Phoenix metro is getting too big IMO (Tempe, Goodyear: school, living in)

[new2colo]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

See how Phoenix and Arizona stack up in latest Census populations - The Laughton Team




In the years between 2000 and 2010, those glorious years we'll never see again, Phoenix averaged approx 11,000 year over year.

Buckeye grew by 678% between 2000-2010. Since 2010 the city has grown by 22%. Hardly what any city leader was touting 10 years ago. Wasn't Buckeye supposed to have more people than Phoenix by 2035? Not looking likely anymore. Goodyear grew by 245% between 2000-2010 down to 21% between 2010-2015. Queen Creek grew by 511% between 2000-2010 down to 31% between 2010-2015. The only cities that are growing faster now than they were during the boom are Phoenix and Tempe proper, but still not by enough to keep up with the county's historical growth patterns. These outer suburbs have dried up. No one is busting down the door to live in some master planned community on 2xxth Avenue and whatever. The Estrella Falls and Prasada developments are full of overgrown weeds. The downtowns that Surprise and Goodyear were supposed to build years ago are still vacant lots, so on and so forth.

[i'm not a cookie]

I don't view this as a bad thing. More people=more national importance=more opportunity and room to thrive as a city/state. As long as we don't start lose our character like Austin/SF and as long as we know how to react to our population growth and start to develop smart urban planning/don't turn into another LA then I'm totally fine.

[AZ_Rookie]

^^^ hear, hear!

Smart post.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by new2colo

No one is busting down the door to live in some master planned community on 2xxth Avenue and whatever. The Estrella Falls and Prasada developments are full of overgrown weeds. The downtowns that Surprise and Goodyear were supposed to build years ago are still vacant lots, so on and so forth.

Because those places are utterly boring, lack identity and are too far away from amenities like jobs, arts, music, sports. People would rather sacrifice space now and live in an interesting area than drive 30 miles to find the closest non-chain restaurant,

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by locolife

Because those places are utterly boring, lack identity and are too far away from amenities like jobs, arts, music, sports. People would rather sacrifice space now and live in an interesting area than drive 30 miles to find the closest non-chain restaurant,

Precisely, Phoenix and Tempe are on fire right now.

[TanLegs]

Have you been in Queen Creek Lately ? there are rows & rows of housing under construction
everywhere

[AZ_Rookie]

Originally Posted by locolife

Because those places are utterly boring, lack identity and are too far away from amenities like jobs, arts, music, sports. People would rather sacrifice space now and live in an interesting area than drive 30 miles to find the closest non-chain restaurant,

Not "all" people... Some of us have been there, done that and move to parts of Phoenix to get away from it.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by AZ_Rookie

Not "all" people... Some of us have been there, done that and move to parts of Phoenix to get away from it.

Sure, you can find an exception to everything, I'm just speaking in general. A lot of people are interested in a more urban lifestyle now.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by locolife

Because those places are utterly boring, lack identity and are too far away from amenities like jobs, arts, music, sports. People would rather sacrifice space now and live in an interesting area than drive 30 miles to find the closest non-chain restaurant,

But those places tend to be newer, safer, less expensive, and family-friendly too.

Suburban areas will always be in demand even with the greater push to live closer in.

I'd prefer to live in a more interesting area and closer to work to avoid the long commutes but the downside to that is many of the closer-in places are older, more crowded, and sometimes in areas with higher crime.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by i'm not a cookie

I don't view this as a bad thing. More people=more national importance=more opportunity and room to thrive as a city/state. As long as we don't start lose our character like Austin/SF and as long as we know how to react to our population growth and start to develop smart urban planning/don't turn into another LA then I'm totally fine.

I used to believe that growth for the sake of getting bigger was good, but now I believe we need smarter growth. Being sunny & cheap is no longer going to be a legitimate reason to move here when there is much more opportunity to become a world class city & attract the bright, the skilled, and the motivated. If our leaders would simply focus on that instead of trying to always sprawl outward, or attract the ones who have very little ambition in life, we will become more nationally & globally important, instead of just being seen as little more than a desert resort oasis with ample sunshine.