Phoenix once again one of the fastest growing cities... (2014, house)

[corydon]

Lived in Buckeye because it was quiet and a bit sleepy.
Ran away in '01.
Al those folks moving to AZ for the beautiful views. Maybe with a periscope....
Everybody lives behind a wall. And that ain't living.
I bet 95% of al the people don't have more in the bank than the last paycheck.... Phoenix has hardly any industry, just wharehouses.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by corydon

Lived in Buckeye because it was quiet and a bit sleepy.
Ran away in '01.
Al those folks moving to AZ for the beautiful views. Maybe with a periscope....
Everybody lives behind a wall. And that ain't living.
I bet 95% of al the people don't have more in the bank than the last paycheck.... Phoenix has hardly any industry, just wharehouses.

Whew, misread your post and was shocked until I reread it and realized you said WAREhouses .
I'm with you on the wall thing not to mention keeping fairly insulated within their houses that are stacked right on top of each other and many forgetting manners or common courtesy with their neighbors so it's not just brick walls we're talking about.

That's one thing I miss, having any neighbors at least 2 acres from me so if they're self absorbed jerks it doesn't impact me (as much).

[JGMotorsport64]

I'd have to agree with most of you.
When I lived in Phoenix the second time 2005-2010, I always said that the growth is a good thing, Phoenix is well on its way to becoming a very important area for this country and that Arizona was on the up.

However, with gas prices surely to rise in the next few years and the ridiculous sprawl up there, I really don't want to see more sprawl. I would love to see Downtown Phoenix/The Central Corridor , the Camelback Corridor, the Scottsdale Road Corridor and the Mill Corridor form some Urban area. No more sprawl, Arizona needs Phoenix to expand up not out the pollution is already insane up there. I find it worse and worse every time I visit. Let's also hope that Phoenix grows into the desert instead of into Palm Trees and Grass, I'd love some personality to Arizona's crown jewel (economically).

[buckeyenative01]

Originally Posted by shiphead

I'm confused why flagstaff hasn't grown. NAU and skiing is fine, but why hasn't there been more growth beyond being a college town?

Lack of industry outside of tourism, probably. The biggest employers here are NAU and Gore, followed by federal and state governmental agencies (US forest service is obviously a large employer around these parts).

That said, the Flagstaff area grew from around 57,000 in 2000 to 65,000 by 2010 according to the US Census. I just got a notice in the mail last week that my zip code would be changing because of the population boom that we experienced in the last 13 years.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by Desertspiritsteve

What are the demographics of this population explosion? Are we including childbirths or just people moving here from Indiana? There certainly were a lot of people downtown this evening with Comicon going on. I almost ran over a zombie.

A zombie is already dead, so you're in the clear. I think vampires and werewolves are fair game, too. Just don't hit any starship pilots.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

However, with gas prices surely to rise in the next few years and the ridiculous sprawl up there, I really don't want to see more sprawl. I would love to see Downtown Phoenix/The Central Corridor , the Camelback Corridor, the Scottsdale Road Corridor and the Mill Corridor form some Urban area. No more sprawl, Arizona needs Phoenix to expand up not out the pollution is already insane up there. I find it worse and worse every time I visit. Let's also hope that Phoenix grows into the desert instead of into Palm Trees and Grass, I'd love some personality to Arizona's crown jewel (economically).

There are so many empty lots in downtown Phoenix it annoys me. As a visitor, it makes me think the city of Phoenix is not business friendly. People laugh at the idea of walking outside in the middle of summer. Have you stood under a tree when it's 105-110? It feels amazing. NYC works for NYC. But I don't want to see Phoenix look like NYC at all, being we have so many empty lots, we can plan this right.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by shiphead

There are so many empty lots in downtown Phoenix it annoys me. As a visitor, it makes me think the city of Phoenix is not business friendly. People laugh at the idea of walking outside in the middle of summer. Have you stood under a tree when it's 105-110? It feels amazing. NYC works for NYC. But I don't want to see Phoenix look like NYC at all, being we have so many empty lots, we can plan this right.

I agree, and that's where the majority of development should be occurring ... in the many vacant lots that pepper the city. Fill those in with something of quality before building more cookie cutter crap in the exurbs! Downtown really doesn't have vacant lots as far as I know. It's the north Central Corridor that has the hit & miss development. Go along Central Avenue between McDowell & Camelback, and you'll find highrises next to large ugly vacant spaces. A few of those lots were once occupied by businesses, but they were torn down & never revitalized as they should have been. Even the light rail hasn't spurred the development that its strong advocates said would happen.

[CodyW]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I agree, and that's where the majority of development should be occurring ... in the many vacant lots that pepper the city. Fill those in with something of quality before building more cookie cutter crap in the exurbs! Downtown really doesn't have vacant lots as far as I know. It's the north Central Corridor that has the hit & miss development. Go along Central Avenue between McDowell & Camelback, and you'll find highrises next to large ugly vacant spaces. A few of those lots were once occupied by businesses, but they were torn down & never revitalized as they should have been. Even the light rail hasn't spurred the development that its strong advocates said would happen.

Downtown actually has quite a few vacant lots. Between the 7s, north of Van Buren and south of Roosevelt - many, many vacant lots. The area is mostly residential, but it could be something very interesting with more infill.

As far as the core itself - Vacant, wasted space is found in the form of surface parking lots.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Even the light rail hasn't spurred the development that its strong advocates said would happen.

Tempe is doing something right.

Tempe announces $600M office development deal near ASU, Town Lake - Ahwatukee Foothills News: Money

[autism360]

This is a big deal, they have a huge presence in Illinois. I wonder if it this is the first part of a transition phase to get out of Ill because they know they state will be experiencing many future and current financial shortfalls because of the huge union presence there.
They know the companies that do not go under in Illinois will be taxed to death to make up for the loss of taxes from those that go under or leave the state. I think you will be seeing this happen more and more in the high tax states which is very good for sunny, non-union Arizona.