By Scottsdale Watchman
“The Scottsdale Airpark is on fire.” Not literally (thankfully), but figuratively speaking. At least that’s what the reporters at national commercial real estate news outlet Globest.com have recently written.
In the last two decades, Scottsdale Airpark has transformed from a non-descript area of the city with a small general aviation facility and generic office parks to a major Scottsdale economic hub. There are several reasons for this.
First, the existing valuable property there is being continuously renovated and the city has not been averse to the mixed-use developments which are breaking ground seemingly by the week. For example, there’s YAM Circle, a 7,800-square-foot shopping center at the corner of Hayden Road and Northsight Boulevard which has replaced the former Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale.
The next reason is that it has been very successful in attracting a variety of new businesses from across the world, which in turn reveals why WalletHub named Scottsdale the best city in the country for a person to find a job. The statistics instill excitement for the city’s future. According to the latest forecast report from Colliers International, 59,132 people work in the Scottsdale Airpark and 3,233 companies operate there, in diverse industries ranging from aerospace to hospitality. It even boasts a vacancy rate of less than 10 percent.
Finally, when a person seeks a place to not only “work” but to “live” and “play” as well, Scottsdale Airpark is it the perfect destination. The Optima Kierland, Liv North Scottsdale and THE CORE Scottsdale are just a few of the nearby residences. Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons are within easy travel distance and each offer a plethora of award-winning dining options and other entertainment outlets.
What will it take to ensure that Scottsdale Airpark’s renaissance continues into the next decade? We recommend that the city should not only remain receptive to development proposals for the Airpark, but it should allocate the necessary funding to upgrade the facilities at WestWorld, which is a stone’s throw away to the east and included the Greater Airpark Community.
In just the last fiscal year, a city study established that WestWorld added 22 new events and grew revenue by 7.6 percent. Established iconic events such as the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show are setting attendance records. More people coming to WestWorld means more people are coming to the Scottsdale Airpark area. So, why not invest in it and do all that we can to improve it?
We’re proud to say that Scottsdale Airpark’s trajectory is like the flight paths of the many planes housed at Scottsdale Airport. Nothing but clear skies ahead.