The Rollings family will receive the “Heart of Downtown Award” from Mayor Bob Walkup on Thursday, August 4 at 10:00 AM. The ceremony will be held at Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant, located at 198 West Cushing Street in Downtown’s historic Barrio Viejo. The business is housed in an historic 1860’s adobe building that the family purchased and restored, along with several other nearby adobe structures.
The mayor’s “Heart of Downtown Award” was established to honor an individual, group, organization or business that provides exceptional contributions to the improvement of Downtown Tucson. The award is given quarterly and is an element of the Rio Nuevo project that is revitalizing Downtown – the “Heart of the City”. This is the first time an entire family has been honored with the award.
“The Rollings family has played a major role in preserving what’s unique about our Downtown,” said Mayor Walkup. “Thanks to their passion for historic architecture, many irreplaceable structures in Barrio Viejo have been beautifully restored and preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy. I’m honored to present them with the Mayor’s “Heart of Downtown Award”.
The Rollings family has been purchasing and restoring adobe buildings in Downtown’s Barrio Viejo, located within the national district Barrio Libre, for more than 30 years.
In 1971, Kelley Rollings and his wife, Sally, began buying adobe buildings – most dating from the 1860’s - that were threatened by development or neglect. Today, Rollings Corporation and Bacon Industries, Inc., own more than 30 buildings in Downtown’s Barrio Viejo neighborhood. Each was purchased and restored to its original appearance, in many cases using salvaged materials, to achieve the highest degree of authenticity. The properties are leased to commercial and residential tenants.
Kelley Rollings son, Donald said receiving the “Heart of Downtown Award” is a proud achievement for his family. The Rollings family is honored to be recognized by the greater Downtown community for the 30-plus years spent restoring historic structures in this unique Downtown neighborhood,” Donald said. “It is encouraging to know that the Downtown community values the preservation of the city’s historical architecture and rich cultural heritage. The outcome of present-day efforts to mix preservation and revitalization projects Downtown will impact the quality of life in our larger community.” |
