The Embry Health parking lot in Tempe, near Price Road and Southern Avenue, is now piled high with surplus medical supplies, high-dollar items, and excess junk."This is light industrial or retail, not junkyard," said neighbor Burke Files, referring to the zoning."And they just kept adding and adding and adding. Last week it seemed to grow disproportionately."
The company said its lease recently expired on the Tolleson warehouse, so it moved the excess materials to its owned property. Residents nearby are less than pleased with the musical chairs scenario - because there are hundreds of chairs stacked in the lot. The company was incredibly successful and instrumental throughout the pandemic, testing countless Arizonans at drive-up sites across the state.
"There were a lot of solutions before it got to this. There are plenty of liquidators that you could call and say, 'Make me an offer on all the stuff in this building.' And they will buy it and take it off your hands," said Files."This is an unwise move as a neighbor. It’s an unwise move as a business."
The City of Tempe told ABC15,"Embry was cited yesterday by our Code Compliance team. There were neighborhood complaints. There was one citation for excess storage, landscaping issues and an issue with a sign. They have 14 days to react. After that, there is a potential $510 fine. If the situation continues, they can be fined again $1,260, and with a third violation $2,460.