What Phoenix Lacks is.... (Mesa, Scottsdale: relocate, landscaping, rent)

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Mill Ave focuses on the College Crowd primarily - the bars and clubs, boutiques etc.

I've been to Mill Ave only for New Year's once. Was nice. Gotta go some day on a weekend. It's not a very large area, though. I like the lake. Must be quite pretty on the 4th of July, but it's too darn hot for a visit.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

To be fair, Tempe Marketplace is easily reached with public transportation. Tempe's new free Orbit bus service (which runs empty all the time, but I digress...) stops at Tempe Marketplace on pretty much every line, every 15 minutes. They'll even drop the passengers off right at the entrance to the store.

Good point. I was thinking more about access via regular bus lines and light rail as a point along a natural commuting path. Taking Orbit to Tempe Marketplace requires a special trip or a transfer for most riders. There's also access via the Hayden / McClintock Valley Metro bus route. So, yes there is access via public transit, but not at the same level as Mill Avenue.

As for Tempe as a whole, the jury's still out for me. Tempe's doing a lot of things right, but if Tempe Marketplace sucks the life out of Downtown, it will be a mistake regretted for decades.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Greatday

I have to disagree a little with you.

Tempe Marketplace and Mill Avenue have two totally different demographic target markets -

Mill Ave focuses on the College Crowd primarily - the bars and clubs, boutiques etc.

Tempe Marketplace, with all the chain stores, focuses on the more adult market - very few clubs etc.

In theory, I'd agree with this, but Tempe Marketplace is actually hosting indy rock concerts and other events designed to appeal to college age people. My guess is that Downtown Tempe may eventually become too uspcale for most college students. If it continues to thrive, it will be as upscale district for condominiums and corporate offices.

[TurcoLoco]

I don't care what you all say, this city lacks cactus! I relocated here to see more cacti and to see a group of them I have to drive away from the city for 10+ minutes!

This city also needs more single women from age 25 to 35 and less women with less implants. Also, it could use one or two amusement parks (and no driving fast on I-17 or 101 will not count!).

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by joninaz

People watching places.

Agreed?

... PHX developers have some plans, but I'm not sure if they are congruent with the casual lifestyle.

Thoughts?

I always say, I would be happy living in Paris. I just like the city, the lifestyle, and the culture. Everywhere is a people watching place.

Phoenix is pretty spread out. As a result I chose to live at Kierland, which puts just about everything within walking distance. Because I don't go to work, a trip in the car is either because I have to go somewhere that I can't reach on foot, or I plan on coming home with something big (groceries, plants...). I don't have the opportunity to "stop on the way home from work" to pick up dry cleaning or dinner, because such a trip does not exist. In fact, I have driven about 3000 miles in the last calendar year. However, I am sure that I have cut out another 200 trips by car, just to do things that I am used to doing on foot. It is great to have the option.

Also, I qualify "walking distance" as under one mile, using only crosswalks and walking only on sidewalks. That means, not cutting across parking lots, through parks/golf courses/etc. I drive sometimes in very hot weather, but only during the day because of the sun. Also I enjoy having cocktails or wine in the evening, but don't drive after having *any* drinks, so I'd prefer to walk home, rather than not drinking so that I can drive, or waiting for a cab. By the time a cab shows up, I'm already home.

From casual observations, I'm in the minority. It seems that most people consider "walking distance" to be the end of the driveway.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Greatday

This year, you have the FBR and the Super Bowl!

KA-CHING......
as is typical of EVERYTHING in Phoenix.....

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I think historically the West has attracted loners... people who just wanna be left alone... people who don't want interaction with other people. I have a coworker whose family is into horses, raising pigs, etc. They move any time "civilization" dares to reach them.

GET OUT OD MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

I feel the same way! People are SO friendly here, but at an arm's length. What a great way to describe the area. It IS as if people who move here are more "loners" and anything else. I suppose that would explain why all my friends are NATIVE Arizonas -- now THOSE people LOVE company! *smile*

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Currently, the ONLY place in the Phoenix area that consistently has a critical mass of people walking around both day and night is Mill Ave in Tempe. Mill Ave is not really my "scene," actually it kind of repulses me, but I go there nonetheless just to take a walk and people watch. Old Town Scottsdale comes in second-- there are some people walking around, but not that many, and compared to downtown Tempe, downtown Scottsdale is much more spread out and "hollow." I think gradually Old Town Scottsdale will become more dense with more people walking around. Unfortunately, there is nowhere in the entire city of Phoenix has a consistent critical mass of pedestrians. Places like Roosevelt st on first Fridays become active for that moment in time, or people walking from the parking garage to Chase Field, but it's only sporadic activity.

What Phoenix REALLY lacks though is a landscaped, public park with grass and tons of shade trees. In theory, there's no reason it couldn't have such a park-- despite being in the desert-- after all, there are probably millions of trees planted in people's backyards, and thousands and thousands of acres of golf courses. It will probably never happen, not due to logistics, but because there simply isn't a will. Until then, there's the desert preserves, neighborhood playground/athletics facilities parks, and Papago Park.

Isn't Papago Park where all those male prostitutes were arrested last year?

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I don't spend much time on the American side. Just park there and walk over. The duty-free shop is about my only pit stop.

On the other side there's a quite lively main drag and some other side streets with various shops. It's actually a pretty big city, but that's the only area I spend time in. There are a few little squares, a church, a school...
.

Agreed. Everyone has to go at least once!

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by TurcoLoco

I don't care what you all say, this city lacks cactus! I relocated here to see more cacti and to see a group of them I have to drive away from the city for 10+ minutes!

This city also needs more single women from age 25 to 35 and less women with less implants. Also, it could use one or two amusement parks (and no driving fast on I-17 or 101 will not count!).

LOL - YOu can have the cactus, I'm not crazy about them...
As far as the women... I was under the impression that the women here are one of the main reasons why men move here to begin with! (Ah come-on, not like no one knows...)
I once heard that Phoenix has one of the highest DIVORCE rates in the country because of all the scantily clad women around. As far as the fake/implant thing goes - well if you got rid of those, you'd have no good looking women here!