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Fenton buys Solar Culture warehouse

November 10, 2009 (11:59 am) | Permanent Link

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by Teya Vitu

Downtown property owner Steven Fenton acquired the state-owned Solar Culture Warehouse, 31 E. Toole Ave., for $101,000 in a Tuesday auction that lasted less than one minute.

The prior evening Fenton and the Warehouse Arts Management Organization, the other bidder, had come to an informal agreement. Fenton stated his “hope” to ultimately sell the warehouse to WAMO if he can acquire the neighboring state-owned warehouse at 15-17-19 E. Toole, occupied by Astro Fab, WAMO President Marvin Shaver said.

WAMO had the financial backing from the Tucson Industrial Development Authority, but quickly backed off from the bidding, which started at $95,000, because of the agreement.

“I don’t have an agreement we feel completely comfortable with,” Shaver said. “He said he is willing to sell Solar Culture to us for his buying price once he acquires the property to the west.”

Fenton was not at the auction and Toole Avenue Partners representatives that bid on his behalf declined to comment.

Fenton bought the former Reilly Funeral Home, 102 E. Pennington St., in a July 2007 estate sale for $470,000, but has done nothing with the structure in three years. Also, in 2007, he opened the Academy Lofts, 460 S. Sixth Avenue, where he created 36 residential lofts at the former convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph’s Academy.

Steven Eye, founder of Solar Culture and the warehouse’s occupant since 1987, wonders about his future at the warehouse he’s occupied since 1987.

“All we have is (Fenton’s) word for some hope,” Eye said. “Without a deal in writing, we have nothing except hope. I’m not going anywhere until I talk with Steve Fenton and we have a deal. We’re going to hopefully make a deal with him.”

Solar Culture, along with gallery space, has offered cultural events for decades, though in recent years building code violations have occasionally briefly closed the warehouse down.

“It’s been an amazing place for the community to grow and feel inspired,” Eye said.

Fenton, owner of Fenton Investment Co., released a press statement through WAMO:

“I have partnered with Ron Schwabe of Peach Properties, with assistance from WAMO, to develop the Toole Avenue warehouses. As with all of my projects, my intention is to be sensitive and respectful of the historic nature of these great old buildings with emphasis on the arts and arts related uses.

“It is my hope to be able to ultimately sell 31 E. Toole Ave. to WAMO with the intent that Solar Culture will be able to stay in this location at a rate they can afford. To accomplish this goal, we will need the support of the City of Tucson and the Tucson Industrial Development Authority.”

Peach Properties on Nov. 6 acquired the Zee Warehouse, 1 E. Toole Ave., in a similar auction conducted by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Peach co-owner Patricia Schwabe also attended but did not bid in the Solar Culture auction.

“We all need to get together and finally realize the vision of the warehouse arts district,” Schwabe said.