A parcel of land in northwest Tucson set to be sold to the Costco Wholesale Corporation has been found to contain important historical artifacts.
The site in question lies off of Sunset Road and I-10. Last month, the county signed a nonbinding letter of intent to sell the 56-acre parcel to Costco for $15 million.
But last week, County Administrator Jan Lesher sent a memo to the Board of Supervisors notifying them of the site’s historical and cultural significance, which was omitted from the site’s initial appraisal.
“The property lies within a highly significant archaeological site containing extensive and deeply buried cultural deposits dating back more than 3,000 years, including evidence of some of the earliest irrigation agriculture in North America north of Mexico, later Hohokam settlements, and previously documented ancestral human remains and footprints,” Lesher wrote. “These resources have demonstrated importance well beyond their archaeological value.”
The site gained notoriety in early 2016, when ancient footprints were discovered embedded in what was an irrigated field some 2,500-3000 years ago.
As a result, the county will be initiating a consultation with Tribal Nations to discuss the proposed sale. It’s the first time that the county will enact its updated Tribal Consultation policy, which the Board of Supervisors approved last month.
That update directs the county to consult with Tribal Nations “when a County project or action has the potential to affect cultural resources, including Traditional Cultural Places,” according to the county’s language.
Ian Milliken, Pima County's Historical Preservation Officer, said that 13 federally recognized tribes have been alerted of the proposal. The Tohono O'odham, Pascua Yaqui, Gila River Indian Community, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have expressed interest in meeting with the county.
Milliken reiterated that the county did not instigate the deal.
"This is not Pima County seeking out Costco, this is Costco approaching Pima County," he said.
According to Milliken, if the sale proceeds, all possible efforts will be made to mitigate the impact to the site.
Mark Evans, Pima County's Communications Director, said the county has worked hard to respect cultural and historical sites in the past, and will ensure that the Tribal Nations are included in the process.
"If you're trying to develop along the Santa Cruz River, you're going to find archaeological resources there," he said. "And so the county wants to be very respectful of that."
The potential sale of the property is likely several months away, pending the outcome of the tribal consultations and feasibility reports from Costco.
