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Quality of Life Town is named in regional, national lists |
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By Barb Charzuk Times Reporter With two accolades of
best place to live and retire under its belt, |
"Phoenix" magazine chose Fountain Hills the best place to live among 10 communities in the Greater Phoenix area. The May 2006 issue describes the town as "a welcome oasis on the outskirts of a metropolis." For the second consecutive year, the magazine measured 22 Valley communities on quality of life factors: crime rates, tax rates, home prices, school performance, miles to Sky Harbor Airport and square feet of retail space. The list was narrowed down to the top 10. Fountain Hills jumped from No. 5 last year to the top spot in 2006. The other rankings are 2, Carefree, 3, Cave Creek, 4, tie for Paradise Valley and Scottsdale; 6, tie for Gilbert and Tempe; 8, Peoria; 9, Queen Creek, and 10, Litchfield Park. The same criteria came into play for best retiree locales. NeighborhoodScout. com is a Web site that lets visitors compare communities. Fountain Hills was ranked among the top 15 towns near a metro area to retire "if money's no object." Chamber of Commerce President Frank Ferrara said the regional and national publicity is "something that can be channeled into economic impact." "The whole idea is to try to get people here. We know that with our ambience, we have what it takes. We don't have to sell the town. All we have to do is to bring people here and I'm sure we're going to be successful with that," said Ferrara. Mayor Wally Nichols said he is proud to represent the "Valley's best community in which to live." "We appreciate the recognition by Phoenix magazine of what every resident in our town already knows," said Nichols. "This is truly a great community with a strategic plan for its future, an impressive school system, a high level of volunteerism, quality developments and a unique combination of a small‑town feeling with highly sophisticated amenities." Town Manager Tim Pickering said the Phoenix magazine article "confirms statistically that we have a unique standing in the Valley, but the other side of the story is the spirit, talent and enthusiasm of the citizens and businesses who call Fountain Hills home." "There is a charm and beauty about Fountain Hills unsurpassed in the Valley," said Pickering. Phoenix editor Robert Stieve said the magazine has 65,000 paid subscribers and a readership of about 320,000. The magazine also is sold on retail newsstands and in book stores. Stieve thinks newcomers might appreciate the comparisons to determine where to live. "I think it could help people rather than throwing a dart at the map," said Stieve, a Valley resident since the late `80s. He said he has not recently visited Fountain Hills. Stieve recalled that his publication printed a headline in March 1972 that "Fountain Hills is roomy and ready" |
The ad touted the McCulloch Company's newest masterplanned community, which featured the world's highest fountain. The advertisement went on to say that "within Fountain Hills' 19 square miles of scenic grandeur, the groundwork has been laid for a harmonious blend of man and nature. Those with imagination can now envision the end result: a low density population, sheltered in a protected environment." What's the negative about the town? "It's easy to miss," states the article. "Because it's so close to Scottsdale, people miss out by never driving far enough east on Shea Boulevard to get there." Mayor Nichols plans to change that by erecting signs along Shea Boulevard telling motorists that Fountain Hills is the best place to live. The profile describes Fountain Hills with a $61,619 median household income, $465,000 median home price and property tax rate of $9.08. Violent crimes totaled 12; non‑violent crimes tallied 619. The student/teacher ratio was reported at 13.1. The town has 8.6 million of square feet of retail and 3.6 park acres for every 1,000 residents. The town is 25 miles from Sky Harbor airport. Advertising and marketing specialist Tom Garrett believes the publicity and attention will "definitely" aid economic development. "I see a trend that is being driven by the quality of life issues," said Garrett, president of inOn Advertising. He moved his firm within the last year from Scottsdale to Fountain Hills. "Most definitely it is an advantage in the recruitment effort for businesses," said Garrett. He said business executives looking to locate, evaluate quality of life issues that contribute to living and working in a community. The favorable publicity, said Garrett, will "make them come here and take a look for themselves." The Chamber of Commerce plans to publicize it is the "Best Place to Live" on its Web site. The day after he learned about the No. 1 magazine rating, Ferrara told area Realtors that the publicity should attract visitors. "If we don't have people, we don't sell houses. We don't sell anything so the whole idea is to try to get people here. We know that with our ambience, we have what it takes," said Ferrara. "We don't have to sell the town. All we have to do is to bring the people here and I'm sure we're going to be successful with that." Ferrara said the polls confirm that the town is "not some little Podunk town in the sticks. We are a region and we're here to stay." "I see a trend that is being driven by the quality of life issues," said Garrett, president of inOn Advertising. He moved his firm within the last year from Scottsdale to Fountain Hills. |
"I see a trend that is being driven by the quality of life issues," said Garrett, president of inOn Advertising. He moved his firm within the last year from Scottsdale to Fountain Hills. "Most definitely it is an advantage in the recruitment effort for businesses," said Garrett. He said business executives looking to locate, evaluate quality of life issues that contribute to living and working in a community. The favorable publicity, said Garrett, will "make them come here and take a look for themselves." The Chamber of Commerce plans to publicize it is the "Best Place to Live" on its Web site. The day after he learned about the No. 1 magazine rating, Ferrara told area Realtors that the publicity should attract visitors. "If we don't have people, we don't sell houses. We don't sell anything so the whole idea is to try to get people here. We know that with our ambience, we have what it takes," said Ferrara. "We don't have to sell the town. All we have to do is to bring the people here and I'm sure we're going to be successful with that." Ferrara said the polls confirm that the town is "not some little Podunk town in the sticks. We are a region and we're here to stay." "quiet means a less densely populated also somewhat fewer cc students and small children a little bit quieter," he said These locales also have proportion of college‑educated residents, Schiller said. The communities all are in 75 miles of the city center they all offer an array of ho options, including single family homes, condominium, rental units. Schiller created two lists is the best towns for retirees based on the criteria detailed above, in the 15 biggest metro areas nationwide, regardless housing costs. A second list takes housing costs into account, detailing best places that are also a value. To see the other best t in 15 metro areas, go to , neighborhoodscout.com/n borhoods/retirement.jsp.
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