A picture taken in the early 1900s shows Mathilda Pusch, left, George Pusch Jr., George Pusch and Gertrude Pusch at Steam Pump Ranch.

photo courtesy of henry sipf / oro valley historical society

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Oro Valley is very near a settlement to preserve the historical Steam Pump Ranch and eventually open it to the public.

The Town of Oro Valley will pay $4.5 million for the 15-acre property between First Avenue and Tangerine Road on North Oracle Road. The money will come from Pima County bond funds.

The town will develop a master plan for the site with input from the public.

The historical ranch buildings, including houses from the 1870s and 1930s, outbuildings and the now collapsed steam pump building will be preserved on what is left of the ranch.

The town expects to close a $2.76 million deal with John Leiber for 9 acres this month. A separate deal with OVB Partners to pay $1.74 million for the remaining 6 acres should be complete by December.

The agreement marks the end of a three-year battle over the fate of the property that started when OVB Partners asked for a rezoning to build a shopping mall there.

The plan called for the historical buildings to be preserved, but town and county officials wanted the ranch environment preserved as well.

When negotiations stalled, OVB Partners threatened at one point to demolish the historical buildings to put pressure on the county. Earlier this year, Oro Valley launched condemnation proceedings against the owners. The current agreement is the result of negotiations.

Leiber said that the final price is "palatable" and that he was very happy the ranch would be preserved.

He called the ranch his "little oasis" but said the commercial development on all sides had made living there "intolerable." That's why he entertained a proposal from OVB Partners to develop the property but keep the historical buildings.

"I have a lot of memories, blood, sweat and tears in the place," said Leiber, a Tucson attorney who was born and raised on the ranch. "We're all emotional about having to go, but we feel good that money is available to preserve the historic ambience."

The town also is paying $100,000 to help Leiber relocate. He said he hopes to find another ranch property on the Northwest Side.

Leiber has a year from the close of the sale to move out.

"We have a beautiful place that I wish I could airlift to some place 10 miles off the main road," he said.

His brother, Henry Leiber, sold the 6 acres he owned to OVB for $1.32 million but has received only $500,000. The balance was due upon rezoning, but the rezoning never happened.

Mick Rusing, an attorney for Henry Leiber, said his client should have been included in the discussions and should be compensated as if the rezoning occurred. He has asked for a meeting to discuss his claims.

Town Attorney Melinda Garrahan said the town doesn't consider Henry Leiber to have an interest in the property.

Mike Naifeh, a member of OVB Partners, said OBV's purchase is a "business matter" between the company and Henry Leiber and shouldn't affect the sale to the town.

He said the agreement marked the end of long and difficult negotiations.

"I hope the town ends up with a really nice facility they can be proud of," he said.

The 2004 county bond package included $2 million to purchase the Steam Pump Ranch and another $3 million for the proposed Naranja Town Site park. At the request of town officials, the Naranja money was transferred to the Steam Pump Ranch, making $5 million available the town.

The remaining $500,000 will go toward preserving and restoring the historical buildings on the ranch.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the transfer of funds at its meeting today, and the Town Council is expected to vote on the agreement next week.

"It's just a really neat project. The community is really excited," said Town Manager David Andrews. "It's a significant historical preservation piece."

Earlier this month, the Town Council approved a $50,000 contract to develop a master plan for the site.

Oro Valley Town Historian Jim Kriegh said the purchase guaranteed the preservation of one of the two most significant historical sites in Oro Valley.

The ranch was settled by George Pusch in the 1870s. He brought in the steam-powered pump, which gives the ranch its name, to provide water for cattle and passing stagecoaches on what would become Oracle Road.

Later it was owned by John Procter, owner of the Pioneer Hotel and grandfather of John and Henry Leiber.

R. Brooks Jeffery, associate dean at the University of Arizona's college of architecture and landscape architecture and coordinator of preservation studies there, served as a town consultant when Naifeh first proposed developing the site.

"It represents the closest thing to a town center or birthplace for Oro Valley," he said. "That's why people settled out there. Oro Valley is one of those suburban places that doesn't really have a center."

He said the site is very rare in that buildings from every historical era are still on the site.

"It's a complete ensemble," he said.