Historic Morley Avenue District
Historic Morley Avenue District Named to 2026 National List of Endangered Latinx Landmarks
A binational commercial corridor older than the border itself, now faces significant economic, cultural, and redevelopment pressures.
“Once a vibrant commercial and cultural artery connecting families on both sides of the border, the Historic Morley Avenue District stands at a critical crossroads." — Chiquis Barrón, Nominator for the Historic Morley Avenue District
NOGALES, AZ — August 21, 2026 — The Historic Morley Avenue District in Nogales, AZ has been named to Latinos in Heritage Conservation’s 2026 list of Endangered Latinx Landmarks, a national program recognizing historic places and cultural landscapes significant to Latinx history that face threats to their preservation.
The Historic Morley Avenue District was selected as part of the Endangered Mexico–U.S. Border theme. Morley Avenue is one of the most culturally significant Latinx corridors in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. It is a living archive of border history, shaped by more than a century of Indigenous, Mexican, and American movement, commerce, family life, and cultural exchange. For generations, families crossed the border daily to shop, work, celebrate, and build community along this corridor.
Today, the site faces decades of disinvestment, structural deterioration, vacant and underutilized historic buildings, shifting economic patterns, and a massive federal port modernization project that presents an urgent preservation crisis.
“Once a vibrant commercial and cultural artery connecting families on both sides of the border, the Historic Morley Avenue District stands at a critical crossroads. Its recognition as an Endangered Latino Landmark affirms that our stories matter. This nomination strengthens our work to safeguard both the historic buildings and the living cultural memory now threatened by disinvestment and redevelopment pressures — and we hope it sparks the protection, investment, and dignity our community deserves. Preserving it is preserving who we are,” said Martha “Chiquis” Barrón, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Justice Project and Nominator for the Historic Morley Avenue District.
The 2026 Endangered Latinx Landmarks list was developed by Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC), a national nonprofit working to advance historic preservation in Latinx communities. Sites were selected through community nominations and evaluated based on historical and cultural significance, urgency of threat, community impact, and opportunities to advance visibility and advocacy for underrepresented histories.
LHC’s national Equity Study found that only 0.65% of sites on the National Register of Historic Places are associated with Latinx heritage, despite Latinos representing nearly one in five people in the United States. Inclusion on the Endangered Latinx Landmarks list does not provide legal protection. Instead, the program provides communities with a national platform to increase public awareness, organize support, connect with preservation resources, and advocate for the long-term protection of culturally significant places.
What Happens Next
A coalition of community organizations is advancing a coordinated effort to protect and revitalize the Historic Morley Avenue District from within. Santa Cruz County Justice Project, the GÓK Building, OS3 Youth Center, Wittner Museum, La Línea Art Studio, and the Cultural Arts Committee of Nogales are reactivating cultural spaces, supporting youth leadership, and expanding arts and justice programming. Their work affirms that preservation in this corridor is cultural and social as much as architectural, forming a community‑anchored network dedicated to stabilizing historic buildings, safeguarding Latinx heritage, and advancing protection through national preservation pathways and local landmark tools.
As GSA proceeds with the NEPA process, the coalition is preparing formal Environmental Impact Statement comments, coordinating with local government, and engaging residents and business owners who may be affected by displacement or redevelopment pressures. The community will continue to review forthcoming project materials, submit detailed feedback, and advocate for alternatives that preserve historic structures, cultural identity, and the economic vitality of downtown Nogales. Public participation, fundraising, community organizing, and volunteering — along with legal, administrative, research, and documentation support — remain essential to strengthening these preservation efforts.
Community members can support the effort by:
There are many ways to participate: attend a monthly meeting, volunteer, help with outreach and education, share local issues that matter to you. Meeting dates and additional information will be announced on this website and will also be shared via email with those who subscribe to get updates at the bottom of this page.
More information about the 2026 Endangered Latinx Landmarks:
https://www.latinoheritage.us/endangeredlatinxlandmarks
About the Nominator
Martha L. Barrón, known locally by her lifelong nickname and pen name Chiquis, is an author, researcher, social justice advocate, and Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Justice Project. A native of the Arizona-Sonora border, she brings more than 25 years of experience in health equity research, cultural and behavior health, and trauma- informed community engagement shaped through her work with the University of Arizona Departments of Gender & Women’s Studies, Psychiatry, and Medicine. She returned to Nogales with a personal commitment to help revitalize her hometown, strengthen community, and preserve cultural identity.
About Latinos in Heritage Conservation
Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing historic preservation in Latinx communities through education, advocacy, and leadership. LHC works to ensure that Latinx histories, places, and cultural contributions are recognized, protected, and celebrated as an essential part of the American narrative.
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