One of the Newest Looking Cities? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: houses, landscaping, to live)

[svendrell]

I've been interested in Phoenix for some time. I was wondering how "new" the city looks in comparison to older cities on the East Coast that often look bombed out and depleted - abandon buildings, run down houses, potholes everywhere, etc.

Anybody move to Phoenix and think, "wow, this city just LOOKS so much better - newer, cleaner, etc."?

I've seen photos and pics of Phoenix, but sometimes it's nice to get first hand accounts.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by svendrell

I've been interested in Phoenix for some time. I was wondering how "new" the city looks in comparison to older cities on the East Coast that often look bombed out and depleted - abandon buildings, run down houses, potholes everywhere, etc.

Anybody move to Phoenix and think, "wow, this city just LOOKS so much better - newer, cleaner, etc."?

I've seen photos and pics of Phoenix, but sometimes it's nice to get first hand accounts.

Better is subjective. Phoenix is a fair amount newer than a lot of the East Coast and it's very clean. With new and clean comes monotone and repetition. Similar buildings and consistent landscaping in place of nature makes sense of place difficult in some places.

It depends on what you like, I like diversity, history and a little grit. Phoenix has some but not a lot. But it does have bombed out areas, depleted and abandoned buildings. The buildings are just smaller and more spread out so it doesn't look as bad.

Phoenix is also very auto centric by virtue of its age.

[pbenjamin]

One man's newer and cleaner is another man's sterile and soulless.

[John7777]

Most of phoenix was built after World War II, so much of it is "newer." If you want to see superclean, take a look at Scottsdale. They keep that city spotless.

[PNWGuy]

Much of east coast has the look and charm of colonial times, remember the 13 colonies? Arizona is what, 49th state and was acquired for a more direct line of direction to California, thus development was much later.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by svendrell

I've been interested in Phoenix for some time. I was wondering how "new" the city looks in comparison to older cities on the East Coast that often look bombed out and depleted - abandon buildings, run down houses, potholes everywhere, etc.

Anybody move to Phoenix and think, "wow, this city just LOOKS so much better - newer, cleaner, etc."?

I've seen photos and pics of Phoenix, but sometimes it's nice to get first hand accounts.

I think that has more to do with economics then geography. There are places here that look like what you describe but as long as you plan on working, you probably wouldn't have to live there.


Most of the suburbs have that clean, new and sterile look.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by PNWGuy

Much of east coast has the look and charm of colonial times, remember the 13 colonies? Arizona is what, 49th state and was acquired for a more direct line of direction to California, thus development was much later.

Very true what you type.

Arizona: 48th State (was referred to as the Baby State for the longest time) - 1912
Alaska: 49th State - 1959
Hawaii: FIVE-Oh (50)! - 1959

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

Better is subjective. Phoenix is a fair amount newer than a lot of the East Coast and it's very clean. With new and clean comes monotone and repetition. Similar buildings and consistent landscaping in place of nature makes sense of place difficult in some places.

It depends on what you like, I like diversity, history and a little grit. Phoenix has some but not a lot. But it does have bombed out areas, depleted and abandoned buildings. The buildings are just smaller and more spread out so it doesn't look as bad.

Phoenix is also very auto centric by virtue of its age.

I agree with you. The endless "newness" makes it more of a boring place, IMO. Vanilla.


I don't find Phoenix to be all that clean, either. In fact, my overall opinion is that it's a pretty dirty place! There are clean areas, yes, but overall, not IME.

[goolsbyjazz]

Even though it is a relatively "new" city, Phoenix does, er, did have history! The mentality out here is to tear it down instead of preserving it like back east. I wish they would have attempted to preserve some of some of the older buildings because it would have added to the character of the place. Still, not a bad place to be.

[autism360]

Arizona is the cleanest state I have ever lived in with good roads and new modern buildings and homes.
Every time I visit california where the building are old I am reminded of how new and modern Arizona is compared to other parts of the country.