Sunset Magazine's 37 Best Towns To Live Your Dream: Scottsdale, AZ "Best Place To Raise Your Kids"

I am an avid reader of Sunset Magazine. Every month when it hits my mailbox, I become a dreamer and get so totally inspired. In fact, this month's issue has me wanting to throw a citrus party, so I can make citrus-inspired recipes from my bounty of fruit. It also makes me want to take a road trip to check out some of the funky new motor lodges in California. There is never a shortage of amazing articles in Sunset Magazine.

The February 2011 issue lists their 37 Best Towns To Live Your Dream. I was hoping to see Scottsdale, AZ on their list, as I slowly flipped the pages, and there it was...

Scottsdale, Arizona: Best Place To Raise Your Kids.

As a native of Arizona and a resident of Scottsdale since 1986 (I was 7 when we moved from Phoenix to Scottsdale), I can honestly say that I loved growing up in Scottsdale. That is why I decided to set my family's roots in Scottsdale; it's where I want to raise my own children. I've now been a resident of Scottsdale for almost 25 years and plan to live out my years in sunny, beautiful Scottsdale, AZ.

Some of the features that made Scottsdale a prime choice for this nomination:
1. Safe place to live with low crime rates.
2. Scottsdale Unified School district has high graduation rates and it's standardized test scores are much higher than average state and national levels.
3. Scottsdale is full of outdoor treasures, including the 7.5 mile Scottsdale greenbelt (I run on greenbelt several times a week-I LOVE it) and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (my mom was the co-founder of the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust in the 1990s)
4. Museums such as the Museum of Scottsdale Contemporary Art offer early education programs for children
5. Lush resorts with aquatic playgrounds for the summer months

The sunset article gives a few facts about Scottsdale:
Population: 235,371
Average home price: $270,000
City acreage set aside for parks: 16%

Read the full article on Sunset.com

-Jennifer Hibbard

NEW LISTING: 3/2.5 Mid-Century Ranch In Tempe*$45,000 Resort Back Yard

Quick Details:

1916 E. Laguna Drive

Tempe, AZ 85282

2034 square feet

3 bedrooms

2.5 bathrooms

$339,000

MLS # 4119184



View Virtual Tour And Photo Slideshow Here!



View More Information On Our Website www.TwinsAndCoRealty.com!



$61,700 REMODEL! 1916 E. Laguna Dr. has been extensively remodeled over the last 4 years. As the builder’s own home, it features custom features not found elsewhere in the neighborhood. This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home features 2034 square feet of livable space w/ an open floor plan & amazing outdoor spaces.

Environmentally-sensitive features include: ENERGY-EFFICIENT dual pane Pella bay windows in the kitchen, ENERGY STAR appliances (including washer/dryer), LOW-VOC paint throughout the interior (except laundry room), professional XERISCAPED front and rear yards, evaporative cooler, digital thermostat, new modern ceiling fans in all bedrooms, living room and kitchen, water purification systems at sink and refrigerator, North/South exposure and water-conserving shower heads.


Kitchen features: Birch cabinetry, tiled counters and floors, NEW ENERGY STAR appliances (Ice2O French door refrigerator, range/oven, dishwasher, wine refrigerator and built-in microwave) & new sink and faucet. The formal dining room features new window coverings and George Nelson light fixture.


REMODELED bathrooms include: Euro-style cinnamon maple shaker-door cabinetry with matching framed mirrors and medicine cabinets, Corian counters with integrated sinks & tiled showers and floors.


The rear yard received a $45,000 resort-style renovation in 2008. Desert Landscaping and Pools installed a new low-maintenance SALT WATER system and new equipment including digital controls. Aquavida Pools remodeled the pool including: NEW Stonescapes abalone pebble surface, diving board, concrete decking w/cantilever edge, 6" pool tile, 12' party step and 2 umbrella sleeves. A new palapa/ramada was installed alongside a 10’ x 8’ built-in concrete-topped BBQ island, which features Kenmore grill with Weber side burner, stainless steel outdoor Danby refrigerator, stainless steel Edgestar ice maker & a stainless steel KitchenAid 30” beverage center. A 2-zoned, remote-controlled misting system cools the back patio and dining areas. Additional features include poolside paver-lined covered patio, mature citrus trees, a spacious workshop/storage area, all new decking and landscape.


Close to the light rail, ASU, major freeways, restaurants and shopping.

















Offered by



Twins & Co. Realty

Jennifer Hibbard, P.C.

REALTOR, Owner, ABR, GRI, Eco-Broker, B.S. Marketing

View our website at www.TwinsAndCoRealty.com

E-mail me at J@TwinsAndCoRealty.com

Weekly featured neighborhood: Village Grove located in Scottsdale, AZ 85257/85251

We plan to feature a subdivision, home or development every week, so we can ZOOM in on neighborhoods worthy of a little attention.

Our first neighborhood feature

NAME: Village Grove

BACKGROUND: Village Grove features 20 tracts and 1002 homes in total. Most homes in Village Grove were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Allied Construction was the builder of the homes and one architect has been identified as the designer of the modern-elevation homes in Village Grove; Charles Schreiber. The homes are block-built, post-war ranch homes. Many of the tracts were developed from Orchards and farm land. New homes were priced between $14,000-$18,000.

Here is an old ad from a 1959 Scottsdale Progress newspaper for Village Grove and a page from an original sales brochure for Village Grove:





Allied built the same series of homes, with some minor modifications in Phoenix, as well. The other community names are Hidden Village and Village Meadows.

LOCATION:

Village Grove tracts 1-6 are located between Oak and Almeria, from 68th Sreet to 67th Street. These homes in in 1 of only 2 historic districts in all of Scottsdale. News of the historic designation made it's way into an article about post-war ranches in the New York Times because of its unusual "weeping mortar". weeping mortar is something people either love or hate. Several owners have chiseled away at the mortar for a cleaner look, but new historic guidelines will likely prohibit this practice.

Village Grove tracts 7-20 are located between 80th Place and Granite Reef, from Thomas to Oak and Thomas to Osborn between 82nd Street to 86th Street.



WHAT VILLAGE GROVE LOOKS LIKE TODAY:

Village Grove is a neighborhood still sprinkled with original owners, but another breed of owners are moving into the community. Village Grove is attracting buyers because of its proximity to downtown Scottsdale, shopping, restaurants and arts/culture, along with large lots and reasonable prices. The current average sales price so far this year in all tracts of Village Grove is $291,625. Lot sizes range from 7500 sq ft to over 16000 sq ft. The location is walking distance to the Scottsdale greenbelt, Eldorado Park and a zip away from old town Scottsdale. Out of 1002 homes in all of Village Grove only 18 of them are of the modern elevation. Charles Schreiber, the architect, explained that these modern elevation homes were inspired by homes he was building in Hawaii, and referred to this style of home as Hawaiian-style. Many lovers of mid-century modern design flock to this neighborhood in the hopes of purchasing one of the new modern elevation homes. The last modern elevation home sold for $475,000, which is a lot higher than the neighborhood average. One owner who purchased in the spring of 2007 has just completed a green renovation, including all new energy-efficient systems, complete solar package, recycled glass tile throughout, bamboo cabinetry and landscape design by nationally-acclaimed landscape architect Steve Martino. Other owners of the modern elevation Allied homes in Village Grove have completed high-end remodels, including custom kitchens, guest quarters/houses, bathroom renovation, landscape overhauls, etc.



Here is a photo of the green renovation under construction:



Here are some additional photos of the modern elevation Allied homes in Village Grove:
















The neighborhood has also been the subject of interest in local newspapers and design publications:







As a proud owner in the Village Grove neighborhood, I have found myself acting as a neighborhood ambassador, opening up the eyes of buyers, sellers, Realtors and neighbors to the beauty of the mid-century, post-war housing around Village Grove and South Scottsdale in general.



For more information about Scottsdale modern and historic homes, please contact Jennifer Hibbard at Jennifer@TheRealEstateTwins.com or check out