Comments on: Where To Live In Phoenix/scottsdale Area?

By: Greasy Tony

Greasy Tony — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:09:21 +0000

Scottsdale will be the place,

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:41:19 +0000

Yes! Scottsdale is the place for you, but you can’t get away from the chains. The Phoenix area has mom & pops restaurants, but not many and you really have to look for them. There’s new strip malls going up all the time, but it’s always the same shops, or it seems like it.

By: Marc W

Marc W — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:36:42 +0000

hear is a listing to find apartmentshttp://www.move.com/apartments_arizona/s…

By: Steven C

Steven C — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:56:43 +0000

Tempegirl has it right. There’s nothing like Chicago, unfortunately. Phoenix exploded into existance and it’s only now that it’s totally sprawled in every direction that the city is working backwards to establish an interesting, vibrant downtown.
To its credit, it’s done a lot towards that end. There is light rail coming into downtown, and every day it seems like new restaurants, shops, and such are opening downtown. If you go to coppersquare.com you can see some of the development. But it’s patchwork – while it’s still hard to walk around downtown easily, you can see it filling in, with art galleries on Roosevelt and several shops opening in downtown central.
The other problem in Phoenix, as you describe, is the restaurant and shopping situation. Oddly, there are many, many very good restaurants in Phoenix, several rivaling Chicago in quality, like Elements; same with the boutique shopping. But they’re hidden. When you first come to Phoenix the initial impression is that it’s all the same chain stores and restaurants. It’s only when you peek *into* those strip malls that you find there’s an interesting Italian place or sushi joint or fun jazz club. It’s really weird, how things are there, but hidden. It’s like it has a lot of what Chicago has to offer but makes you search harder for it. (phoenixnewtimes.com helps a lot, by the way – kind of the Metromix of Phoenix.)
Unfortunately, as a result, a real vibrant downtown Phoenix is still a couple of years away. There is nothing like Streeterville in Phoenix, not yet. The best you can do is something along the lines of Tempe (Mill Avenue) or Scottsdale (Old Town / Downtown). Downtown Scottsdale is probably close to what you want, followed by Mill Avenue in Tempe (if you can handle the college crowd) and then downtown Phoenix. I moved from Chicago as well, so be prepared for a shock – but then look around in downtown Phoenix, and I think you’ll be vaguely reminded of the South Loop.

By: BA92107

BA92107 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:28:00 +0000

Scottsdale or Tempe will fit those needs.

By: tempegir

tempegir — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:50:09 +0000

I am from Chicago originally. Lived there for 18 years. Scottsdale is nice, it reminds me of Naperville. If you have been to Naperville and like it, then you will probably like Scottsdale. It’s a bit expensive, but if you can afford it, it’s worth it. Gilbert is town that has the feel of Scottsdale, but is way cheaper. It isn’t that far from Scottsdale either, depending on where you are going.

By: R. L.

R. L. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:49:33 +0000

Having spent a lot of time in Chicago, I personally don’t think you can really compare the two cities. They are very very very (did I say very?) different. Metro Phoenix is a great place to live, but it’s more or less like a gigantic suburb with pockets of denser areas that have been built up recently. Metro Phoenix is all about pockets – million dollar neighborhoods tucked in between slums. It’s rather bizarre really. You just aren’t going to find the old, established, urban neighborhoods like the ones in Chicago. Although a light rail line is currently under construction (in final phase in Tempe), you will probably need a car here, or getting around will be difficult at best unless you stick to the immediate areas around public transport hubs (downtown Tempe has free shuttles that run around ASU’s campus; downtown Scottsdale has walkable areas and trolleys; there is an ok bus system – better in Tempe/Phoenix than in outlying areas). Tempe was just voted the most walkable city in Arizona, for what that’s worth. Metro Phoenix is the land of chain restaurants and malls. There are many non-chain restaurants, but they are rather hidden and take a bit of effort to find. There are LOTS of non-chain Asian/Middle Eastern restaurants though.
IMO, your best bet is finding somewhere to live in/near downtown Tempe or Scottsdale or the Biltmore area of Phoenix if you can afford it. (Gilbert is very suburban – not sure why it was recommended.) Or, if you can live without the “walking around the neighborhood” part, there are lots of older neighborhoods with bungalows or older, smaller ranch homes (no HOAs) in central Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. I have a friend that lives in a very cute 1950s ranch around 20th St. / Campbell (zip code 85016). She’s right in the center of it all in that neighborhood. There are some great historic mid-century modern houses (built by architects like Ralph Haver) in central Phoenix and Scottsdale also (again, if you can afford them). Take a look at the 1st link below to learn more about those neighborhoods.
I live in Southeast Tempe (zip code 85283). It’s nothing like Chicago, but it’s still a great area to live and very convenient to a lot of things. I eat lunch regularly at a little popular Vietnamese joint closer to where I work where I get a giant bowl of Pho for about $6. There’s a great Asian supermarket/shopping center a few miles away. There is Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, several malls (inescapable here), movie theaters, bookstores (independent and chain), coffee shops (Steve’s in Tempe is awesome), etc.
Posted lots of urban loft links for more info.