At first glance, the small commercial building on South Broad Street looked more like a liability than an opportunity. The ceilings in the front offices were barely seven feet high. The façade was failing. Inside, four layers of wall concealed original plaster and brick. The roof — rebuilt and altered multiple times since the late 1800s — was structurally unsound.
But to Rachel and Talmage Hansen, it was full of possibilities.
The couple purchased the property for just $85,000, believing — optimistically—that they could complete the renovation in one summer.
“We were definitely ambitious,” Rachel said. “And very wrong.”
Rachel estimates the original structure was built around 1895, when downtown Broad Street was literally being carved out of the hillside. Over time, the building underwent major changes in the 1920s, 1950s and 1970s, with each era leaving its mark.
“Every layer we peeled back told another part of the building’s story,” she said.
Engineering challenges multiplied quickly. The roof alone revealed questionable construction: two original shotgun roofs with a third later added across the entire building — without proper load support where the roofs converged and without proper alignment.
“It’s really hard to believe the roof held up as long as it did,” Rachel said.
A massive structural beam now runs the full length of the building, reinforced with additional supports throughout to stabilize the century-old structure and preserve as much of the original roof as possible. To legally take on the scope of work required.
“Talmage literally got a commercial contracting license so we could take this on,” Rachel said.
While the physical challenges were significant, the timeline proved even more daunting. The Hansens submitted plans for electrical, HVAC, water and plumbing at the same time in hopes of speeding approvals. Instead, it took a full year of constant inquiries for permits to move through the process.
Contractors were booked months out, and specialty work required long waits— including six months just to schedule a custom concrete pour for the kitchen table.
“We’re problem solvers,” Rachel said. “It wasn’t the problems that wore us down—it was how long everything took. Even the waiting took a long time.”
There were moments when the couple wondered if they should sell. But they pushed on.
“If I had known how long it would really take, I might have backed out,” Rachel said. “I’m glad I didn’t.”
After 4.5 years, they finally pulled off a Christmas surprise their children will never forget. The family secretly moved their tree and all the presents into the unfinished home and told the kids the Grinch had stolen Christmas. And added, since there were no presents, they might as well go down to the project house and get some work done. When the doors opened, the children walked into a warm house glowing with Christmas lights and gifts.
Architecturally, the renovation became a deliberate balance between restraint and reinvention. Modern structural beams were left clean and contemporary rather than distressed. Original brick arches above doors and windows were preserved — even when the openings had to be reconstructed as the floors were raised, as in the front bedrooms, which were raised nearly two feet to allow for taller ceilings below. New brick was stained to match the original.
When layers of wall were removed, the family uncovered a plaster layer over the original brick. Rather than leave it, Rachel decided it had to go. She spent weeks with a spade removing plaster and then years with the help of her children restaining every brick to match one pristine historic wall they loved. Three custom stain colors were mixed with concrete; each of their four children — Heber, Hannah, Olive and Dewey — were assigned a wall and instructed to apply color at random.
“Our kids worked right alongside us—learning skills, problem-solving and being part of the project from start to finish,” Rachel said.
Two worked from ladders. Two from the floor. Full insulation was added throughout, especially on the west-facing front wall and along the roof to protect the upstairs bedrooms from Globe’s extreme summer heat.
Financing required creativity as well as trust. Talmage’s father allowed them to use a ten-year certificate of deposit, repaid through monthly returns. In total, the couple invested approximately $100,000 into the renovation. Traditional financing, Rachel says, would have added far more stress during long delays.
It was only later that many in the community learned just how personal the project truly was.
Rachel and Talmage met in college — an unlikely pairing at first glance. Rachel calls herself a “super nerd.” Talmage was the jock. He grew up in Globe and graduated from Globe High School; she was raised in Buckeye. Both came from large families, and both shared an intensity and drive that drew them together. Rachel skipped most of high school, moving directly from eighth grade into college-level classes at 14. By 17, she was tutoring college students in science and math. Though art was her first love, she chose engineering for practical reasons. Today, she is completing a master’s degree in architecture, bringing together structure and design.
Talmage, though athletic, was also academically driven and ambitious.
At the time they purchased the Globe building, the couple was living near Dallas while he completed his master’s degree in civil engineering. But they wanted to return to Arizona, be closer to family, and raise their children near cousins.
Their interest in walkable, community-centered living led them to explore downtown properties. Prescott’s courthouse square initially caught Rachel’s eye — until milliondollar price tags ended that option. Globe, on the other hand, felt accessible and full of promise. After viewing several downtown properties, their focus narrowed to the smallest of three: the struggling South Broad building with the low ceilings and failing front wall. While others saw only problems, Rachel already envisioned offices below and a family home above.
All while working fulltime as civil engineers, raising four children, coaching sports and teaching piano, the family poured nearly every spare hour into the restoration.
“If we had free time,” Rachel said, “we were working on the house.”
Today, their daily lives reflect the very values that brought them to downtown Globe.
“Our kids walk to school every day. We walk to the store, the library, the theater. It’s such a gift to live like this,” Rachel said.
The finished building stands as a blend of their professions and personalities—strong structural integrity paired with thoughtful artistic design. Old and new exist side by side. History remains visible.
Rachel’s advice to anyone considering a historic renovation is simple:
“Patience first,” she said. “And money. Both matter. But if you truly care about the craftsmanship and the story of a building — it’s worth it."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here