Least favorite suburb (Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale: RV parks, fit in, section 8)

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Well, I was being facetious in that sense. I did not cut down any saguaros for the view. They are the view. But, you are right that at least part of the burbs involve conversion of pristine desert areas to homes and that is true of the places I have lived like Ahwatukee and Estrella. Others, though, change ag fields into housing tracts which is most of Surprise, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe etc. JG.. points out that Peoria has annexed all the way to the foothills of the Bradshaw mountains and that is going to result in destruction of much desert as it develops. Same with north Scottsdale. That might be enough to put those places on someone's most disliked list.

My favorite parts of the valley are the parts that look like houses were dropped in the middle of the desert, like Cave Creek and parts of north Scottsdale, and even parts of Apache Junction. You almost can't see the houses until you are right on top of them because the natural vegetation looks...natural. A lot of the houses there also tend to not be the boring vanilla colored stucco with a red tiled roof; they are adobe/SW style, lower profile, that just vanishes into the landscape, painted colors like deep reds, greens, greys, or other colors that otherwise enhance the desert.


Frank Lloyd Wright built Taliesin West with the thought in mind to blend in with, not dominate the desert surroundings. He even shaped the roof of the place to mirror the buildings behind. You can't see the house until you are right on top of it. I like that.


Other parts of Scottsdale/Gilbert/Chandler, however, are my least favorite. Only smaller trees, no saguaros, and just a boring look. Beige as far as the eye can see. No personality. Lots of Starbucks and moms with strollers.

[Finger Laker]

Or any neighborhood in the US?

Has anyone looked into what Manhattan used to look like back in the New Amsterdam days or even before that initial development.

Even the hohokam dug canals and changed the natural landscape out here.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

Only smaller trees, no saguaros, and just a boring look. Beige as far as the eye can see. No personality. Lots of Starbucks and moms with strollers.

Almost as annoying as places where middle aged single people cart their dogs around and act like they're their children

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

My favorite parts of the valley are the parts that look like houses were dropped in the middle of the desert, like Cave Creek and parts of north Scottsdale, and even parts of Apache Junction. You almost can't see the houses until you are right on top of them because the natural vegetation looks...natural. A lot of the houses there also tend to not be the boring vanilla colored stucco with a red tiled roof; they are adobe/SW style, lower profile, that just vanishes into the landscape, painted colors like deep reds, greens, greys, or other colors that otherwise enhance the desert.


Frank Lloyd Wright built Taliesin West with the thought in mind to blend in with, not dominate the desert surroundings. He even shaped the roof of the place to mirror the buildings behind. You can't see the house until you are right on top of it. I like that.


Other parts of Scottsdale/Gilbert/Chandler, however, are my least favorite. Only smaller trees, no saguaros, and just a boring look. Beige as far as the eye can see. No personality. Lots of Starbucks and moms with strollers.

Mine too, but can you imagine how much desert would be destroyed were that the norm here? Those homes are on 1, 2, 5 acre lots. Actually, Phoenix is pretty densely developed. The newer subdivisions offer little more elbow room than row houses in the east. We just don't have a lot of multi-story, multi-unit housing. The suburbs offer everyone their own little 1/8 acre of dirt without all that much environment impact.

[pbenjamin]

Saguaros are protected by law. Developers must relocate them.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by asufan

Almost as annoying as places where middle aged single people cart their dogs around and act like they're their children

I'd much rather see carts of cats and dogs than soccer moms and human kids

[asufan]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I'd much rather see carts of cats and dogs than soccer moms and human kids

Oh I know you would

[azsportpilot]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I could never kill a saguaro for my own selfish reasons. They have been here long before we are and will be here long after.

It is illegal to kill a Saguaro, however it is easy, legal and profitable to move a Saguaro

there are buyers that will pay thousands to have a Saguaro in their lawn

there are several local businesses that move Saguaro's daily

the Maricopa county permit is cheap and easy $8.00

https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/def...les/remove.pdf

we sold our Saguaro for $2,000 on craigslist and the buyer had it in his yard the next day

[azsportpilot]

Looks like Guadalupe is winning this poll........... makes sense

I suspect Guadalupe would win the "Most Crime" award in the valley

[Bahia Drive Intellectual]

Originally Posted by asufan

I would wager that greater than 70% of residents of Surprise could afford to live in many parts of Scottsdale (more like 98%+ if you include apartments). I would wager that less than 1% of residents of Compton could afford to live in Malibu. You gave a very extreme analogy that widened the gap between the two areas significantly greater than exists in reality, that is why it was a poor analogy. Maybe that would be a good example if we were talking Maryvale to PV.

Quite true, quite true! Our North Scottsdale neighborhood is, or was, moderately priced, although it has appreciated. While we love Scottsdale, plenty of other nice places exist as well.