Phoenix--& Arizona--What's the Attraction? :) (Tucson, Scottsdale: home, university, allergy)

[manhattangirl]

Originally Posted by locolife

Just curious, if you loved Manhattan, why did you move to (presumably North) Scottsdale? I can tell by the horse land comment that you're not looking for property anywhere near old-town, which is the only semi-urban part of Scottsdale. Meanwhile downtown Tempe and downtown Phoenix offer the most urban living here, with walk-able lifestyles and a lot more arts/culture then a suburban part of Scottsdale.

Just my .02 as a long-term Phoenician who often wonders why people from big cities move to distant suburbs here and then wonder why it's soooo suburbany.

I moved for my job. Also, I don't wonder why it is suburban. I did not say that.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by manhattangirl

I moved for my job. Also, I don't wonder why it is suburban. I did not say that.

I didn't say you did, I just said that's a comment I frequently hear from people who moved from big cities to far flung suburbs here. There's urban environments here but most people choose to get the biggest house for their money instead which puts them much further out.

[manhattangirl]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

I agree. But we'll never really get those types of neighborhoods, simply because Phoenix is already so integrated. There's diversity here (duh), but nothing like people are usually seeking. They want ethnic enclaves within a city to visit, and here we don't offer such a thing. We don't have San Fran-style Chinatown. We don't have a NYC-style Little Havana. We don't have a Chicago-style Little Warsaw. For as big as Phoenix is, its not really a big draw for immigrants from Europe or Asia. That's just the way it is.

????

[asufan]

Arizona isn't perfect but I'd put it in the top-5 locations to live in for what I want. I do prefer the ocean and grew up not far from the ocean in So Cal, however I am very picky about the ocean I live by. I do not like the Southeast at all, too rednecky, too humid, too many bugs, mostly flat, etc, it is definitely not my cup of tea. My plan is to return to So Cal upon retirement, but to do so feasibly in the area I want to live in and with the lifestyle I want, realistically I need $5 Million+. I've always said the best that So Cal has to offer beats the best AZ has to offer, but the worst in So Cal is also considerably worse than the worst AZ has to offer. So Cal is a great place when you have money and don't need to drive 30 miles to work (ie a great place to retire if you have money and can handle the taxes). I could handle living in AZ long term as long as it's in the part of the valley I like with grass, lakes and trees, but it is not my #1 pick. I would rank AZ far above anything in the Southeast US and I've spent considerable time in the SE. I would also rule out the Northeast and Midwest as I don't like snow and cold. Some people here actually prefer the desert to trees and greenery, but that is not my preference.

[manhattangirl]

Originally Posted by locolife

I didn't say you did, I just said that's a comment I frequently hear from people who moved from big cities to far flung suburbs here. There's urban environments here but most people choose to get the biggest house for their money instead which puts them much further out.

I only wanted to live in Scottsdale. Other cities were not considered. I moved to "Central" Scottsdale. I know that does not exist but it was an area where both North Scottsdale and South Scottsdale people claim. Then, after renting for a year, I looked for houses and was able to get more for my money (as you suggested) farther north. My mortgage is about what I would pay for a 1/2 bedroom apartment in an ok building in Manhattan.

Also, I should point out that I did not move here directly from Manhattan. I was living in Upstate New York after leaving Manhattan. Phoenix is 1000X better than where I was living immediately before coming to Arizona. That makes a huge difference, I think.

I have lived in several different environments so I am very adaptable. I can find something good about any neighborhood.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by locolife

I think were still 6th but city population isn't really that meaningful, go by metro rank, were around 13th based on that.

No, if you look at census estimates for 2014 onward, we've passed Philadelphia again, and if you want to use metro rank, we are actually 12th largest, because the census considers the Inland Empire a different metro than LA when in reality, they are the same metro, when I'm in Colton, Ontario or Fontana, I definitely feel like I'm in Greater LA

[locolife]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

No, if you look at census estimates for 2014 onward, we've passed Philadelphia again, and if you want to use metro rank, we are actually 12th largest, because the census considers the Inland Empire a different metro than LA when in reality, they are the same metro, when I'm in Colton, Ontario or Fontana, I definitely feel like I'm in Greater LA

Checkout combined statistical areas though, I think we rank lower there and that's a more accurate representation of how a big an area feels since it includes things like commuting patterns from nearby cities that aren't quite linked enough to be considered the same MSA but much more closer linked than say Phoenix and Tucson.

Either way 12th or 13th and 5th or 6th isn't really that much different. Philly is a much bigger MSA.

[teddyearp]

OP, if you've never been out west, then you need to come visit it. Spend a couple of weeks driving around Arizona. The understanding will quickly come to you, I promise.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

I agree. But we'll never really get those types of neighborhoods, simply because Phoenix is already so integrated. There's diversity here (duh), but nothing like people are usually seeking. They want ethnic enclaves within a city to visit, and here we don't offer such a thing. We don't have San Fran-style Chinatown. We don't have a NYC-style Little Havana. We don't have a Chicago-style Little Warsaw. For as big as Phoenix is, its not really a big draw for immigrants from Europe or Asia. That's just the way it is.

Exactly!! I have enjoyed visits to places like various China Towns, etc. but they aren't something I'd do often enough to care if it's near to me or not. I don't think Phoenix will ever be a draw for immigrants from Europe or Asia except on a really minor scale and most likely because their jobs bring them here. I've seen a few pass through Phoenix forum over the years so, yes, they are here but not enough to make an "enclave".

[sexxxcblac]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

Here come the whiners.

Knocking each other over just to interject their negativity.
They got someone in Tucson posting how great it is but spend every minute of their waking hour posting on Phoenix forum.
Then you have people not understanding 5 million people and counting.
And the crazy part is.......the whiners refuse to leave the very place they whine about FOR YEARS.