Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the story
Pete Zorbas has lived in the Pierson Place Historic District near Central Avenue and Camelback Road for 12 years and he's getting used to his new neighbors, the light rail, and the City of Phoenix.
"At first it's noisy, but we get used to it," Zorbas said.
When the city bought land for the station and park-and-ride on Camelback Road, it ended up with unused parcels it now has to sell.
The seven parcels on the north side of West Mariposa Street between Central and 3rd Avenue consist of two vacant lots and five historic homes, including a two-story adobe structure built in the 1930s.
"As far as character, it's unique," Zorbas said. "It would be a nice project for somebody and it would be a lot of fun to do something with that house."
Chase Dubs looks out at the seven properties every day.
"It would be great to see families move in across the street and have them fixed up and be as nice as some of the other houses," Dubs said.
Neighborhood activists want to protect their historic district from businesses and from blight.
"Even if development does take homes in this area, we're concerned to the impact of what's left after the fact," Zorbas said.
While city leaders wouldn't go on-camera to talk about their plans, they said in a written statement, "The Historic Treatment Plan requires the homes be sold for residential use and to remain intact."
The city said it anticipates reviewing proposals for the land early next year.
It hasn't listed a target place.
Neighbors expect when it does sell it will be far below the roughly $2 million the city originally paid.
"The city is going to suffer a loss just like any other homeowner in the neighborhood," Zorbas said.
