Some Scottsdale Questions (Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler: condo, home, employment)

[queenbee78]

So there is a possibility that my family may be moving out to Scottsdale in the next six months. Is there a bus/train route at all? What are the areas around the two Whole Foods like? Is it safe? Is there lots of things to do there? Thanks in advance for your responses.

[LocoAZnative]

No light rail in Scottsdale, and the bus system is pretty poor there. If you want good PT then you should be looking @ Tempe. Don't know where the Whole Foods are, but North Scottsdale doesnt have any bad areas and South Scottsdale isn't that bad just older neighborhoods.

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by queenbee78

So there is a possibility that my family may be moving out to Scottsdale in the next six months. Is there a bus/train route at all? What are the areas around the two Whole Foods like? Is it safe? Is there lots of things to do there? Thanks in advance for your responses.

there is no train route into Scottsdale...the new light rail runs only thru Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe....there are good city bus routes that go direct into neighboring cities and suburbs from Scottsdale, but they, understandably, are slower than driving and not hugely popular in this typically car-centered Western city...

there is only one Whole Foods in Scottsdale, up in the Airpark area...that area is a huge employment center with many businesses centered around the Scottsdale airport - retail, independent businesses, light industrial...the large area (up to five miles from the airport) around the Airpark has a wide range of housing ranging from condo conversions for around $100K to $10-20M mansions a few miles away in the large Troon/Desert Mountain area..this entire area became highly developed within the last 20 years and is a fast-paced, busy region with many tens of thousands of people living and working there...also called North Scottsdale, the area is safe, but, as usual, you need to use common sense, be aware of your surroundings, and not leave valuables visible at home or in your car...

you may be thinking of the second Whole Foods on Tatum near Shea...that's actually in the City of Phoenix, but is across the street (Tatum) from the 85254 zipcode, which is also in the City of Phoenix, but has a Scottsdale mailing address, which is apparently important to some, making it a desireable zipcode....this entire area is also very decent and safe (E of 40th St), but not quite as ultra-desireable as North Scottsdale....within a mile or two of Tatum and Shea is a great variety of housing choices from <$100K to about $2M....just south is the Town of Paradise Valley (zip 85253) where it's difficult to find a decent place for less than about $800K and most places are >$1M

things to do?....that's up to you....this is a very large metro area and most people are able to entertain themselves easily year-round.....

best of luck to you

EDIT: oops, just checked the Whole Foods website and found the second WF the OP must mean...it's at Mayo and Scottsdale Rd....but it, also, is technically in the City of Phoenix...it does have that Scottsdale vibe because it's right near Scottsdale Rd and across that road from Scottsdale-proper....as for area safety?....fine and very similar feeling to the Airpark location which is fairly near, too....same variety of nearby housing options

[ivanabacowboy]

I moved to the area from Cleveland a few years ago. I live right across the street from the Whole Foods at Mayo. It is a great neighborhood.

One kudos I could give to Cleveland is they HAD (emphasis: had, they have been cutting routes and so on) a great public transit service. Here in Phoenix, not so much. Buses are plentiful IF you are traveling easily in perpendicular lines on main roads. For example, there is a bus that goes straight down Scottsdale Road all the way to Chandler I think and stops right by the Whole Foods up here. So if you live anywhere on or very near to Scottsdale Road and don't mind time on a bus, public transport would be mucho easy if your aim is to get to Whole Foods. However, if you need to cross town, you would potentially be looking at numerous bus transfers. (Light rail is nowhere near the part of town where the 3 Whole Foods azdr identified.)

Also when talking about public transportation, remember that you will be waiting for and walking to/from that bus in potentially 110'+ heat in the summer. Not the same as a walk at 75'.

[AZJoeD]

Scottsdale in not known for it's public transportation. The bus runs down Scottsdale Rd from Frank Lloyd Wright down to Tempe, There are some east-west routes along Bell, FLW, Camelback, McDowell and Thomas into Phoenix, but that is pretty much it. No bus from Scottsdale to any Whole Foods right now (about 1 mile walk to closest transit center).

Scottsdale is arguably (I know I will get lot's of comments on this) the most desirable place to live in the valley and depending on where you live.

Yes there is lots to do. I all depends on what you like to do.
Shopping? We have it!
Dining? We have it!
Parks? We have them!
Night life? We have It!
Golf? We have it!
Snobs? We have them!

[observer53]

There are express routes into Phoenix AM and PM, and a north south route all day on Hayden Road as well, which intersects with all the east west routes. Look at the maps on www.valleymetro.org, and you will get the idea. Scottsdale doesn't have the best service, as was indicated. It depends on where you want to go, and when, and how fast you need to get there.

If you want public transit AND Whole Foods, move to Tempe.

[queenbee78]

This is great information! Thank you all. Observer, what part of Tempe are you in? I've probably asked that before but cannot remember.

[observer53]

South Tempe.