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Threatened Places: Tempe’s Maple Ash Neighborhood

Karyn Gitlis, on her front porch in Tempe’s Maple Ash neighborhood.
(Photo by Mark Brodie/ KJZZ News)
Karyn Gitlis, on her front porch in Tempe’s Maple Ash neighborhood.

Tempe’s Maple Ash neighborhood is one of the city’s oldest surviving neighborhoods, and historic preservation advocates say its character is in danger. The neighborhood basically runs from University to just south of 13th St., and Farmer east to Mill Ave.

Karyn Gitlis has lived in Tempe’s Maple Ash neighborhood since 1980 and started working on preservation efforts six years later.  The neighborhood is on the Arizona Preservation Foundation’s list of Most Endangered Historic Places.

 Sitting in her dining room, Gitlis describes her neighborhood.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.