Shame on Phoenix home builders (Gilbert: cheap house, landscaping, homebuyer)

[Wally Sconce]

Originally Posted by DougStark

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. It's because home builders are CHEAP and they don't install parkways (the area between the street and the sidewalk.) Here they save money by making the sidewalk and the curb fused.

Saying we can't grow shade trees is just ignorant. Have you ever seen a neighborhood street with a canopy of beautifful trees? it's amazing. Trees that would work here are Live Oaks, sycamore, Silk Oaks (Grevillias), eucalyptus, taller acacias, ash, and on and on.

If you're all fine with walking down the street getting scorched with no shade, then have at it.

Go soak your head.

[Ponderosa]

Many of the new developments in Estrella have trees between the sidewalks and streets. I haven't seen a sidewalk with a roll curb in quite some time I suspect many newer developments in other areas do as well as it is a trend now. The downside is that they do not take from the available lot space but from the roads and you get very narrow streets which make parking, and backing into your drive with a trailer etc difficult.

[Bondurant]

Don't like it? Don't buy a home in Phoenix. Problem solved.

[yukon]

Um, OP? The pollen is bad enough in PHX as it is now. More trees will just make it worse.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by yukon

Um, OP? The pollen is bad enough in PHX as it is now. More trees will just make it worse.

How about planting some of those old school aluminum xmas trees? No watering, no pollen, lots of sparkly reflection from the sun to take care of pigeon issues, etc. Make them big enough and they should throw some shade.

Please.....have a good vehicle window tint and sunglasses on.

[wit-nit]

Tree requirements are regulated by city planning/zoning agencies not the developers.

[Burning Madolf]

OP, the area you are talking about is more commonly referred to as a boulevard strip. I've had properties in 3 different HOAs in the west valley and parts of all of them had blvd strips with and without trees.

While builders do try to squeeze the most out of every plot, sometimes planting trees everywhere and getting water to them (not to mention the cost of the water, trimming, fertilizing, etc... payed by HOA) is sometimes not feasible.

I haven't had too much of a problem walking in my hood year round.

So the problem you describe isn't everywhere.

If you don't like your area you could always get involved and come up with some ideas with your neighbors.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

Tree requirements are regulated by city planning/zoning agencies not the developers.

Only on public property, although a city may ban certain trees such as olive or mulberry. Common areas within a development are the business of the developer. Deed restrictions as to what you must do or cannot do on your own property come from the developer and are ultimately enforced by HOAs.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Burning Madolf

OP, the area you are talking about is more commonly referred to as a boulevard strip. I've had properties in 3 different HOAs in the west valley and parts of all of them had blvd strips with and without trees.

I have never heard them called either parkways or boulevard strips. Have never had a name for them other than "the part between the sidewalk and the street". I do know of a person that calls them "parking lawns" however. Whatever they are, we have them in the historic neighborhoods. We have a Meyer Lemon tree and a Navel Orange tree growing in ours. Many homes on our street have Sour Orange trees there.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by DougStark

[b].

Have you ever seen a neighborhood street with a canopy of beautifful trees? it's amazing.

Yep! You just described several neighborhoods. My hood is lined with trees. Guess what... I specifically bought in an area where they have tree lined streets because I enjoy the eye candy.

It sounds like you are angry. Maybe some builders are as you say, "cheap". Solution: don't buy in a "cheap" area.