The Arizona Board of Regents, acting for ASU, filed a May 2026 eminent domain complaint to take the Louis Emerson House, a 124‑year‑old residence listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register. The university had offered $990,000, but owner John Young rejected the deal, insisting that a second relocation would cost between $2 million and $3 million.
Long‑time tenant Barry Schwartz and Young launched a public campaign in March 2025, partnering with Preserve Phoenix to launch a Change.org petition. The petition gathered more than 12,000 verified signatures from across Arizona and the United States, drawing attention to the house’s status as one of the city’s few pre‑statehood dwellings.
In a written statement to The State Press, ASU spokesperson said the university decided to drop the case to respect the owner’s wishes and respond to community feedback. The court papers filed before a September evidentiary hearing formally dismissed the condemnation suit.
Young, who has held the title for 51 years, expressed relief, saying the threat of losing his property was over. Schwartz noted the rapid growth in public support helped change the university’s position.
ASU will no longer pursue a medical campus headquarters across the block, and the university’s plans for the site will be re‑examined. The university has not yet announced a replacement strategy, but a public educational event will likely follow the open house held during downtown Phoenix’s First Friday art walk in August 2026.