Transfiguration Buildings & Grounds – Part II

This article is the second of a 3-part series which provides a description, brief history, and usage summary of the buildings and land comprising Transfiguration campus. This part is focused on our land and landscape. The information is offered to enhance familiarity with our campus and assist parishioner understanding of building and land usage and associated financial issues.

The Transfiguration campus is bounded on the north by a public-access alley, east by S Mountain Rd, south by Vine Street, and west by residential housing. The photo (Maricopa County website) provides a recent aerial view.

The campus at 514 S. Mountain Road began in 1965 with 2½ acres of land purchased from a local landowner at $1500/acre. In 1972, that same landowner donated to Transfiguration an adjoining 2 ½ acres of land at no cost – enlarging the campus to 5 contiguous acres. The campus remained 5 acres in size for three decades. In 2004,Transfiguration was heavily in debt, in part due to significant mortgage on the new church building, and the decision was made to sell approximately ½ of the campus land. The mortgage was retired, bills were paid, and the campus size, at 2.77 acres, has remained unchanged since then.

The campus landscape has been changed several times over the years. In the late 1960’s, it was typical Arizona desert; there was no surrounding residential area and the land was undeveloped except for the church and Parish House. Later, limited grass area and plants were added around the church building and Parish House. In following years, an irrigation system was installed, bushes and trees were planted, and grass covered the area between buildings. After some years of greenery, the Congregation made an overt effort to restore the campus landscape to its natural state. Indigenous plants replaced grass and irrigation-needing trees/bushes, irrigation was ended, and landscape maintenance was almost nonexistent. Today, we practice xeriscaping and perform landscape maintenance sufficient to ensure an attractive, but not manicured-looking, campus.

Our parking lot evolution is a novel story. Until 2002, parishioners parked on a gravel/dirt area. In 2002, the lot was paved at significant expense, with the cost defrayed by parishioners donating $75 per space and each donator assigned a specific membership number. The pavement deteriorates over time and with the Arizona climate and was most recently repaired in 2023.

Over the years, insect and rodent inhabitants of our land have presented challenges to the congregation. During the 1990’s, termites invaded all 3 buildings, requiring broad extermination treatment, and eventually causing damage to the church sufficient to require the building to be demolished and replaced. In 2011, termites again infested all 3 buildings and extensive treatment was necessary. Ground squirrels have also presented a challenge, albeit lesser than the termites. During the past 5-10 years, squirrels dug tunnels under the Office building to the extent that we began to question the tunnels’ impact on the building’s structural integrity. Commencing last year, we contracted the ongoing services of a rodent removal company.

A notable improvement to our land commenced in 2014 when the chili farm ministry was formed. Part of our campus “backyard” – the area south of the alley and north of Office & Parish Hall buildings – was converted to a farmable field. The field, located behind the Office, initially encompassed an area of 4,000 ft² . The land was cultivated, an irrigation system installed, and chilis planted. In 2018, the farm was expanded by 1000 ft² and, additionally, the gravel area behind the Parish Hall converted into a second field of 5000 ft². The congregation enthusiastically supported the new ministry and many parishioners participated in the planting, watering, maintenance, and harvesting associated with the new farm.


CORRECTION to Article #1: Maricopa County line runs along Meridian Rd (not S. Mountain Rd)