Scottsdale: Apartments and Bars? What do you think?
By Bob Cappel
Take a minute and review the photographs below and let us know what you think by replying to this post above.
More and more residents are now observing increased apartment construction going up along Scottsdale Road and are getting concerned about Scottsdale’s infrastructure, increased traffic congestion, loss of resident’s views and reduced property values. Apparently, many residents did not know that over 10,000 new apartments had been approved to be constructed by the City Planning Commission and City Council along Scottsdale Road between Camelback and Thompson Peak.
Compared to other cities in the valley, Scottsdale, like Paradise Valley, has been known as a
great place to live. This was the main reason that Scottsdale home values were higher than those other cities. Resident’s views were protected by building height restrictions and residential densities restricted by zoning codes. Over the past several years, the Scottsdale City Government has apparently decided that Scottsdale must grow and that means increased residential density and building heights. Vacant land zoned for low density housing was rezoned to allow smaller lots and increased density. Building heights for new apartments were approved up to 150 feet.
For residents in the area of Scottsdale Road and Thompson Peak Parkway, one can remember their views to the east and west just a few months ago. Now, their views in these directions east are totally different. Is this something residents really want to happen to their views? Most residents paid a substantial premium on their lots if there was a great view.
Another area of increasing concern expressed by residents was the large number of bars with open air live entertainment around Old Town. Noise, parking and crime have continued to increase around this area, disturbing local residents, their quality of life and reducing their property values.
Do you like these changes?
Building Height Downtown Scottsdale
Tall Building, Downtown Scottsdale
Before: View to the East, Scottsdale Road & Thompson Peak Parkway
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View to the west, which was open desert like the land to the east.
Today: View to the West, Scottsdale Road & Thompson Peak Parkway
What do you think of the way Scottsdale is growing? Are these the types of changes you want to see? To get the discussion started, just post your reply above. A variety of opinions is healthy, so please express your view.
Bob Cappel is a resident of north Scottsdale. He is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association and past president of the Winfield Home Owners Association.
March 3, 2014
The current construction (and approved building permits for future construction) graphically demonstrates that North Scottsdale is no longer protected from uncontrolled high-rise building projects. North Scottsdale is now a target for development plans which call for taller buildings and denser populations which will curtail our open spaces, limit our beautiful panoramic views, and cause additional strain to our city’s infrastructure. Dense, packed high-rise apartments are not in the best interest of North Scottsdale’s citizens, nor are they in the best interest of the City’s major industry, tourism. I oppose the continuous encroachment of this kind of development in Scottsdale.