Beautiful... but not perfect. My critique:
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7/7/2007
I am semi retired, living in Scottsdale for the last 7 years. Like many who moved here, I wanted to escape the harsh winters of the Northest. Scottsdale is a dichotomy - South Scottsdale, the older part, where I would be considered wealthy. I live in North Scottsdale, where I am a middle class citizen, at best.
The good: Everything's new! Mostly friendly midwestern people. Growing high and low tech jobs... help wanted signs everwhere. Lots of restaurants. Tons of shopping. Convenient, abundant medical, including the Mayo. Low crime (North Scottsdale). Pristine environment. Beautiful neighborhoods (no bad ones). Lots of masterplanned communites. Nice looking schools. My sense says this would be a good place to raise a family. Highest open space per person of any city over 200,000. 8 months of great weather. Mecca for golfers, bikers and hikers. It averages 5-6 degrees cooler than Phoenix. Phoenix airport 30 minutes away (non rush hours). Much cooler northern Arizona mountains are 2 hours drive for summer weekend getaways, snow skiing in the winter.
The bad: Everything's new! Typical sun belt melting pot city. No sense of community. Not culturally diverse. Monotonous restaurant menus... steak houses and Mexican food. Scarcity of stimulating conversation. Too much revolving around golf... tiring. Great looking schools but low paid teachers. Land and housing have become expensive... not a problem for all the retired rich and newbie rich moving here in droves, wearing it all on their sleeves (or breasts if they're females). Bently's outnumber VWs. A "park" here is a mountain with a hiking trail. The area lacks family oriented parks with lots of shade, grass, ponds, picnic and play areas. June, July and August are too hot for outdoor activity. Traditional parks would make it more tolerable to be outside in the summer.
I hope my critique is helpful to you. Please keep in mind my opinions are based on my stage in life, where I grew up and where I've lived. Annecdotally, I have always loved the "water"... until I lived on an island for 6 years. I don't care if I ever see an ocean again!
A 7/07/2007
George | Scottsdale, AZ