As ASU works to build the ASU Health headquarters on the Downtown Phoenix campus, University officials are looking to remove a 124-year-old property from the site. Its owner said he felt he had been treated unfairly by the University.
Robert Young, 88, has owned the historic Louis Emerson House at the southeast corner of East Pierce Street and North Fourth Street since 1975. It is designated as historic by the Phoenix Historic Property Register.
Now, he said he's fighting to protect the home from destruction by the University.
"You can't get back history," Young said. "You can't recreate a historical treasure."
The ASU Health building will hold the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering and the School of Technology for Public Health.
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Built in 1902, the Louis Emerson House is older than Arizona's statehood. Young traced the structure's history back through the development of downtown Phoenix.
The property was built by early Phoenix developer Clark Churchill as part of his own section of land during a period when wealthy settlers moved to the area, Young said.
Beyond its significance to the area, the Louis Emerson House also has personal meaning for Young. He said he lived there for over 45 years before renting it out to a tenant, and he got married on the house's front steps.
Young said the University has floated several offers to purchase the property. However, he is not at all interested in the demolition of the house, and would only consider an offer that would let him move the entire house to another part of the area developed by Churchill.
The issue is that moving a house is expensive, even at a short distance, and he hasn't found a viable lot that could hold the building, Young said.
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"I know real estate in Phoenix, I've been doing this for 50 years," Young said. "You just don't pick up a big lot anymore. Everything's so expensive."
As a former criminal defense attorney and real estate agent, he said he would fight the eminent domain of the Louis Emerson House in court if given the chance.
The University received approval from the Arizona Board of Regents in November 2025 to pursue eminent domain on the property through litigation, according to meeting minutes, which would allow it to pay for the property regardless of Young's assent.
University officials have informally suggested eminent domain in talks with Young, he said. However, they have not sent any correspondence to that effect.
Even after filing an eminent domain action, the University would still be expected to negotiate an agreement for the purchase of the property, according to a document sent to ABOR that was included in a recent meeting agenda.
"I don't think I've been treated fairly," Young said. "They won't explain the issue, actually. All they've done is pepper me with bids, with offers to enter into a letter of intent (to sell the property)."
Visuals published online by the University continue to show the Louis Emerson House parcel carved out of the ASU Health headquarters footprint. However, a University spokesperson said in a written statement that it became clear that the lot is needed for the project after a thorough planning process.
"The university has made several offers to the owner to purchase the parcel, including offers which allow for the house to be moved, that have not been accepted," the spokesperson stated. "The university is moving ahead with the project and is evaluating options regarding the Emerson House."
The city of Phoenix has partnered extensively with the University to bring the ASU Health headquarters downtown. In late March, the city approved a $50 million investment into ASU Health, according to the city.
Saneeya Mir, a spokesperson for the Phoenix Planning and Development Department, said in a written statement that the city was working with the University to construct the ASU Health headquarters on a pair of parcels, not including the one on which the Louis Emerson House sits.
"The Louis Emerson House is not included in the current proposal submitted by ASU to the City," Mir stated. "The property would need to be acquired by ASU if they were interested in redeveloping it."
In a second statement, Mir said officials coordinate with institutional partners on projects but do not handle those partners' property negotiations or legal action. The city is not directly involved in discussions or litigation about acquiring the Louis Emerson House parcel.
"We remain focused on supporting thoughtful development and working collaboratively with partners to ensure projects align with community priorities and applicable historic preservation processes," Mir said in the statement.
Young said he does not think he could handle losing the Louis Emerson House. Having seen the destruction of other historic properties in the area, he said he is committed to protecting this one.
"It's been there since 1902, and it should stay there for another 100 years at least," Young said. "It tells a story."
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Senna James, Sophia Braccio and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at coyer1@asu.edu and follow @carstenoyer on X.
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Carsten Oyer is the politics desk editor at The State Press. This is his third semester with The State Press, having previously worked as a politics reporter. He is studying journalism and mass communication and political science.
