The Milum Textile Services complex, a pair of buildings with a white brick facade and a teal-striped metal sign near Seventh Avenue and Van Buren Street in Phoenix, have been standing for 100 years — but their future is in doubt.
Owner Craig Milum wants to demolish the former laundry and dry cleaning complex that takes up nearly a block, but Phoenix's Historic Preservation Commission denied that request last month.
Milum says the existing structures have no potential for profitable reuse — an argument the city’s historic preservation officer rejected at a previous preservation hearing.
"There’s some public interest there. They’re buildings that have been there for a long time and people are familiar with them," Helana Ruter said.
Ruter says the membrane-like ceiling inside is what makes this 1924-era building unique.
“It’s a form of engineering that in and of itself is very aesthetically appealing. But, they’re very rare because it’s a very labor intensive form of construction," Ruter said.
Milum is now appealing to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission for the total demolition of the buildings. The commission is holding a public meeting on Monday evening and the appeal is on the agenda.
Separate from Milum’s appeal, city officials are considering rezoning one building of the complex at a different hearing in February.
