Phoenix Relocation Guide

H O U S I N G & N E I G H B O R H O O D S

Bordered by the McDowell Mountains on the west, the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation on the east and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the south, Fountain Hills will likely remain at its present size of 11,640 acres. Paradise Valley Town of Paradise Valley: 480-948-7411 www.ci.paradise-valley.az.us North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce 602-482-3344 northphoenixchamber.com There are actually two Paradise Valleys: one is the more secluded Town of Paradise Valley comprised of upscale homes nestled in against the sides of the Sonoran Desert hills or hidden behind oleander-covered estate walls, while the other is Greater Para- dise Valley, a larger, more diverse community that includes businesses and the Paradise Valley Mall at its center. The Town of Paradise Valley is located just north of the landmark Camelback Mountain and is almost entirely residential. Among its amenities are the Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, and the Marriott Mountain Shadows Resort, as well as the Doubletree La Posada Resort. There are also exclu- sive shops and restaurants located near the town’s border with Scottsdale. The neighborhood is the home of a number of celebrities, including baseball’s Joe Gara- giola and rocker Alice Cooper. The neighborhood of Greater Paradise Valley is located within Phoenix city limits, but is considered its own village. Around the edges of Paradise Valley Mall are retail shops, apartments, condos and healthcare facilities as well as Paradise Valley Hospital. Outside of this area are townhomes, single- family homes, small estates with horse privileges and a few golf courses. The area is known for its excellent housing and schools.

as McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch, still pay homage to the area’s early days. These neighborhoods are often a mix of residential homes that include single-family homes, condominiums, patio homes and townhomes. More than 40 percent of Scotts- dale’s residents fall into the over 40-year age bracket, which has helped build a growing medical community that includes the western campus of the Mayo Clinic. For a city in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale is remarkably green, with nationally acclaimed golf courses and Indian Bend Wash, the centerpiece of Scottsdale’s extensive recreational amenities. This miles- long ribbon of greenbelt, which extends down the middle of the vertically drawn city, is bordered by several parks that feature bike paths, small fishing lakes and recreation complexes. With zoning ordinances in place to protect the city’s “destination” atmosphere, commercial buildings in downtown Scott- sdale were once restricted in height to four stories. This caused the city to expand outward, and increased its territory from one square mile in 1951 to 185 miles today. Because the city is bordered by Phoenix to the west, Tempe to the south and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the east, new commercial and residential construction has expanded toward Scotts- dale’s northern city limits. The hospitality business is big here, with more than 70 hotels and award-winning luxury resorts ready to host leisure trav- elers and convention-goers year-round. To cater to visitors and satisfy the desires of its resident, much of the city’s development is retail oriented. Central Scottsdale streets are lined with clothing boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and retail stores, many of which have been in business in the same location for decades. Just north of Fifth Avenue and Old Town Scottsdale is the modern shop- ping Mecca of Scottsdale Fashion Square, featuring three levels of locally owned and national chain stores. Interest in culture and the arts is especially strong in Scott- sdale. The Scottsdale Center for the Arts hosts an eclectic mix of intimate classical

Desert Ridge is one of Arizona’s largest master planned community, and although it was under development for a long time, it is said to now hold more than 50,000 residents in the northern area of Greater Paradise Valley. At more than 5,700 acres, it includes residential housing, an 800-room resort, two 18-hole golf courses and a 1,000-acre commerce park. Residents here find it is easy to get around via the Pima Freeway from I-17 and the Piestewa Parkway that has been extended to the Pima Freeway to give better accessi- bility to Sky Harbor Airport and downtown Phoenix. Scottsdale City of Scottsdale: 480-312-3111 www.scottsdaleaz.gov Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce 480-355-2700 www.scottsdalechamber.com Pity the shortsighted Phoenix real estate salesman who moved to Scottsdale in 1949 and left two years later, declaring the land inhospitable and Scottsdale’s future unpromising. These conclusions would surely surprise the nearly 240,000 people who live here and the estimated six million visitors who come to this resort destina- tion every year. Since its founding in 1888 by United States Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, Scottsdale has grown from a collec- tion of cattle ranches and citrus farms into a cosmopolitan community of young professionals, families and retirees. The city’s resort lifestyle extends far beyond the grounds of its expansive hotels. Many housing developments feature golf courses and recreational complexes, with shopping and other amenities just a bike ride away. Although the days of cattle ranching in the area are long past, the names of vast multi-development neighborhoods, such

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