Tucson: The Ugliest City in The West? (Glendale, Catalina: condos, living)

[mdtoaz]

It doesn't bother me what anyone thinks of Tucson while I'm floating around my pool, drink in hand looking up at the big blue sky.

[Kabluey]

I think the primary beauty regarding Tucson is natural. Architecturally, I have to agree with the OP, Tucson does not encourage architectural marks, either heightwise or quality-wise.

And the natural beauty I recognize as a hit-or-miss proposition. You won't love it if you're from a place that has lots of natural grass and trees. In those areas, the lack of grass and trees creates a desolate, run-down, or abandoned feeling. But in Tucson, that is the status quo, even where there is affluence, you have dirt, or spindly vegetation, because that's what survives here.

So I understand why someone not from here would view this as ugly. I miss grass and trees myself and find them very beautiful, and wish Tucson had it, but wouldn't want Tucson to change itself or irrigate, or achieve it unnaturally.

Tucson has its natural advantages if you're open to it, and I can appreciate it for what it is. Breathtaking sunsets that aren't obscured by trees (no matter how beautiful magnolias, poplars, etc may be -- and they ARE beautiful); unique vegetation you can't find anywhere else; starry nights.

Developmentally, however, I don't find Tucson uniquely charming or distinct. In fact, I find it under-inspired. And many appear to agree; the positives about Tucson are primarily its natural advantages, not anything man added or contributed to it (unlike other cities its size, where the nature and weather may not be as great, but there is greater nightlife, greater transportation and cultural options, etc). Our argument tends to be "life isn't always about x, when you have great weather and nature, it more than balances out." The converse for many people is also true, which is why folks can live in Chicago, or even for those who enjoy great weather and nature, that's subjective too. Those comments are made about Minneapolis -- great parks, nice weather. We say, but the coldddd. And they say, life isn't always about warmth, when you have parks, great museums, and heat and electricity.

To each their own.

[Kabluey]

And I will add, on days like today, I wouldn't mind some lower temperatures, lol...

[Chowhound]

just curious who is hatin Tucson so much as to post a thread about being the ugliest city in the west?? Talk about a toxic personality?? How about a little positive posts. There is enough negative sh*t to talk about already

[milliebfit]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

It doesn't bother me what anyone thinks of Tucson while I'm floating around my pool, drink in hand looking up at the big blue sky.

I agree!!! I am moving in 30 days to Tucson. I can't wait!!

[sickofIL]

We were going to move this summer but the housing thing put a damper on it for the time being. We bought our present house speciffically with the intent on moving to Tucson. It's old and needs lots of work but it is on a very large lot which has a street on each side. We were planning on selling to a builder because it would be a prime candidate for tear down.

No builders here are currently buying so either we will need to wait until they start again or we will need to do some repairs and upgrades.

We think Tucson is beautiful. We would rather be there now than here. I can't wait to be able to sit out and watch sunsets. Here I sit and look at trees but the sunsets are dull. It just gets dark.

Can't wait for the weather too. The last few days it has been raining (big storms) and in the 70's but with the humidity it seems stifling. You run the a/c to get the humidity out but it gets too cold. Right now it is in the 60's but incredibly humid, too cool for the A/C but to humid to be comfortable. You kind of get a cold sweat.

[azhiker]

And speaking of demographics mod cut: "your link" removed, it's changed since I last lived here 10 years ago. And with that change, I now see graffiti all over the central part of town, whereas 10 years ago, it would have been very rare to see graffiti. Damn shame, if you ask me. Why do people have to ruin everything with that filthy gang writing. Pardon my vent.

Still very happy I moved here.

[Subie]

Beauty and ugliness is subjective as far as I'm concerned. When my Midwestern relatives came down for a few days, they gasped at how 'icky brown' everything all was. I just laughed it off because sure, most of it IS brown, but if you take a chance to look closely, you'll see plenty of color. Arizona is a different kind of beautiful to me, and i much appreciate it.

[Caliguy2007]

I don't know if Casas Adobes is a part of Tucson,but it looks like a really nice and unique community.

I also really like the Mountains and the Deserts surrounding Tucson.

[Chowhound]

Originally Posted by Subie

Beauty and ugliness is subjective as far as I'm concerned. When my Midwestern relatives came down for a few days, they gasped at how 'icky brown' everything all was. I just laughed it off because sure, most of it IS brown, but if you take a chance to look closely, you'll see plenty of color. Arizona is a different kind of beautiful to me, and i much appreciate it.

Yeah I agree I think that AZ is very beautiful. I like the desert in general though. My dad lives in Havasu and when my relatives go visit him there they say it looks the "Mars" to them. I'm like WTF