TUCSON, Ariz. — A neighborhood on Tucson's east side is looking into the process for historic designation.
El GHEKO sits between Speedway and Broadway, from Wilmot to Kolb. Pat Dunham has called the neighborhood home since the 1970's.
"My parents had friends who moved here when it was first built," Dunham said. "So I have been associated with the neighborhood since the very beginning.
Dunham says the El GHEKO neighborhood association has gotten stronger over the past few years.
Earlier this year, the association found out the neighborhood qualified for the historic designation. At this month's neighborhood meeting, neighbors heard about the process from the Tucson Historic Preservation Office.
For a neighborhood to be deemed historic, it has to be at least 50 years old, and have significance, according to the Historic Preservation Office.
It's often a costly and lengthy process to earn designation, but many neighbors in El GHEKO have expressed interest in it.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of living in a neighborhood with historic designation is property tax cuts. Neighbors say it could also make the area more marketable.
"I think that when you see a historical designation, or a neighborhood with a name like El GHEKO, or Sam Hughes, you realize it's filled with people that care about their homes," Dunham said.
