Central Scottsdale

Central Scottsdale is generally considered to be between Chaparral and Shea. The area has two large shopping centers, one at the intersection of Shea and Scottsdale and the other at Shea and 90th Street. The gently sloping Shea corridor leading out past the Mayo Clinic to Fountain Hills has several smaller planned communities with and without golf courses. The views up to the hills and down to the city are enviable. The Indian Gaming Casino Arizona at Talking Stick is adjacent to the 101. The first Master planned community, McCormick Ranch, was built in the 1970s and was soon followed by others. Many of the homes today are still horse properties with magnificent Arabians routinely seen. The area was once the premier Arabian horse breeding center and each winter hosts the largest Arabian show in the country. Today many of  the older homes in Central Scottsdale (built in the 70’s and 80’s on acre lots) are being demolished and replaced by larger modern family homes. Homes in the Scottsdale and neighboring Paradise Valley school districts are very much desired for their school ratings.

McCormick Ranch

McCormick Ranch:  today contains 3,116 total acres.  It was the first and largest master planned community in the city.  1,120 acres were sold off to later become Scottsdale Ranch.

 

Development began with infrastructure and amenities. The amenities had a dual purpose by providing aesthetics and flood control.  They included two championship 18-hole golf courses, more than 25 miles of bicycle paths, public tennis courts, 130 acres of man-made lakes, two of which can be used for sailing and several that are stocked with fish. “The Camelback Walk“, a continuous open space that runs under major roads and through the parks, lakes and streams, is the major spine of the overall Ranch development. The first phase of its development was of the infrastructure and three first class resorts.   Phase 2 saw the addition of single family homes, condominiums and patio homes.  There are a total of 57 subdivisions on the Ranch.  There is only one new construction project going on, there is a very noticeable renaissance with the rental apartments undergoing condo conversions, the older homes are being replaced while the patio and town homes are being remodeled and modernized taking full advantage of their prime location.

Scottsdale Ranch

Scottsdale Ranch is a master planned community of 1100 acres with  an acclaimed city park, schools and a senior citizens center in it’s midst. Interesting to note is that acreage was sold by the developers of adjacent McCormick Ranch to the developers of Scottsdale Ranch. Amenities of Scottsdale Ranch Park, a 42 acre multigenerational use city facility, include a tennis center with 12 lighted courts, 4 lighted racquetball courts, l lighted squash court, 6 sand volleyball courts, l full basketball court and 2 half basketball courts, 2 baseball fields and a 12 station exercise course. There are many recreation programs with leagues, lessons and tournaments. The US Tennis Association named the center one of 8 outstanding facilities in the US.

The homes range from stately waterfront homes or elegant town homes, private patio homes, tennis villas to spacious single family homes. There are 40 different neighborhoods within the ranch, each with it’s own management.  Both town homes and estate homes surround the 42-acre Lake Serena. The Scottsdale Ranch community clubhouse offers small party boat rentals for special occasions and embodies the neighborhood feel that Scottsdale Ranch is known for. Heritage Village is an Active Adult community within Scottsdale Ranch. It has 100 one story patio homes built between 1985 and 1994, tennis courts, heated pool and spa.