CHAPTER 6: SOUTHSIDE 

Junction: Central Arizona Warehouse 

1) Check out the old Central Arizona Warehouse. First, why is it located here, and what remnants in the landscape might indicate its original purpose? 

2) What is happening inside the Central Arizona Warehouse today? 

Motel: The Original U.S. Route 66 

1) If you were not told the dates of construction for the three motels along Phoenix Avenue (between Beaver and San Francisco Streets), how could you determine generally when they were built by looking at their form and floor plans? Use Figure 6.3 to assist you with your interpretation. 

2) What are the three motels on Phoenix Avenue being used for today? How can you tell? Are they still basing their business on passing motorists? Why or why not? 

3) At the Motel Downtowner (corner of San Francisco and Phoenix) is a rather significant steel tower with a large sign on top. Looking carefully at the sign's orientation and surroundings, what do you think was its main purpose, and is it still necessary today? Where are you more likely to see newer tall signs like this today, and why? 

Boarding House: The "Tourist Home" 

1) Briefly compare the Southside business district here along San Franciso Street with the same street north of the tracks. Think in terms of buildinig size, architecture, business types, streetscape, and general maintenance. 

2) Based on your comparisons above, do you think the Southside business district has undergone significant redevelopment projects similar to those north of the tracks? Why or why not? 

3) In your own words, describe how the sense of place here in Southside is different than that of the north downtown. That is, how do you "feel" about this place, and why? What aspects of San Francisco Street contribute to your own sense of place? (Remember, there are no right or wrong answers when describing sense of place, but it may take some careful thought.) 

Bypass: Butler Avenue 

1) What type of landscape feature do you find on the southwest corner of Butler Avenue (across from Fresco Market)? What do you think this place indicates about the interests of the local community regarding the appearance of major auto corridors such as this one? 

2) Walk around inside the Fresco store, and observe how the store's interior is arranged and what types of items are for sale. List some general types of goods for sale here, and make a conclusion about what type of clientele the store is attracting. Why is this, and in what way is this store linked to Butler Avenue? (You may want to pick up a snack or two at this stop as well.) 

Town Creek: The Rio de Flag 

1) Looking at the Rio's channel on both sides of San Francisco Street, what do you think are the sentiments of Southside property owners toward the channel, based on the level of care being placed into the channel's level of maintenance? Support your answer with some observations. 

2) Are the property owners here actually responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Rio channel through Southside? Can you tell by simply looking at the seen landscape? What might you have to investigate further in the realm of the unseen to determine who is in control here? 

Changing Neighborhood: Social Dynamics of Southside 

1) Why might this modest-looking church be promoted as a superlative within the Flagstaff community? To help answer this question, read the historic plaque on the wall near the entrance. 

2) In what visible ways has this local population (or what remains of it) been acculturated into the dominant Anglo-American society? Look at visible indicators such as the street grid, architecture, landscaping, and any signage that might indicate the long-term process of acculturation here since this neighborhood began to develop more than a century ago. (A shorter way to ask this question: Does this neighborhood look like a splitting image of one that might be found in Mexico? Why or why not?) 

3) Briefly compare the two different types of landscape scenes separated by the standardized NAU marker at the corner of Dupont Avenue and Beaver Street. Use a few examples of elements in the landscapes to support your answer. 

Front: The Invasion of NAU

1) Standing at parking lot "P2," cite some visible examples of NAU's influence on this area. Look carefully for subtle aspects as well as obvious things. 

2) What specific indicators of centralized authority can you find around this area? In contrast, what indicators clearly demonstrate this area's main purpose (land use) in the past?