Sun Mercantile Building
Encyclopedia
The Sun Mercantile Building (or "Sun Merc") is a warehouse
building in Phoenix, Arizona
designed by E.W. Bacon and constructed by Wells & Son in 1929. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985 and has been a locally-protected historic landmark since 1987. Sun Merc is the last remaining building from Phoenix's "second Chinatown
" period (c.1890-c.1960). It is located directly next to the US Airways Center
and is used by the Phoenix Suns
. In the mid 2000's, plans were proposed to build a new $200 million dollar luxury high-rise hotel and condominium tower, part of which would be atop of the Sun Mercantile Building tearing off the roof and preserving only the base. Historic preservationists and the city's Asian-American community voiced their disapproval of the plans however the city council did not agree and the project was given the go ahead. A lawsuit was then filed in court and in the fall of 2007 a judge ruled that "the Phoenix City Council had improper talks with Sarver (the Developer) before it decided the fate of the warehouse on the hotel site." and the project was effectively dead.
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
building in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
designed by E.W. Bacon and constructed by Wells & Son in 1929. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985 and has been a locally-protected historic landmark since 1987. Sun Merc is the last remaining building from Phoenix's "second Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
" period (c.1890-c.1960). It is located directly next to the US Airways Center
US Airways Center
US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
and is used by the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
. In the mid 2000's, plans were proposed to build a new $200 million dollar luxury high-rise hotel and condominium tower, part of which would be atop of the Sun Mercantile Building tearing off the roof and preserving only the base. Historic preservationists and the city's Asian-American community voiced their disapproval of the plans however the city council did not agree and the project was given the go ahead. A lawsuit was then filed in court and in the fall of 2007 a judge ruled that "the Phoenix City Council had improper talks with Sarver (the Developer) before it decided the fate of the warehouse on the hotel site." and the project was effectively dead.