The Best Phoenix REALTORⓇ - Cathy Carter
Phoenix is now the fifth-largest by population with a land area exceeding New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. It is growing faster than any other major city in the last decade, according to census data and reporting from Arizona Central. The capital city added about 163,000 more residents, totaling 1.6 million people in all, the New York Post reported (Aug 14, 2021). In terms of development, Phoenix looks more like an actual city than it has in decades.
New apartment buildings and other commercial development have transformed the downtown area, and neighborhoods outside the urban core are bustling with hubs of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Downtown Phoenix is a major center of employment with many financial, legal, and other national and international corporations housed within the area. Several major banks including JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Bank of America, Compass Bank, and Midfirst Bank are all located within or close proximity to the downtown core.
A thriving business and entertainment district, Downtown Phoenix is home to indie restaurants, live music, professional sports, craft brews, cocktail culture, shopping at City Scape, and art galleries on Roosevelt Row, where the art community of Downtown Phoenix congregates. Murals decorate the walls of the buildings, and colorful sculptures adorn the streets. Major arts and cultural institutions are also located in Downtown Phoenix. The area is encompassed by Seventh Avenue on the west, Seventh Street on the east, the railroad tracks south of Jackson Street, and Interstate 10 on the north.
The city itself is spread out. An urban core that was once a cohesive neighborhood went through decades of teardowns. Only a few institutions remain that tie us to our past. At Heritage Square, you can discover what Downtown Phoenix was like during the Victorian era, with buildings that date back to the late 1800s. The Rosson House on the square is a museum with rooms furnished in keeping with Victorian times. And while the Phoenix Country Club and Phoenix Rotary Club both date back more than a century, traditions that bring the entire community together are fairly recent.
Even the city’s sports teams are new. Millennials were the first generation to grow up watching the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks play here. The Phoenix Suns, the city’s oldest team, started playing in 1968, compared to the Boston Red Sox, which was founded in1901. The former Bank One Ballpark, now Chase Field, was among the first ballparks in the U.S. to be built with a retractable roof.
When it comes to culture, Phoenix has plenty of it, but you may have to look a bit closer here to find it compared to other cities. “Phoenix, though, has a few cultural engines that other cities don't,” said James Ballinger, the retired director of the Phoenix Art Museum for over 4 decades. “There's Frank Lloyd Wright's imprint on the metro area,” he said. “The Heard Museum, which showcases Native cultures and art, recently attracted the only North America stop of a Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition. And the Desert Botanical Garden is unique for its focus on the plants that grow only in Arizona."
There has been tremendous expansion in the city's institutions since the 1970s before there was the Arizona Science Center or the Children's Museum of Phoenix, Ballinger said. “Major investments came from bonds approved by voters. Still, it's a struggle for cultural organizations to keep up with the city's growth. Phoenix doesn't have the endowments or big foundations to fund them the way older cities do. You don't have a long history of philanthropy," he said.
In 2010 was the opening of CityScape, a massive mixed-use complex that brought shopping and dining options to Downtown Phoenix. CityScape covers three city blocks and is filled with shops, eateries, bars, and clubs. It is also within walking distance of Talking Stick Resort Arena, Chase Field, Comerica Theatre (Arizona Federal Theatre), the Orpheum Theatre, and the Phoenix Convention Center. CityScape is the place to be on a late afternoon or evening where you can enjoy happy hour on the terrace at Blue Hound or while bowling at Lucky Strike. You can even watch an open-air movie in the plaza or dine in one of the many restaurants before hitting the downtown club scene.
And with recent events, such as the groundbreaking of downtown’s only grocery store or the passing of a transit tax to expand light rail, leaders are saying that Phoenix is starting to look more like a big city. City officials also stressed that how Phoenix grows is more important than its population ranking. People are attracted to Phoenix for its year-round warm weather and sunshine and relative affordability. Economic development leaders tout the surge of tech startups and offices here, but real estate is still a booming business.
According to recent estimates from Downtown Phoenix Inc, even with all the growth, only about 1% of Phoenix's population lives in the heart of downtown. For many, part of the Phoenix’s appeal is that it’s not a city like Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York. People want properties big enough to keep horses and the convenience of being just miles from downtown. Many residents also appreciate the part of Phoenix's massive land area that's undeveloped Sonoran desert. Both McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Scottsdale) and South Mountain Park and Preserve (Phoenix) are part of the state park system and are often cited as the country's largest city parks.
Phoenix has seen major growth over the past decade and offers big-city amenities and home prices that people can afford. Whether you desire an urban condo in the heart of the city, a single-family home in a quiet neighborhood or gated development, a new construction home, semi-rural horse property with room to roam, or a sprawling luxury estate in one of the many exclusive golf courses communities, real estate in Phoenix has something for every lifestyle and buyer.
If you are currently exploring homes for sale in Phoenix, Cathy Carter is the best Phoenix REALTOR you will find. With over 25 years of experience, Cathy knows the different neighborhoods and communities in Phoenix inside and out. She has all the real estate tools and resources and can help you secure an offer on the home of your dreams. If you would like to learn more about real estate in Phoenix, please give Cathy a call at (480) 459-8488 or send her an email.
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Cathy will protect your best interests, advocate for you, negotiate on your behalf, and be your trusted guide and advisor every step of the way!
RE/MAX Cathy Carter Real Estate & Luxury Homes
Professional REALTOR®
ABR, CRS, CDPE
RE/MAX Alliance Group
725 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 111
Gilbert, AZ. 85233
Email or Call: 480‑459‑8488
Toll-Free: 800-519-5578
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