Historic Preservation In Chandler

Why Historic Preservation?

Chandler has a rich history dating back to founder Dr. A. J. Chandler’s original vision for the community. The city itself was founded in 1912 and the history of its surrounding agricultural land goes back even further. Chandler’s historic heritage is not only its architectural and physical resources, it also includes its people and their accomplishments.

Chandler’s Historic Preservation Program began when the City Council adopted Ordinance 4936 in November 2020 in response to citizen requests for a means of preserving and protecting historic neighborhoods. Historic Preservation benefits the community and its neighborhoods by:

• Preserving and protecting the city’s historic buildings, sites and districts that represent Chandler’s architectural and cultural heritage;
• Promoting neighborhood preservation and revitalization;
• Encouraging civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;
• Recognizing the men and women who made significant contributions to Chandler and the community; and
• Documenting and recognizing the locations that represent events or individuals significant to Chandler’s and national history.

Since its inception, city staff have developed and refined the program and actively worked with different neighborhoods and communities to establish historic districts in the city.

In July 2022, the neighbors and residents of Southside Village worked with staff and City Council to establish the Southside Village Historic Conservation District, recognizing the rich heritage of the city’s original African-American and Latino communities. This was the city’s first designation under the Historic Preservation Program. Other neighborhoods, recognizing the benefits of Historic Preservation, are working to establish their own historic districts.

Preserving History

Designation and recognition under the Chandler Historic Preservation Program is open to all neighborhoods and properties that qualify under the criteria for designation of a historic property. This criterion includes:

1. The property or district is listed on the Arizona Register of Historic Places and has maintained its integrity; or
2. The property or district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has maintained its integrity; or
3. The property or district is associated with events or persons significant to Chandler's history or National history; or
4. The property or district includes examples of significant architectural styles or construction methods associated with the past; or
5. The property or district has yielded or is likely to yield information in the understanding of the history or pre-history of the city.

1. Be at least 50 years old; or
2. Has achieved significance in the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance; and
3. Has retained sufficient integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, or association to convey historic significance.

Our program has four different historic classification options for preservation. City staff will work with property owners to determine which classification is the best option for designation.

The city's Historic Preservation staff welcomes questions and dialogue from residents interested in the program and Chandler’s history.