By Recker McDowell —
Papago Plaza isn’t completely going away.
The shopping center is being demolished and will be redeveloped. But its name is going to ring on at Scottsdale and McDowell roads.
That’s a positive. Papago Plaza has seen its better days. But it is part of Scottsdale’s history and having the retro name live on gives the redevelopment some good branding.
Lee Mashburn, principal with Pivot Development which is redeveloping the center told the Valley Partnership real estate group that Papago Plaza will keep its name.
Previous redevelopment plans called for the center to be renamed Papago Marketplace. Papago Plaza was built in the late 1950s with distinctive Pueblo style architecture.
It is scheduled to be demolished this summer.
Sometimes the easier path is for developers and businesses to rebrand and start fresh. That is what is happening on the ground at Papago Plaza with a new hotel, new apartments, restaurants and some retail.
But sometimes it is also sometimes good to be retro and give a nod to history.
