Anyone live in Ahwatukee area or city of Tempe? (Phoenix: HOA, houses)

[GSherman]

Hello. I would like to hear from those of you who live in one of the above areas. How do you like it? Pros? Cons? My husband and I are considering moving. We are in our mid 40's with no human kids. Thanks for your opinions.

[Ponderosa]

I moved out of Ahwatukee a while back after many years. It got too congested for my liking. Overall, Ahwatukee is a nice place to live - affluent, safe and good schools, services and shopping. Other than the congestion, the only knock I have on the place is it looks a little "dated" compared to new developments. Much of Ahwatukee went up when architectural imagination was at a minimum. Ahwatukee has endless tracts of houses with the same red tile roofs, beige stucco, roll curbs and garages that give parts of it the character of a mini-storage facility. The newer cities on the west side, at least, now ban such developments and require tree-lined strips between homes and roads, a different paint scheme on adjacent houses and offer least some homes with side entry garages. The problem in the newer developments is the oversized two-story box on a tiny, tiny lot. At least the older parts of Ahwatukee are mostly one-story and slightly larger lots. Pick your poison, I guess.

As for Tempe, it varies. There are nice places and dumpy places.

[twiggy]

Agree, Tempe is hard because part is by ASU.(north) Students and parties. Mid-way dumpy and barrios. South Tempe is pretty good. Awatukee and Chandler (85226) right next to Awatukee are better. It only takes about 10min to get through both so you could live in Chandler and work easily in Tempe or Awatukee but it's a little cheaper. Nice amenities, mall, restaurants, etc.

[nickluva]

uhh what barrios are in Tempe???

[sheena]

Originally Posted by nickluva

uhh what barrios are in Tempe???

I've seen some but I have seen barrios in all the burbs here.

[sweettearose]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I moved out of Ahwatukee a while back after many years. It got too congested for my liking. Overall, Ahwatukee is a nice place to live - affluent, safe and good schools, services and shopping. Other than the congestion, the only knock I have on the place is it looks a little "dated" compared to new developments. Much of Ahwatukee went up when architectural imagination was at a minimum. Ahwatukee has endless tracts of houses with the same red tile roofs, beige stucco, roll curbs and garages that give parts of it the character of a mini-storage facility. The newer cities on the west side, at least, now ban such developments and require tree-lined strips between homes and roads, a different paint scheme on adjacent houses and offer least some homes with side entry garages. The problem in the newer developments is the oversized two-story box on a tiny, tiny lot. At least the older parts of Ahwatukee are mostly one-story and slightly larger lots. Pick your poison, I guess.

I feel this describes most of Phoenix and not just Ahwautukee. Even in Scottsdale around McDowell Mountain Ranch and areas around 83rd and Shea, the homes are expensive but look the same. I haven't really noticed any exceptions on the west side either. Arrowhead has the same stucco, red roof tiled homes with similar floor plans. Peoria near Thomas and the 101 by Banner Estrella hospital has the same look.

I'm responding because that aspect bothers me about the homes in Phoenix too. The interiors are what make the homes nice in Phoenix but the exteriors are very cookie cutter. Maybe I should look into the west side when coming back. Are their neighborhoods that have unique styles? I noticed that Ocotillo had some unique features but were very expensive. The same goes for Fountain Hills. I was just under the impression that if you want a house that has a unqiue exterior, you have to essentially buy a plot of land and build a home. This is one nice feature about Houston. The homes are not cookie cutter and they have unique looks with brick and other materials instead of just stucco.

[sweettearose]

I think Ahwautukee is a nice area and I would recommend it. When I moved out of Phoenix, they were in the process of completing the 202 freeway. Prior to that, Ahwautukee was really congested. It would take people a long time to get to the freeway based on what friends have told me. Since the creation of the 202, I've been told the congestion has been almost eliminated entirely. It's one of the nicer neighborhoods in Phoenix and doesn't really have any poor areas. Chandler has some really nice areas but they also have some poorer areas.

I would agree with Nick. I think the use of the word barrio is a strong term. I live in Houston and we have true barrios. Most places in the valley don't have barrios of this nature. They might have some poor areas but they aren't really barrios. Mesa, Glendale and Phoenix have barrios but I think it's a stretch to say that any of the other cities have what most would define to be a true barrio.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

I feel this describes most of Phoenix and not just Ahwautukee. Even in Scottsdale around McDowell Mountain Ranch and areas around 83rd and Shea, the homes are expensive but look the same. I haven't really noticed any exceptions on the west side either. Arrowhead has the same stucco, red roof tiled homes with similar floor plans. Peoria near Thomas and the 101 by Banner Estrella hospital has the same look.

I'm responding because that aspect bothers me about the homes in Phoenix too. The interiors are what make the homes nice in Phoenix but the exteriors are very cookie cutter. Maybe I should look into the west side when coming back. Are their neighborhoods that have unique styles? I noticed that Ocotillo had some unique features but were very expensive. The same goes for Fountain Hills. I was just under the impression that if you want a house that has a unique exterior, you have to essentially buy a plot of land and build a home. This is one nice feature about Houston. The homes are not cookie cutter and they have unique looks with brick and other materials instead of just stucco.

Don't read too much into my remarks. I don't think you will find the diversity you want except maybe in Verrado, but even there it is pretty much earth tones and stucco. In the 1990s EVERY house here was painted Navaho white and had a very red tile roof. In the last five years or so there has been a move toward olives, dark browns, and red tones in home painting and liberal (and sometimes overdone) use of faux stone facades and trim. Tile roofs are rarely red anymore coming in varied shades of mottled earth tones. Also, the number of models in the typical subdivision/development has increased over the years. In the 1990s maybe there were four or five. Today there can be twice that with numerous elevations. City ordinances and HOA rules do not allow two adjacent houses to have the same elevation or paint scheme - a far cry from the 90s. They may still look the same, particulary to one who is used to a different style (I think all new tract houses in the east look alike ), but you don't have to use the garage door opener to find your house like I used to in Ahwatukee.

[nfy35]

Excluding Prescott where are the really nice places to live in Arizona? No children just dogs, I am not old enough to play shuffleboard BUT I have heard there are some very nice adut boomer communities for people who are retired but still are very active. I do NOT play golf. Your correct, I do not like golf.