Ever since Scottsdale, Arizona decided to lavish its ‘shoreline’ with time and attention, the westernmost city in the west has been experiencing a renaissance. In the works since the late 1980s, Scottsdale’s multimillion-dollar plan to revitalize the historic canal that runs through it is finally coming of age.
RIDE THE ARIZONA RIVER
The 50-mile-long canal that runs through downtown Scottsdale was built in the late 19th century for irrigation and flood control. Strictly utilitarian, it wasn’t until the Waterfront revitalization project began to gather pace that residents realized the potential offered by the water-filled concrete ditch in the center of town. Packed with vacant lots and low-rent retail stores in 1996, according to one account, everything happening on the corner of Scottsdale and Camelback streets back then was a Christmas tree lot in December.
But times change. Since then, the banks of the once desolate waterway have sprouted 500 stores, 75 restaurants, 50 salons and spas, miles of biking and jogging trails, a public amphitheater, and hundreds of condos, townhomes, and lofts. They sell out almost as fast as they sell out. built.
BUILDING A ‘WALKABLE’ COMMUNITY
Similar to San Antonio’s successful River Walk, the Scottsdale Waterfront vision eschews cars and loves pedestrians. The project covers 11.3 acres and successfully connects Scottsdale Fashion Square with Old Town Scottsdale and the arts district. The city’s Civic Center and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art are within walking distance, and a five-million-dollar pedestrian bridge spans the canal. Residents who tire of walking can always hop on one of downtown Scottsdale’s free streetcars to get to their destination.
By making good use of its prime downtown land, Scottsdale has created an invaluable resource for its residents. Primarily, they have done this by creating a “walkable” community.
A walkable community is exactly what it sounds like: a place where you can walk. It has sidewalks and safe places, parks and green spaces, benches to sit on and places to visit that you can reach in five minutes on foot. Although it is an old concept that Europeans take for granted, in the United States it goes against the prevailing big-box mentality and trends in suburban development. Very bad for us. According to Dan Burden, some of the consequences of designing a community for pedestrians instead of cars are exactly the same things that we all normally look for in a large community.
“Walkability is the ability to associate with others, the provision of your basic needs within a five-minute walk, and the accommodation of the disabled, children, and elderly,” Burden told Scottsdale residents during a public lecture in 2000. “A walkable community has the Five Golden Elements: Safety, Convenience, Efficiency, Comfort and Welcome.”
It also produces healthier, active, and engaged citizens and opportunities for both affordable housing and sought-after luxury housing. No matter who you are, a walkable community is a desirable community.
WISHING SCOTTSDALE
Scottsdale has evidently taken Burden’s advice to heart and is now steadily reaping the benefits. Since 2003, public and private investors have invested more than $3.1 billion in downtown development. Strong leadership and community involvement have given the city a momentum and vision that show no signs of abating. The population is growing and house prices are slowly rising, even as the rest of the country experiences a recession. Everything is on the rise. For the real estate market in Scottsdale, this is great news, but for the people who call it home, it’s even better.
