Scottsdale Is Nation’s Best City
Scottsdale named one of nation’s best cities for young people
America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with Capital One, today announced that Scottsdale has been named a winner of its 2008 designation as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. This program recognizes 100 outstanding communities across America that are the best places for young people to live and grow up. More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor this year.
Scottsdale was selected as one of the 100 Best for the third year in a row because of its commitment to ensuring its young people have the fundamental resources to succeed. Collaboration is the cornerstone of the Scottsdale community. This collaboration includes the city’s human services, parks and recreation and libraries divisions, and its police department; the Scottsdale Unified School District; Scottsdale Healthcare; local nonprofit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Prevention Institute; the Interfaith Network of Scottsdale; and The Arizona Republic newspaper.
Read full article at ScottsdaleAZ.gov
Scottsdale’s Winter Events
Downtown Scottsdale Kicks Off 2008 with P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, RedBall Exhibit, Best of Scottsdale ArtWalks, and Super Bowl Events
Scottsdale’s Downtown is host to a year-round calendar of signature events that kick off in January 2008 with the annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon, public art exhibits, artwalks and Super Bowl XLII activities. For more information on Scottsdale’s Downtown, including maps, trolley routes, and a directory of businesses, visit: http://www.scottsdaledowntown.com/
January 12; noon to 5 p.m. - P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon ArtWalk
Walkers might be rockers during this free ArtWalk event along Main Street and Marshall Way. Hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association. For information call (480) 990-3939. www.scottsdalegalleries.com
January 13 - P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon
Staged in the Valley of the Sun, the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon tours through three Arizona cities, including Downtown Scottsdale. With perfect winter running weather and live music every mile, this event is not to be missed! For information call (800) 311-1255. www.rnraz.com
January 13 through February 1 - RedBall Exhibit
The RedBall project is a mobile sculptural performance that functions as a series of daily architectural installations. The RedBall is boldly present and smoothly transient, moving between locations and engaging people on the street. The exhibit will appear at various locations throughout Downtown and the city. For information call 480-874-4645. http://www.scottsdalepublicart.org/
Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 28; 7 – 9 p.m.; Best of Scottsdale ArtWalks
These ArtWalks are in honor of the Best of Scottsdale month-long celebration. These free ArtWalks start the last Thursday in January and happen every Thursday in February along Main Street and Marshall Way. Hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association. For information call (480) 990-3939. www.scottsdalegalleries.com
Jan. 28 through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3 - Getting Around Downtown during the ‘Big Week’.
Downtown Scottsdale is set to serve as the backdrop for more than 20 public Super Bowl events, a weeklong ESPN broadcast and a wide range of private events. In preparation for the anticipated 750,000 visitors who will be in town for the FBR Open and Super Bowl, the city of Scottsdale is providing a Downtown perimeter trolley route for "Super Bowl" week (starting Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 and running through Sunday, February 3, 2008). The Downtown perimeter trolley route will replace the current trolley route for this week only and will provide extended service until 2 a.m. on Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1, 2008 when many of the Super Bowl related events are occurring. A Super Bowl trolley map is available on the city’s Super Bowl web page at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events/sb2008.asp
The perimeter route provides easy access/drop off points for hotel shuttles to connect with the trolley. The map also identifies four park-n-ride perimeter lots for visitors who are using rental cars to access the Downtown. The park-n-ride lots will help reduce congestion in downtown and make it more convenient for visitors who are not familiar with the downtown area. In addition, the map identifies the larger Downtown public parking facilities, which include the recently opened Southbridge underground garage and the Main Street Plaza underground garage.
A listing of Scottsdale-based Super Bowl related events is available on the Scottsdale Convention & Tourism web site at: http://www.scottsdalecvb.com/football/
$139.5 Million Terra Verde Office Project
Construction has begun on a new office project west of Loop 101 on Bell Road in North Scottsdale. Developer Desert Troon Companies is building Terra Verde One, the first of three buildings planned for a site by the TPC Desert golf Course and adjacent to the Scottsdale Marriott hotel. The three-story office property will contain 180,000 square-feet of office space and will feature two levels of subterranean parking It is scheduled for completion in summer 2009. The project will total 480,000 square-feet of high-end office space when all three buildings are completed, with parking for 1,600 vehicles. Total cost of the project is $139.5 million. Terra Verde was designed by Butler Design Group and is being constructed by D.L. Withers Construction. Mike Beall and Tim Whittemore of Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona are leasing agents for the property.
Source: John McLean, Arizona Business Gazette
Homeowners will save on flood insurance
Flood prevention efforts reduce insurance costs for property owners
Scottsdale property owners will save more on their flood insurance thanks to the flood prevention and management efforts of the city.
Scottsdale recently scored tops in the state during a federal audit of flood plain management, ranking in the top 5 percent of all U.S. cities and counties.
As a result, Scottsdale’s rating from the National Flood Insurance Program increased from 7 to 6 — a change that will collectively save flood insurance policyholders nearly $200,000 a year. That breaks down to an additional $23 per year for each of the 8,386 policyholders in the city.
Policyholders in designated special flood hazard areas will see flood insurance premiums, previously discounted by 15 percent, now reduced by 20 percent as a result of the city’s flood plain management. Policyholders outside the special hazard areas will see their premiums reduced by 10 percent, rather than the previous 5 percent discount.
Overall, Scottsdale property owners will now save more than $700,000 annually on their flood insurance premiums because of the adjusted rates.
The new rates went into effect on Oct. 1, 2007.
In its audit, FEMA’s Insurance Services Office stated Scottsdale excelled in several flood control and management areas, including:
- Maintaining flood-prone areas as open space (About 5 square miles of Scottsdale’s Special Flood Hazard Area are preserved as open space)
- Adopting and enforcing higher regulatory standards than those required by FEMA
- Inspecting and maintaining watercourses south of the Central Arizona Project canal
- Providing flood zone information to the public
In all, the Insurance Services Office graded Scottsdale in 18 areas of flood control and management. A fact sheet on the community ratings system is available at:
Flood insurance community rating system (pdf/18kb/1p)
Because severe weather and flooding can be unpredictable, especially in a desert environment, Scottsdale urges all residents to consider carrying flood insurance. More information on the programs available can be found at: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm
One Scottsdale
Well-known Valley developer DMB Associates plans to build up to 1,100 residences and 1.8 million square feet of shops, restaurants, hotels and offices on the northeastern corner of Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101.
The project, called One Scottsdale, sits on 120-acres. Construction of One Scottsdale’s 60-acre commercial core, which sits on the south end of the development and will include for-sale condos above retail and brownstones on tree-lined streets, will begin next year and finish in fall 2009.
Kierland Commons 2
Second phase of Kierland Commons lofts in North Scottsdale goes on sale…
Sales for the second phase of the Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons started last week with prices ranging from $800,000 to $1.85 million.
The 54-unit phase will start construction in May with completion slated for fall of 2007.
The units will be one and two bedroom plan with 1,100 to 2,800 square feet. Five penthouse units ranging from 3,200 to 3,900 square feet will be offered from $2.8 million to $3.15 million. Woodbine Southwest is the developer.
The first phase of the Plaza Lofts (30 units) sold out prior to the start of construction.
$9.5 Million Dollar Home Sale
SOLD! DC Ranch deal among biggest in Central Arizona…
Recently a house in an exclusive section of DC Ranch has sold for $9.5 million in a deal that ranks as the third highest in Valley history.
The 11,000 square foot home sits on two acres in Silverleaf.
Gietz Master Builders was the homebuilder. William and Janis Meadows are listed as the buyers.
Silverleaf At DC Ranch
DC Ranch > Silverleaf, located in Arizona’s resort town: Scottsdale…
In a city where One Million Dollar homes are common (800 are currently on the MLS in Scottsdale alone) Scottsdale’s new benchmark of exclusive luxury living is now approaching eight figures: $10,000,000.
Silverstone Approved
It has recently been announced that the Scottsdale city council voted unanimously to approve zoning changes for the 160-acre former Rawhide site at Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak Roads for a new planned community called Silverstone.
The community will include a health care facility, residences, a public library, offices and commercial areas. Silverstone will have 976 housing units and an assisted living facility that will rise 45 feet.
City Within A City?
Planned urban hub in North Scottsdale to include high-end stores, residences and more…
Westcor plans to build a new cosmopolitan city within a city on 2,200-acres at Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101 that will include the states most upscale shopping, restaurants, high-rise condos, single-family residential, golf courses, and a boutique hotel.