Park 'n' Schlock Feared at Indian School Site

Comments (0) By Paul Rubin Wednesday, May 3 1989

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"It's not just that we have twenty acres to play with. The city is going to have to be prepared to spend the money to make it the best thing it has ever done. It's the chance of a lifetime."

Former Senate minority leader Alfredo Gutierrez, one of Barr's old buddies at the capitol and now a lobbyist for the Colliers, insists that what will go where at the Indian School site still is an open question. "I know that some people had hoped the entire property would be a park," Gutierrez says, "and they're disappointed that the process in Congress didn't end up to their liking. So it doesn't surprise me that they feel like they do. But this process is far from over, and I'm sure everybody's point of view will be heard and considered before it's all over."

But Moran says Mayor Goddard could have used the Indian School issue as a rallying point for his own political aspirations. That is, he could have argued that he fought D.C. and an out-of-town developer in an effort to get the best deal for the citizens of Phoenix.

"It doesn't look like it's going to turn out that way," Moran says. "You know, from North Mountain to South Mountain, you have fifteen miles of concrete except for 63 acres of park in Encanto. The Indian School is a big deal. Collier looks to make maybe $400 million or $500 million easy money on this thing. You'd expect our leaders to really fight for the city, wouldn't you?