After a several-month negotiation period, members of the historic preservation community and Phoenix City Council District 6 have struck a compromise with the new owner of 4918 E White Gates Drive, a desert modern masterpiece perched on the south slope of iconic Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Built in 1954, the strikingly graphic house was once the personal residence of Master Architect Alfred Newman Beadle. It was sold to 4918 E. White Gates LLC in January of 2024 and an application for a demolition permit filed with the City of Phoenix on March 12, 2024 sparked public outcry nationwide. Mr. Yasser Elshair is the managing member of 4918 E White Gates LLC and plans to construct his personal home on the property. Upon the request of Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson, and at the urging of the community, Mr. Elshair agreed to voluntarily withdraw the demolition permit application to enable productive discussions about the future and best use of the unique property. 

According to architectural design historian and Associate Professor Alison King, the White Gates home could qualify for National Historic Preservation status under Criteria B and C as the work of a master architect possessing high artistic value. White Gates is particularly notable for the design of its three gleaming white brise-soleil screens perforated with elliptical patterns, which are held within a low-lying box that appears to float slightly above the desert floor. Four Al Beadle properties have successfully joined the National or City Register of Historic Properties, including another of his personal single-family residences in the Camelback Foothills area, The Boardwalk condominiums, the Executive Towers midrise, and Roman Roads condominiums. 

Mr. Elshair respectfully disagrees the property meets the historic eligibility and integrity standards, given the current condition of the remaining structure, and that both the freestanding garage and interior of the home were demolished in the early 2000s. Nevertheless, Mr. Elshair and Professor King agree that if demolition is imminently inevitable, certain architectural elements of the existing structure should be preserved for future use or incorporation at an offsite location.

During the past seven months, Councilman Robinson and his office led discussions with Mr. Elshair, the community, and the City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Officer Helana Ruter, to explore a solution that would honor the architectural legacy of Al Beadle’s White Gates Residence while also meeting the owner’s development objectives. Currently, no protections are in place for historic properties not listed on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. Initiating historic designation status without the property owner's consent could delay development by placing a temporary hold on the property, while an application for historic preservation is under consideration. 

Representing the overwhelming public outcry to save the home, historic preservationists have long held that preserving the residence in place would be the most ideal outcome. The brise-soleil panels are site-specific and echo the unique erosion patterns, called tafoni, in the red rocks of Camelback Mountain situated behind it. While Mr. Elshair is not in favor of preserving the existing structure onsite or incorporating portions of it into his future home, he entered into these discussions open to salvaging portions of the structure for offsite reuse. Alternative options were explored in a series of meetings both in and out of the City Historic Preservation Office. The community weighed in on a proposal that would respect the architectural legacy of Master Architect Al Beadle and also align with the new owner’s development timeline. Mr. Elshair personally attended the stakeholder meetings hosted by Councilmember Robinson in which the new proposal was discussed, and expressed his willingness to further delay the construction of his personal home to accommodate an alternative plan. Unfortunately, several of the alternative options to save the home (such as resale to a new buyer or adaptation of the existing structure) did not meet the owner's timelines or wishes. 

The current proposed plan involves a deconstruction and salvage plan to accompany the demolition permit application, ensuring that the home's most iconic features, including the brise-soleil screens and the steel patio awnings (collectively the “Salvaged Materials”), are preserved and reinstalled in a new location. The remainder of the home will be demolished. 

Under this plan, the Salvaged Materials would be carefully packaged, removed, and conserved for public benefit and reutilized to honor Beadle’s contributions to desert modernism. As long as neither historic registration nor the Historic Preservation Overlay is placed on his property, Mr. Elshair has agreed to a generous monetary contribution and full financing of the Salvaged Materials removal in order to support the restoration and future public accessibility of the salvaged screens.

Specifically, the plan would involve:

• Submission of a deconstruction and salvage plan alongside a new demolition permit application.
• Commitment, at the owner’s cost, to carefully remove and transport the Salvaged Materials to a mutually agreed upon designated site
• A financial contribution of $50,000 from the property owner earmarked for future public use of the salvaged materials by a mutually agreed upon recipient.
• A requirement that if the demolition permit is issued by the City, that no demolition may commence for 320 days (10.5 months), following the issuance of the permit in order to allow additional time for the historic preservation community to explore the ideal location for the storage or implementation of the Salvaged Materials.
• Yasser Elshair, Managing Member of 4918 White Gates Dr LLC, provides a public statement affirming that the demolition permit is being sought solely to build his personal residence on the lot, with no intention to develop or entitle the property for a different purpose.

Mr. Elshair submitted the new demolition application, inclusive of the deconstruction and salvage plan for the Salvaged Materials, on November 22, 2024 and is planning to present the new proposal to Phoenix’s Historic Preservation Commission on Monday, December 16, 2024. Mr. Elshair stated, “I purchased this land in January of 2024 for the sole purpose of building my personal home. Despite having to delay my plans significantly, I was happy to accommodate the request by Councilmember Robinson and the historic preservation stakeholders to withdraw and delay the demolition permit application over the past seven months. In that time, I have met personally with the City and the stakeholders to evaluate the best option for the existing structure.  Ultimately, I accepted a proposal presented to me by the community for a deconstruction and salvage plan that will allow the most prominent architectural features remaining on the site to be relocated and incorporated into a future use. I have also commissioned experts at my own expense to craft the deconstruction and salvage plan which now accompanies the new demolition permit. This compromise balances the goals of the historic preservation community, with my property right to construct my personal home on the land that I own. Additionally, it is important to note that should the City not initiate the Historic Preservation Overlay and grant the demolition permit in December of 2024, I have voluntarily placed a 320-day (10.5 month) period on the permit which prohibits me from initiating the deconstruction/salvage plan, or demolishing the existing structure, for that time period. This is an essential component of the compromise which will allow the historic preservation community additional time to identify the best reuse option for the salvaged materials, or a suitable location for storage.”

The public is encouraged to weigh in regarding White Gates at the upcoming December 16th, 2024 Phoenix Historic Preservation Hearing by contacting the City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office at historic@phoenix.gov prior to the December 16th Commission meeting. 

City of Phoenix Councilman Kevin Robinson represents District 6, where the White Gates property is located.  Councilman Robinson’s office has received phone calls and emails and understands the passion surrounding this property.  “Al Beadle’s architectural contributions to mid-century modernism have left an indelible mark on the landscape of Phoenix, Arizona. His innovative designs seamlessly blend functionality with aesthetic appeal, characterized by bold lines, open spaces, and a harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment. Beadle’s work not only embodies the spirit of the era but also reflects the unique cultural and geographical context of the American Southwest. Recognizing the importance of his work is crucial, as they serve as vital touchstones of architectural history, inspiring future generations and celebrating the artistic vision that defined a transformative period in Phoenix’s development. I firmly believe that by safeguarding Beadle’s legacy, we honor the rich tapestry of our community’s architectural heritage.  I am grateful to the property owner and stakeholders who have come together to have meaningful conversations, and I am encouraged by the salvage and conservation plan that has been derived as a result of months of discussions between the property owner and historic preservation stakeholders.  I fought to have a positive outcome because I view my role and position on the city council as a guardian of such heritage.”

Lauren Bailey, a restaurateur whose company Upward Projects LLC has successfully adapted several midcentury modern buildings across the Southwest, owns a 1960 Midcentury personal residence and chairs the Philanthropic Asset Committee for the ASU Foundation has long championed adaptive reuse. While Bailey is passionate about historic preservation, she recognizes that this compromise can allow for creative re-use of the most artistic aspects of the architecture instead of a complete demolition, which would likely be inevitable given the current policies. “I am extremely disappointed that White Gates will no longer be, and I am hopeful that this situation calls attention to the need for future funding and much needed policy change to provide a viable path and owner incentives to preserve our historical buildings.” In March of 2024 Bailey was able to rally thousands of citizens, developers and local business owners to urge the City of Phoenix to reexamine the current policies. “The ultimate extinction of this iconic structure is an example of our state desperately needing the tools and resources to protect our history.” 

Alison King has led the charge in documenting and preserving Beadle’s architecture for over 20 years, working in close contact with his family and colleagues to create a comprehensive catalog of his work and raise public awareness about Beadle’s significance on the national stage. “I had higher hopes for White Gates to be preserved in place, and I consistently pressed for this outcome on behalf of my community,” King says. “I also believe that a complete relocation of the shell of the home is not the wisest use of limited financial and emotional resources. A significant aspect of the screen wall’s appeal comes from its relationship to Camelback Mountain. Once removed from the mountain, the home’s historic and artistic integrity will be irreparably damaged. Al Beadle was a practical man as well as an artist. He was known to concede when his buildings had outlived their useful lifespan, but would likely be pleased to see the most artistic aspects of White Gates continue to inspire and educate about his legacy.”
Ashley Harder, a long-time advocate for preserving Phoenix’s architectural heritage, views this outcome as both a compromise and an opportunity for progress but expresses disappointment that preservation was not achieved.

"I appreciate Councilman Robinson's willingness to engage with community stakeholders to address the significant concerns surrounding this issue. Preserving this property would have been the ideal outcome and while I support this plan I am deeply disappointed that it will not be saved. We worked tirelessly to explore every possible avenue for preservation and hoped that an owner interested in protecting the property’s historic value would ultimately acquire it. Despite our efforts to convince Yasser to preserve the building, he does not agree, and this compromise was the best outcome achievable under the unfortunate circumstances.”

The process of reaching this compromise has, however, sparked productive conversations about our city’s historic preservation policies and the efforts needed to prevent the loss of more iconic buildings. Earlier this year, PlaceEconomics, a leading firm in studying the economic impacts of historic preservation, provided policy and program recommendations to the City Historic Preservation Office, the foundation for an in-progress update to its historic preservation plan, Preserve Historic PHX 2025. I urge our City Council and Mayor to seriously consider the final plan recommendations to strengthen our preservation framework. Demolition not only erases our architectural heritage but also negatively impacts the community of residents and stakeholders who care deeply about the history and character of their neighborhoods. Improving our historic preservation policies is essential to protecting future generations of Phoenicians from the devastating effects of losing these irreplaceable historic assets."
 

Media Contact: Adam Waltz, (602)781-1334, adam.waltz@phoenix.gov