By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale and Gilbert rank among the top cities in the U.S. for remote workers. Scottsdale ranks 2nd and Gilbert ranks 3rd among mid-size U.S. cities for the percentage of workers doing their jobs remotely, according to software firm Volusion. Only Frisco, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) ranks higher for remote jobs. The high rankings show the … Read More
Guest Editorial: Why Debbie Lesko Is Very Much the Face of Donald Trump’s GOP
By Recker McDowell — U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona) has seen her regional and national profile rise via her full-throated defenses of President Donald Trump and jabs at Democrats during the impeachment hearings. Like it or not. Good or bad. Lesko, a former state lawmaker representing the West Valley, is very much a face of the Republican Party in Arizona … Read More
Santa’s Gift To Paradise Valley
If Airbnb is treating Paradise Valley roughly these days, others like Ritz-Carlton and Five Star Development are not. The emerging resort at Lincoln and Scottsdale Roads will be Santa’s greatest gift to the tony town in 2020. In previous years skepticism seemed to be the project’s yuletide sonnet. But not this one after the project’s developer, Five Star, opened up … Read More
Guest Editorial: Get Ready For More ‘Car-less’ Apartments and Other Outside The Box Development Plans
By Recker McDowell — A planned $140 million development in Tempe is being touted as a first in the U.S. for a ‘car-less’ apartment complex. The Culdesac Tempe apartments are being proposed without parking. The complex is on the Metro light rail and the San Francisco developer building it plans on offering discounts on Uber and Lyft rides and transit. … Read More
Quite The Scottsdale History Maker
It’s hard for a developer to lose once at the Scottsdale Planning Commission. But twice? Unheard of. Yet, this week that’s what happened to one of the worst development applications in recent memory. Seeking to supersize an entitlement an apparent out-of-state developer sought permission to change zoning for 5 homes on five acres near WestWorld on McDowell Mountain Ranch Road … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Risk in Phoenix Imposing Higher Fees on Uber, Lyft Rides to Airport
By Recker McDowell — The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to vote next week on proposed hikes to fees charged for Lyft and Uber rides to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The peril for Phoenix are the messages the higher rideshare fees convey to innovative and creative companies, workers and entrepreneurs. The issue could go well beyond airport … Read More
Guest Editorial: Papago Plaza, Other Scottsdale Redevelopments Reinforce Necessity to be Cool, Creative, Connected
By Recker McDowell — Papago Plaza in Scottsdale is being demolished. The retro shopping center and its distinctive pink Pueblo architecture are coming down and will be replaced by new apartments, a hotel as well as a planned Aldi store and Starbucks. The redevelopment is at McDowell and Scottsdale roads across from the ASU SkySong development. Both Papago and SkySong … Read More
Political Potpourri
*Paradise Valley’s Mayor & Town Council have a crush on relatively new Town Manager Jill Keimach. So much so that it is redefining municipal honeymoon. *Did former Scottsdale City Councilman David Ortega vote for the Scottsdale Waterfront towers? If so, his opposition to the recent Southbridge II redevelopment approval across from the Waterfront, which includes similar heights, is also a … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s Events Can Teach City About the Need to Evolve, Stay Competitive
By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale has cultural, arts and special events that set it apart as a tourism destination as well as a place to live and work. Canal Convergence, the ‘Scottsdazzle’ Christmas lights and music events and the Scottsdale ArtWalk events help make Old Town a destination and the envy of other cities trying to build their own downtowns. … Read More
Scottsdale City Council Unanimously Approves New Bicycle Tourism Project, Innovative Redevelopment Connecting Old Town Scottsdale and Indian Bend Wash
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) — The Scottsdale City Council unanimously approved the redevelopment of aging apartment complexes at the southwest corner of Camelback Road and the Indian Bend Wash into Arizona’s first bike-centric, arts-focused sustainable mixed-use development. The Scottsdale Council voted 7-0 at its Tuesday meeting to approve zoning and development plans for Gentry on the Green. Gentry on the Green is … Read More