Phoenix
Services: During the 1970s and ‘80s, Phoenix grew in population and sophistication as a home to small-scale enterprises, branch offices, and secondary research facilities. It was in the last decade of the 20th century that Phoenix truly reinvented itself—pulsating almost overnight with gleaming high-rise towers, stunning arenas, and widespread economic expansion. New high-tech enterprises sprung up and flooded into the Valley at a phenomenal rate. Corporations from domestic to international began to consider Phoenix as a prime location for regional or headquarter offices, while entrepreneurs planted roots in the state’s fertile economic soil.
Real estate construction and sales, both commercial and residential, broke records on every front. Throughout the incredible growth cycle that spanned the 1990s, the city managed to maintain an enviable position on the cost of living index—particularly in the area of housing. Phoenix began construction on a massive highway system in 1985 that represents the largest locally funded endeavor in the nation. Strategic freeway connections have greatly reduced travel times within the city itself and to surrounding communities. The metro bus system and ride-share programs offer mass transportation alternatives, while Sky Harbor International Airport continually expands to accommodate the Valley’s exponential growth.
State-of-the-art medical facilities, research institutions, specialized health centers, and hundreds of highly skilled professionals serve the Phoenix community. Phoenix is home to more than 20 hospitals, medical centers, and specialized centers that include the highly respected Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Dedicated facilities like Barrow Neurological Institute and Banner Baywood Heart Hospital complement a selection of wellness centers to meet every need from advanced care to proactive programs like public health screenings.
Committed to providing a quality education, Phoenix schools harmonize leading-edge classroom technology with traditional core values and a progressive attitude. Basic skills are emphasized in the strong basic curriculum. Opportunities for the expansion of self-expression and involvement in other positive learning experiences are provided by art, music, health education, physical development, foreign languages, vocational training, or career studies. The result is a well-rounded and enriched education. On the primary level, reinforcing each child’s self-esteem is at the core of the educational environment, providing lessons that allow discovery, problem solving, and mastery.
The metropolitan region’s public charter schools develop and implement bold and creative approaches to education, stressing themes from “high-tech” to the fine arts. Private schools that are either independent or parochial are plentiful throughout the Valley, providing parents with alternative educational choices. The quality selection of institutions of higher education ranges from community colleges and universities to vocational and technical schools, adult education resources, and leading business academies. Students of all ages can pursue almost any career path close to home.
Lifestyle: From sports to the fine arts, newcomers of all ages and interests will discover many rich treasures in Phoenix. The city’s cultural jewels have become more polished and abundant with the increase in population, supporting permanent companies for ballet, opera, theatre, and symphony. Dazzling venues showcase the latest Broadway hits as well as stellar national and international talent. Venues range from the magnificently restored historic Orpheum Theatre to the popular open-air Cricket Pavilion or the reconfigurable Dodge Theatre. Fine galleries join the Phoenix Art Museum in providing a visual feast of sculpture, photography, and painting. The internationally famous Heard Museum highlights primitive and modern Native American artistry.
Lovers of spectator sports can jump to their feet around the four seasons to cheer on their favorite teams. Phoenix is one of the few cities in the nation to attract a major league team in every sport. From the collegiate sports fever that never fails to rise with ASU Sun Devils football to the popular Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team, the Metropolitan Phoenix sports scene is filled with surprises. Crowds from across the Valley flock to spectacular new stadiums and state-of-the-art arenas to watch Phoenix Coyotes hockey, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball, and football with the NFL Cardinals.
Those who prefer to make their own tracks in the great outdoors can enjoy Arizona’s blue skies, vast desert, or pristine lakes. Hot air balloons, four-wheel drive recreational vehicles, hang gliders, jet skis, and dirt bikes are just a few of the common diversions in a state where open space and natural beauty seem unlimited. The city maintains 200 parks for year-round enjoyment, including desert-mountain parks. Picnic areas, trails, playgrounds, ponds, natural attractions, and first-rate sports facilities are all available for public use and enjoyment. The Arizona Desert Botanical Gardens and the Phoenix Zoo are nestled in the Papago Park area of the city, presenting a magnificent display of wildlife, trees, and plants set against the Sonoran desert’s haunting beauty.
Neighborhoods throughout Phoenix offer a diversity of homes in varying architectural styles, settings, sizes, and real estate price ranges. Historic neighborhoods in the heart of the city are climbing rapidly in value as charming bungalows and high-rise lofts or apartments are being built or renovated for convenient downtown living. The vintage homes nestled in the Encanto Park region showcase elegant architecture against the backdrop of ancient trees, lush gardens, and meticulous landscaping. The ever-popular Arcadia neighborhood spans both Phoenix and Scottsdale, offering another selection of beautiful homes nestled in deep lots with mature greenery. Few locations in the Valley can rival the prestigious Biltmore area for sheer elegance and a centralized location.
The city limits of Phoenix are amazingly far reaching, encompassing the Ahwatukee Foothills area. This panoramic urban village has the appearance and feeling of a separate city, stretching between the South Mountain foothills and the city of Tempe in the East Valley. Each one of the four major quadrants of the City of Phoenix—East, West, North, and South—plays a unique role in the area’s vitality. Nationally recognized as the nation’s “best managed city,” Phoenix organizes its neighborhoods into 14 urban villages—each one with its own planning committee appointed by the city council. Some of these villages have also developed unique and distinctive “neighborhoods” with a close-knit community spirit. Take your time discovering and exploring all that the City of Phoenix has to offer. With its exceptionally high quality of life, vibrant economy, virtually limitless recreational opportunities, affordable housing, and relaxing southwestern lifestyle—Phoenix is an ideal place to call home.
East Phoenix The natural Phoenix landmarks of Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain create the scenic backdrop for this established area of the city, where mature landscaping graces homes that were primarily constructed from the 1950s through the 1970s. The enduring sophistication of the Camelback Road corridor adds a number of attractions to this area, including the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Biltmore Fashion Park, office towers, wonderful restaurants, and the Esplanade. Another acclaimed resort, The Phoenician, is located just minutes away in neighboring Scottsdale. In addition to upscale enclaves like the Biltmore area and Arcadia, East Phoenix is home to many comfortable neighborhoods where well-maintained homes offer a wide variety of architectural styles, periods, and price ranges. Those East Phoenix developments closest to Papago Park, the Phoenix Zoo, and the Arizona Desert Botanical Gardens also provide quick and easy access to the cities of Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona State University, and Sky Harbor International Airport.
Central Phoenix Dynamic, bustling downtown cultural and professional sports centers coexist beside well-established core neighborhoods in Central Phoenix. Neighborhoods like the Biltmore area, Arcadia, and the Encanto-Palmcroft area are known for their stately homes set into deep lots covered by mature greenery. Architectural styles tend to be diverse, harmonizing sprawling ranches with an occasional Tudor or a handsome brick colonial graced by dramatic pillars. Simple tract homes nestled in tranquil, welcoming neighborhoods offer more affordable housing throughout this convenient area. Some of the most celebrated attractions in the Valley are nestled in Central Phoenix, from Papago Park with the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens to world-class venues, museums, and stadiums. Interstates 10 and 17 and State Route 51 facilitate quick commutes to all corners of the Valley of the Sun.
North Phoenix Growing exponentially, northern Phoenix sprawls from the Saguaro-studded open space that surrounds new master-planned communities in the North Gateway area to established neighborhoods that offer quick access to the downtown district. The area is rapidly changing its former image as a bedroom community, welcoming an influx of new business development and commercial activity. The addition of the sprawling new Arrowhead Towne Center Mall has created a mecca of retail, dining, and entertainment opportunities close to home. It is no surprise that the area’s continually expanding employment base is driving an equally impressive housing boom. Many families are drawn to North Phoenix by the real estate values, taking advantage of beautiful new residential developments that offer “more home for the dollar.” Even those who commute to jobs in other Valley of the Sun locations have the advantage of high-speed travel on Loop 101, Interstate 17, and State Route 51.
South Phoenix Characterized as an area of contrasts and diversity, South Phoenix encompasses the world’s largest municipal park, unique attractions, historic neighborhoods, the rural South Mountain Village, and upscale master-planned communities in Ahwatukee Foothills Village. Interstate 10 provides a major thoroughfare with quick connections to other Valley freeways including Loop 202 and State Route 51 (the Piestewa Peak Parkway). Residents also enjoy a convenient location in relationship to the world-class attractions in downtown Phoenix—from cultural venues to professional sports areas. Ahwatukee Foothills Village is especially convenient to East Valley employment centers. Superb city and mountain views are complemented by first-rate recreational amenities like Pointe South Mountain and the five-star Raven at South Mountain Golf Club. As a result, this area is popular with developers of high-end residential enclaves.
West Phoenix Surrounded by the communities of Glendale, Peoria, and Tolleson, the vast area known as West Phoenix continues to sprawl outward. Mature inner neighborhoods developed primarily from the 1950s through the ‘70s now provide affordable older homes with landscaped lawns and wide residential streets. Many long-established residential developments in West Phoenix were built in response to the housing demands for employees in the burgeoning aerospace, semiconductor, and petroleum industries. Offering diversity in its population and environments, West Phoenix is rapidly transforming its vast open space and fields into lovely new homes, shopping plazas, and restaurants. Housing affordability, easy access to downtown, and improvements in high-speed connections for commuters are driving interest in this area. Desert Sky Mall, Peoria Sports Complex, Arrowhead Towne Center Mall, Cricket Pavilion, and the antique capital of Glendale are among the popular attractions.
Phoenix Urban Villages
Ahwatukee Foothills The natural beauty of South Mountain, the nation’s largest municipal park, separates Ahwatukee from Phoenix, aligning it geographically with the East Valley cities. Many mistakenly think of Ahwatukee as a separate city, particularly since the village has developed such a distinctive identity and claims a rapidly growing population nearing 90,000. Bounded by Interstate 10 to the east, South Mountain to the north, and the Gila Indian Reservation to the south and west, the village offers an enviable lifestyle and superb amenities in a convenient location. Everything from symphony performances to professional sports events are available in downtown Phoenix venues. Sky Harbor International Airport, the Arizona Mills retail complex, Arizona State University, and East Valley employment centers are “right next door.” The village showcases attractive residential opportunities for every taste and lifestyle, from custom estates to family homes in beautiful subdivisions. Fine residential developments in this area include The Foothills, Club West, Lakewood, Pointe South Mountain, Mountain Park Ranch, Mountain Ranch Estates, and Pecos West. Parks, golf courses, community centers, landscaped open space, and multi-purpose paths combine with respected schools, abundant youth sports, and activities for every age and interest. Drawn by natural beauty, newcomers are captured by the area’s convenience, quality of life, and the warm spirit of community.
Alhambra The centrally located urban village of Alhambra offers a convenient residential environment where residents can easily access downtown employment centers as well as the Valley’s finest entertainment and cultural resources. This area is dominated by mature, stable, single-family homes in well-established neighborhoods. Architectural styles vary widely, crowned by estates and luxurious executive homes near Central Avenue in the northern section of the village. Some neighborhoods like Rancho Solano showcase exquisite ranch-style homes on sweeping lots that are shaded by towering trees and mature greenery. The village is primarily bounded by Northern Avenue, 7th Street, Grand Canal, the Black Canyon Freeway or Interstate 17, Grand Avenue, and 43rd Avenue.