Its original home was at Seventh Street and Forest Avenue, where it also housed part of a city favorite restaurant, House of Tricks.<\/p>\n
Besides the building movement, the city said it will restore the Walker House \u201cfor future public enjoyment, including potential retail or restaurant offerings\u201d and a 30-story mixed-use development will take over its original space, according to a press release.<\/p>\n
The mixed-use development will feature more than 800 apartment units and retail stores on the base level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis partnership (with developers Core Spaces and Wexford Developments) allows us to meet our city\u2019s growing housing need while preserving an iconic piece of Tempe history,\u201d Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said in the release. \u201cRedevelopment of a property, especially a space as beloved as the former House of Tricks location, can be a tough balancing act, and I\u2019m beyond pleased that we were able to work with the development team to find a solution that benefits everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the museum, Tempe<\/a> is committed to preserving First Congregational Church located at Sixth Street and Myrtle Avenue, which was built in 1899 and restored in 1953. The city will also become the new owner of the building.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that the city has ownership of the Walker House, and soon the historic church sanctuary, we\u2019ll be able to ensure they are both preserved for future generations to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n Brief history on Tempe\u2019s Walker House<\/p>\n The city museum was named after Harry Walker, a groundskeeper at Arizona State University, and he lived in the house for a period before moving to northern Arizona.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until 1954 that Thomas S. Montgomery, a local architect, used the building as a office and then shortly after opening in 1987, House of Tricks took over the space.<\/p>\n The beloved restaurant closed in 2022 after its owners retired.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beautiful historic homes and gardens we created around them were a significant part of what made House of Tricks so special to so many people,\u201d Robin Trick, co-owner of House of Tricks said in the release. \u201cWe are thrilled that the Walker House will remain in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow @pwmoses11<\/a><\/p>\n We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/KTAREmail-830x100-1.jpg\")
\t