"Tempe Cesspool for the Arts"

aka "Tempe Center for the Arts"

City of Tempe gives land to religious group

  Tempe violates Arizona Constitution and sells two home lots worth thousands of dollars to a religious group for $20.

Article 2 Section 12 of the Arizona Constitution says:

12. Liberty of conscience; appropriations for religious purposes prohibited; religious freedom

Section 12. ... No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise, or instruction, or to the support of any religious establishment.

This gift of of property worth thousands of dollars to a religious group certainly seems to violate Article 2 Section 12 of the Arizona Constitution.

This gift from the city of Tempe to the religious group also seems to violate Article 9 Section 7 of the Arizona Constitution which says:

7. Gift or loan of credit; subsidies; stock ownership; joint ownership

Section 7. Neither the state, nor any county, city, town ... shall ever give or loan its credit in the aid of, or make any donation or grant, by subsidy or otherwise, to any individual, association, or corporation

Source

3 Habitat LEED homes to be built in Tempe

by Matthew Casey - Jul. 7, 2012 07:32 AM

The Republic

Starting this fall, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona will build three houses in Tempe for low-income families.

The Tempe City Council voted last week to sell two vacant lots, at 2227 E. Randall Drive and 1130 S. Stratton Lane, to Habitat, a Christian-based organization, for $10 each.

Karen Cordy, chief development officer of Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, said a family already is chosen for the Stratton Lane property, in the Alegre Community near South McClintock Drive and East Apache Boulevard. The non-profit group will begin construction of a LEED Platinum home on the lot this fall, she said.

Cordy said construction will start next spring on two LEED certifiable homes on the Randall Drive lot, on the eastern side of Loop 101 near South Price Road and East University Drive. Families for those houses have not been selected, she said.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, was developed in 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council.LEED-certified homes are designed and built to keep home operation costs to a minimum, increase property value, reduce waste, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, conserve water and energy and be a healthier environment for people living in the house.

Craig Hittie, neighborhood grants analyst for Tempe, said the city had not worked directly with Habitat for about four years and its "great" proposal was a chance to strengthen their relationship.

"We were looking for a non-profit developer to come in and construct new housing that fit the character of the neighborhood," he said.

Larry Schmalz, principal planner for Tempe, said vacant lots in a neighborhood can be a problem because they attract graffiti and illegal dumping.

"It's a good thing for the neighborhood because you are taking a vacant lot that can attract nuisance and turning them into homes," he said.

 


Tempe Center for the Arts

Tempe Cesspool for the Arts