Phoenix similar to San Fernando Valley? (Glendale: construction, live, manufacturing)

[New Horizons]

I could have asked the LA forum the same question. I know LA and Phoenix are much different. But I thought a valid comparison would be the San Fernando Valley and the city of Phoenix. I haven't been to Phoenix yet but I've spent some time in the SFV.
Raw numbers:

San Fernando Valley:
population:1.76 million
area: 260 sq miles

Phoenix (city limits)
population: 1.45 million
area:518 sq miles

As you can see the populations are almost on par, but even restricted to the city, Phoenix is more spread out. Is this difference in density noticeably evident for those of you that have been to both areas? I guess that was my main question, but please share any other thoughts on these two great valleys of the west.

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by desert_scene

I could have asked the LA forum the same question. I know LA and Phoenix are much different. But I thought a valid comparison would be the San Fernando Valley and the city of Phoenix. I haven't been to Phoenix yet but I've spent some time in the SFV.
Raw numbers:

San Fernando Valley:
population:1.76 million
area: 260 sq miles

Phoenix (city limits)
population: 1.45 million
area:518 sq miles

As you can see the populations are almost on par, but even restricted to the city, Phoenix is more spread out. Is this difference in density noticeably evident for those of you that have been to both areas? I guess that was my main question, but please share any other thoughts on these two great valleys of the west.

I don't know the figure, but a large portion of Phoenix's area is undeveloped land. I wouldn't be surprised if the density felt similar in both areas.

[azdr0710]

the lower density in Phoenix can be mostly attributed to the widespread abundance of private, buildable land in the area....it was cheaper to build out than up.....sprawl is the result....

much of the SF Valley is surrounded by public land or mostly unbuildable land, so a denser urban area resulted.....

both areas boomed, of course, since WW2, but these logistical and practical considerations are why Phx is less dense

[hart4july]

I just drove through the San Fernando Valley where family lives a few months ago, into the West and East Valleys of Phoenix.

I am no expert, but I can tell you the freeways are much less congested and better kept, there was so much trash along the 91(?) and 10 in CA and then everything became so clean and spacious in Arizona. The actual neighbor hoods/malls etc. might feel similar (though newer here)once you are in them, but the commute experience is so much better here.

The dry hot weather and mountainous views are similar.

[Golden_Monkey]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

the lower density in Phoenix can be mostly attributed to the widespread abundance of private, buildable land in the area....it was cheaper to build out than up.....sprawl is the result....

much of the SF Valley is surrounded by public land or mostly unbuildable land, so a denser urban area resulted.....

both areas boomed, of course, since WW2, but these logistical and practical considerations are why Phx is less dense

Yep, that about sums it up. I don't think there's any room left in the SFV to build. I lived in Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena (though that's considered San Gabriel Valley) for 12 years, and everything there is cramped and congested.

Also, as far as air quality goes, the worst days out here are like the best days in the SFV.

[hart4july]

Whoops-it's the San Bernadino Mountain area I am referring to, not San Fernando. Not sure how it applies,sorry

[_Charles_]

Nope - the Phoenix metro area is comparable to Orange County sans the ocean and beaches.
The Valley once had a unique small town style joie de vivre but that is long gone.
Since the mid 90s this area has basically morphed into an inland copy of the OC.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

Nope - the Phoenix metro area is comparable to Orange County sans the ocean and beaches.
The Valley once had a unique small town style joie de vivre but that is long gone.
Since the mid 90s this area has basically morphed into an inland copy of the OC.

I can see a similarity to Orange County to a point, but I think the San Fernando Valley has more in common with Phoenix. It has a similar street grid, similar architecture, and even the climate is more relative to that of Phoenix than O.C. Being closer to the ocean, Orange County is more influenced by the marine layer, and tends to stay cooler during the summer. San Fernando Valley is inland ... therefore, has less of the ocean's effect, and can get pretty hot during the summer months as a result.

Also, I think the "small town style" was gone long before the '90s. With all the growth, new industry, and highrise construction that took place in the '70s and '80s, Phoenix was just becoming a big city by then. The '90s saw more outward growth, but also an increase in professional sports franchises making their way in ... so that was about the time Phoenix became more nationally recognized as a major player. It still has work to do, however.

[New Horizons]

Interesting stuff you all, I've been reading them all. I drove all over the SFV on a visit there. I have to be honest, coming from a small city (Tampa, fl), I was kind of impressed with all the people, commotion, and traffic. But I like the brown, clean look of PHX too.

[_Charles_]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I can see a similarity to Orange County to a point, but I think the San Fernando Valley has more in common with Phoenix. It has a similar street grid, similar architecture, and even the climate is more relative to that of Phoenix than O.C. Being closer to the ocean, Orange County is more influenced by the marine layer, and tends to stay cooler during the summer. San Fernando Valley is inland ... therefore, has less of the ocean's effect, and can get pretty hot during the summer months as a result.

Also, I think the "small town style" was gone long before the '90s. With all the growth, new industry, and highrise construction that took place in the '70s and '80s, Phoenix was just becoming a big city by then. The '90s saw more outward growth, but also an increase in professional sports franchises making their way in ... so that was about the time Phoenix became more nationally recognized as a major player. It still has work to do, however.

The film industry (all kinds) is the major employer in the San Fernando Valley.
High tech and manufacturing is the major employer in the OC as it in the Phoenix area.
The San Fernando Valley is politically very, very liberal.
The OC is moslty politically conservative as is most of the Phoenix metro area.

And I agree the small town feel to the Valley evaporated in the 80s. It was gone by the 90s.