HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOODS
SOUTHEAST VALLEY
Many activities are available to Sun City and Sun City West residents, including boating, fishing, and of course golfing. Eleven area golf courses in the two communities make this a golfer’s paradise, while the activity centers offer a wide variety of clubs and activities.
Because much of the city’s infrastructure was built to accommodate its recent population explosion, there is a sense of renewal in the air, culminating in the city’s cultural crowning glory: the Chandler Center for the Arts. Every March the annual Ostrich Festival is celebrated as part of Chandler’s heritage. This annual event is one of the largest festivals west of the Mississippi and features live ostrich races, hundreds of great exhibits, big name entertainment, and a downtown parade. Corporate sponsorship is also part of the community here, demonstrating the commit- ment of business to improving the lifestyle here. Shea Homes recently demonstrated its commitment to the school children of Chandler by partnering with the Chandler Public Libraries to roll out the Shea Homes Read Around the Home reading program in 2008, which was developed to encourage children to read. One of Shea Homes’ key initiatives has been their “Read to Your Child 15 Minutes a Day” program that encourages parents to read to their young children. This fall reading program encourages older chil- dren to continue reading as well. “We appreciated Shea Homes generous support of the fall reading program,” said Chandler Youth Librarian Phyllis Saun- ders. “Shea Homes has demonstrated their commitment by supporting reading programs across the country and encouraging parents to spend 15 minutes a day reading to their children, especially preschoolers.” OLD STONE RANCH Master communities abound here. One such community, Old Stone Ranch, is Shea Homes’ exclusive community in Chandler. Old Stone Ranch is located in the Chandler School District, with Ryan Elementary located within the community. In addition, the Veterans Oasis park is definitely a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It features a five acre lake on it’s 113 acres, as well as more than four miles of walking trails, wildlife viewing area and picnic locations.
Chandler City of Chandler: 480-782-2220 www.chandleraz.gov Chandler Chamber
Surprise
of Commerce 480-963-4571 www.chandlerchamber.com
City of Surprise: 623-222-1000 www.surpriseaz.com Surprise Regionsl Chamber 623-583-0692 surpriseregionalchamber.com
P.T. Barnum may have been a more well- known master of marketing, but he had nothing on A.J. Chandler. As the Arizona Territory’s first veterinary surgeon in 1887, Chandler parlayed the profits from his practice into a landholding known as the Chandler Ranch. In 1911, he divided the land into agricultural plots and advertised them for sale. Knowing that wherever celebrities went, others were sure to follow, Chandler built the San Marcos Hotel. This lavish golf course resort became a popular getaway for such early stars as Errol Flynn, Gloria Swanson, Fred Astaire, Al Capone and Herbert Hoover. Together, agriculture and tourism built Chandler into a thriving community. While both remain important contributors to its economic base, the open land that once drew farmers and ranchers is now a magnet for high-tech manufacturing companies, including Intel Corp, Motorola and Microchip Technology. The arrival of these companies fueled phenomenal population growth. In 1980, Chandler had close to 30,000 resi- dents, it then skyrocketed to more than 235,500 by mid-2006, then to nearly 261,000 residents by mid-2015 and it continues to grow. Many who move to Chandler count affordable housing and its small town appeal among the main reasons to move here.
Founded in 1929, Surprise has transformed itself from the sleepy little farming commu- nity it was into a growing city that has drawn the notice of Money magazine, which placed Surprise at the top of its national job growth list. One reason for this growth is Sun City Grand, a Del Webb active adult community that has called for about 10,000 homes. A full slate of recreational facilities, including four golf courses, a fitness center, a day spa and the Rio Salado Community College Sun Cities Livelong Learning Center is also available to Sun City Grande residents. Surprise has also experienced growth in the business, retail and service sectors, and has annexed land north of the White Tank Mountains that link with up the city of Buckeye. It is also located within Surprise. Economic growth has also developed in the Surprise Medical Center, which includes a medical campus, emergency medical facil- ities and medical office buildings. Surprise Point is a 290-acre complex of restaurants, shops, industrial warehouses and office space that has been developed recently and has brought an estimated 6,000 additional jobs to the area.
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