In less than a year, Eric Diaz and Katelyn Harris Lange have given new life to a longfamiliar landmark in East Globe, along U.S. 60. The couple have transformed the former JP Motel, a weathered structure built in 1940, into a contemporary four-unit apartment complex. JP Motel Apartments blends modern design with a quiet nod to its past.
Along East Ash Street, where traffic hums steadily by, the renovation has become a visible sign of change, drawing honks of approval from passing drivers who seem pleased to see the aged building reborn.
The area itself is experiencing a small but noticeable revival. Across the street already sits Chalo’s Casa de Reynoso, but within blocks away are the newer Copper Bean Coffee and Gorditas Doña Rosa. Across the street, construction is underway for Globe’s future fire station. Against that backdrop, the revitalized motel feels like part of a larger shift taking place along the corridor.
Locals may remember the building for its distinctive pastel pink window trim, its wood-shingle mansard roof, and the A-frame entrance that once welcomed customers into Willie’s Beauty Hut. Owned by Willie Pleich, the salon operated out of one of the units for more than 40 years, until the early 2000s, leaving a lasting impression on generations of Globe residents.
Though Diaz and Lange have renovated several properties around Arizona, this project marks their first in Globe. The couple, based in Phoenix, are drawn to the character of older buildings and welcome the opportunity to restore them.
“Phoenix has so many new builds that lack any character or mystery,” Lange says. “So it’s really neat to have that on this property.”
They were also drawn to Globe’s slower pace of life.
“We were ready to be somewhere smaller, with less people, less traffic, where you know a lot of people, you meet your neighbors,” she says. “We’ve liked a lot of things about our experience here.”
That sense of connection matters to Diaz as well. “A colleague of mine told me, ‘If you’re going to build something out of where you live, you’ve got to like that place,’” he says. “You’ve got to have joy from a place you’re going to spend on, because you’re going to spend a lot of time there, regardless.”
The couple purchased the JP Motel in October 2023, secured permits last March, and have been working on the space steadily ever since, often with their three- and four-yearold children alongside them.
What followed was less of a remodel and more of a rebuild. The previous owners had only been using one unit. While the original bones of the structure could remain, much of the interior had to be demolished, reframed, and reconstructed. One of the clearest signs of the work to be done: a tree was growing into one of the units.
Today, the property looks entirely different. All four units have been converted into sleek, modern living spaces connected by fenced private side yards. Once carports, the areas are now enclosed with corrugated metal fencing, creating a buffer from the highway while maintaining a sense of unity among the units.
The wraparound mansard roof — once clad in low-hanging wood shingles — has been replaced with a clean metal finish. Outside, the pastel pink window trim has given way to deep gray accents that complement the new roofline and modern aesthetic.
Inside, the changes are equally dramatic. The three smaller units were originally tiny one-bedrooms or studios, but Diaz and Lange removed any dividing walls, replacing them with partial pony walls to create open studio layouts.
“They feel a lot more open,” Diaz says.
To further enhance that feeling, drop ceilings were removed and replaced with vaulted ceilings. Though the height increase is only a couple of feet, it makes a noticeable difference, allowing more natural light to flood the space. Ceiling mounted lighting fixtures draw the eye upward, emphasizing the added height.
Built-in bar shelving along the pony walls ties the spaces together, offering functionality while reinforcing the studios’ open, communal feel. Interiors are finished in soft whites and grays, creating a neutral backdrop that feels bright and airy. Occasional pops of color come from retro-inspired kitchen appliances, adding personality without overwhelming the space and allowing renters room to make it their own.
Though compact, the bathrooms are inviting. Subtle design choices give them a chic, modern edge, from metallic-accented shower paneling to muted laminate flooring. Black shower door frames and matte black fixtures provide contrast, tying the spaces together with a clean, intentional look.
The largest unit, located on the corner of the building, has been converted into a three-bedroom, two-bath home. It will serve as a short-term rental and as a regular place for the family to stay when it’s available. To bring in even more light, the couple reduced the size of an upstairs bedroom to add an additional window.
Amid all the change, Diaz and Lange were intentional about preserving parts of the building’s former life. The upstairs of the family unit still opens onto a patio deck, rebuilt but echoing the original design. The unit’s skylights were also kept, filling the space with daylight and reducing the need for artificial lighting.
“This one has a lot of character,” Diaz says. “I’ve always liked how you walk in and those skylights up there just give such good natural light all day.”
Downstairs, the old brick fireplace remains, adding warmth and a sense of continuity with the past. Out front, the brick stoop, once a place where the former owner sat and set out items to give away, has also been preserved, even though the front door itself was removed and walled off.
“I love the brick stoop out front,” Lange says, knowing that it once served as a means of local connection for the former owner.
One final piece of history still stands at the corner of the building: the JP Motel neon sign. The couple plans to restore it, keeping it as a nod to the structure’s long presence along U.S. 60.
The renovation is nearly complete and the couple are wrapping up final touches.
Diaz and Lange have added renewed vitality to a stretch of Globe that’s beginning to buzz once again.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for JP Motel Apartments is planned for late February.
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