Define "Arcadia" for me please ... (Phoenix, Scottsdale: houses, safe neighborhood)

[Azalea City Man]

Can someone tell me the general street or landmark boundaries for this "section" of Phoenix. Thanks!

p.s. Only been to Phoenix once and that was about one year ago. Has the light rail been finished yet? (Didn't want to start two threads - and I am more interested in the Arcadia question)

[HX_Guy]

The light rail will be open December 26th, 2008.

[vegaspilgrim]

The true Arcadia is the area east of 44th st, north of Indian School/ the Arizona Canal, south of Camelback Mountain and Paradise Valley, and west of the Scottsdale border (although part of the neighborhood in reality extends into Scottsdale to about 68th st). This area has a distinct feel, having large 1950s ranch houses (and more recent tear downs and rebuilds) on generous plots of land (for Phoenix), with tons of orange trees everywhere and grass. Home of the famous "Phoenician" resort. It is probably the most "lush" neighborhood in all of Phoenix-- you won't find any rock gardens there. Much of the surrounding area, however, also calls itself "Arcadia," as far south as Thomas Rd and as far west as 40th st. For example, the La Grande Orange shopping center on 40th st & Campbell is often thought of as "Arcadia." The "greater Arcadia" area is more of your typical 1950s era Phoenix neighborhoods (maybe better kept up than average), not as distinctive as the Lafayette/Exeter blvds Arcadia. To answer your other question, the light rail probably won't be up for another year, and it's not anywhere close to Arcadia.

[Azalea City Man]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

To answer your other question, the light rail probably won't be up for another year, and it's not anywhere close to Arcadia.

Thanks for the detailed info. They were two separate questions. I am not trying to live in Arcadia and take the light rail.

Might be looking into the Tempe area in a couple of years. Just heard good things about Arcadia, but had no clue where its "borders" were.

[jlhct]

Wow...I love La Grande Orange. They have the best food for Breakfast!!

[JennyBoBenny]

Arcadia is actually a nice neighborhood It was established in the 1950s I believe, as most of the original houses were built from that area. It used to be all orange groves, so there's kind of a homey feel about it. The boundaries are from 36th street to 64th street (east and west) and Camelback to Thomas (north to south). As large as it is, it is mostly a pretty safe neighborhood, very convenient and centrally located. You have all the usual stores and grocery stores mixed with modest and upscale boutiques and good restaurants. The people range from upper class socialite types to nuclear families to young hipsters and I can say that the integrity of the neighborhood has remained pretty strong. There are some sketchy areas on the outer edges, but all in all, it's a pretty great neighborhood to live in, excellent schools and nice private streets.

[Climacus]

Real Arcadia follows the boundaries vegaspilgrim gave above, and it's a place with big ranch houses on nice grassy yards which has been around a long time and full of families who have been around for a while. But since pretty much every business wants to be located in "Arcadia", over time it's grown to mean something more like 40th Street, Thomas Rd, Camelback Rd, and 64th street.