My ohhh my, what a change only a handful of years can make. It wasn’t too long ago that a Jim Lane-led Scottsdale embraced development and growth. It would seem that the pendulum has swung and swung hard in the other direction. In a 6-1 vote, the Scottsdale city council recently voted to adopt a series of international green building … Read More
Demand Pull: Jobs are Bringing More Housing to Phoenix, What Can Scottsdale Learn?
We’re not shy about the need for more housing options in the valley; in the words of that oddball New York political candidate a number of years back, “the rent is too damn high”, but one could also lump home prices in that bucket as well. And as we like to remind you, the best way to reduce those is … Read More
Scottsdale with Green Building Mandates? Is This the Scottsdale We Want?
Photo Credit: Rose Law GroupAhhhh, Scottsdale: the city of beautiful people, great nightlife, fantastic golf and leisure, and…strict environmental building codes. Wait, what? Yes, it is true: Scottsdale will become the first city in the state to mandate new “green building codes” to ensure more environmentally friendly materials are used, energy efficiency is emphasized, and water usage is reduced. These … Read More
Caputi Takes On Ortega in a Friendly Crowd: Is It a Sign of What’s to Come in 2024?
Is it too early to look forward to the 2024 Scottsdale Mayoral race? Well we are confident that Mayor David Ortega is looking forward to his re-election campaign, and based on a recent post from Councilwoman Tammy Caputi it looks like we may have someone else who is similarly looking at that race with opportunity in their eyes. We found … Read More
Pressure Mounts for the Need to Build More Apartments Now
The nearly absurd rise in housing prices which has led nearly directly to a rental crisis in Arizona is a major pressing issue that we have been on top of here at the Arizona Progress Gazette. Recent interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve have served the purpose of pumping the brakes on the economy, raising interest rates, and halting … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Political Earthquake In Scottsdale No One Is Talking About . . .And Ramifications For The City’s Future
By Jason Rose I ran my first successful campaign in Scottsdale in 1994. Two years later I consulted on the campaign that elected the city’s first female mayor, Sam Campana. Ever since I have been heavily involved in the Scottsdale political scene leading elections for other mayors, hockey arenas and bonds to fund new infrastructure. I offer these credentials not … Read More
Add Glendale and Tempe to List of Valley Cities that Understand the Need to Build
If you read this blog regularly, you know that we have a housing shortage issue which is playing a major role in housing prices spiraling out of control. We also recently gave kudos to Mesa for having the foresight to be willing to build more and reject the local NIMBY voices of the community. Well we have a few more … Read More
Affordable Housing an Issue in Scottsdale? A Recent Study Paints a Bleak Picture
You must know by now that APG has been on the forefront of calling out the problem of affordability as it pertains to rent prices. We have spoken about it here and here, and while raising interest rates may cool it down eventually, there are no immediate signs of the problem abating. While in this case, we hate to be … Read More
Intrigue in Local Development: Mayor Ortega Pulls Back Request for Review. Was It a Lack of Support?
While there is a degree of peril involved when you attempt to read between the lines, sometimes it is worth examining anyway. And a very subtle story that didn’t seem to make any waves at all is worth examining through that prism. A mixed-use development proposed for Old Town called The Goldwater was under review with the city of Scottsdale’s … Read More
Guest Editorial: from Scottsdale Councilwoman Tammy Caputi
I ran for city council to be a positive, forward-thinking voice for Scottsdale. We need councilmembers who will govern with facts and open minds. Activism has its place, and the council can have disagreement about policy, but we must understand what it means to govern, and base our decisions on facts and data. My job as a councilmember is to … Read More