There’s always an unspoken assumption in regionalism debates — that poor neighborhoods are the ones that really need the area-wide connections. Well, think again: Suburban Scottsdale, high strutter of the Phoenix metro region, marketed for decades as a sort of self-sufficient resort and arts enclave, the place where top business executives came to disappear from responsibility, is having a case of the jitters. And its best strategy, say some: look for regional partnerships.
Scottsdale’s western-styled downtown is looking tired. Sales have sagged. Its gilt-edged resorts are experiencing serious competition. People long headed to the Valley of the Sun now enjoy multiple options for the same experience, most recently Las Vegas. And the city, living well a long time on fees from new construction fees, faces the consequences of running out of buildable land.
Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute was asked to figure out what Scottsdale needs to do to ensure its competitive position. Its Associate Director, Mary Jo Waits invited Citstaters Peter Katz and Doug Henton and me, along with Bill Fulton (author of The Reluctant Metropolis) to take a closer look at Scottsdale’s fast-emerging dilemma.
On September 10 and 11, the Group took a thorough tour of the city and then met with a cross-section of leadership who treated us to a afternoon long debate about their challenges. When the panel assembled the best ideas the next morning, Scottsdale’s leaders heard a surprising conclusion from most of us: think regional.
Interestingly, neighboring Phoenix’s latest plan features all sorts of complementary development along Scottsdale’s western shoulder (indeed, the latest gathering spot for Scottsdalers is actually in Phoenix). Phoenix says it’s interested in doing more together. Arizona State University in Tempe, is the next place south; it’s cramped and inclined to look north for new relationships. And the Salt River / Pima Indians, crowded up against the east side, are crafting their own careful development ideas.
So, what if Scottsdale, the town built on images of privacy and exclusivity, actually focused on its neighbors, its regional ties? Could it both pay its bills and paint itself a success story all over again?
P.S. For more on the Morrison Institute’s wake-up call on Arizona’s future, see their impressive “five shoes” report.
