they could produce and the effects they could have on our community,” Woods said, according to YourValley.net.
He said the city is prepared to “do the work, explain the choices and see it through” regarding its financial situation.
The mayor’s announcement drew attention to the mill’s historical significance. The structure predates the city’s modern development, including the high-rises along Tempe Town Lake and the growth of Arizona State University’s downtown campus.
The restoration project will require the city to first complete a structural assessment of the building and an evaluation of the machinery and equipment inside, according to the city. Those findings will determine the scope of work and how the city allocates resources for the project.
The address was attended by business owners, political figures and city staff, according to YourValley.net. Several event sponsors spoke about the city’s services and educational offerings.
Quintin Boyce, a professor and leader at Arizona State University who runs Thrive in Tempe, an organization connecting schools and businesses, also spoke at the event.
“From ABC’s to PhD’s Tempe is a place where education matters, and we invest in our young people,” Boyce said, according to YourValley.net.
The mill’s restoration is part of a broader effort to preserve Tempe’s heritage while managing its growth, officials said. The building has stood for centuries along the Salt River and gave its name to Mill Avenue, one of the city’s main thoroughfares.
The city has not announced a timeline for the evaluation process or the restoration work. Officials said the assessment results will guide decisions on how to proceed with the project amid the budget constraints.
The Nov. 3 election results left the city with a deficit exceeding $25.7 million, according to the report. The rejected tax measure was intended to address the shortfall, and city officials are now reviewing options to balance the budget.
The council’s Nov. 12 discussion of the Orbit bus routes signaled potential service changes as the city seeks cost savings. No final decisions have been made regarding the transit system, according to the report.
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