University of Phoenix Brings Higher Education to Deer Valley

Although Arizona's higher educational opportunities may at first seem limited compared to the Ivy League colleges of the northeastern US, there is actually a lot going on here.

 Our three largest cities are home to our three largest state-run Universities, respectively. Tempe has Arizona State University, Flagstaff has Northern Arizona University, and Tucson has the University of Arizona. Each of these schools offers both Bachelors and Masters degree programs in over 100 different fields of study. So, what else going on in the Phoenix area?

The truth is that higher education in Phoenix is spreading like wildfire. All across the valley, the ten main campuses of the Maricopa Community Colleges system bring "university transfer, career and job training programs" to over 122,000 students each year. In fact, many of the larger campuses have opened satellite campuses of their own. Glendale Community College has its own offshoot located on Happy Valley Road between 57th and 60th Avenues, right in North Phoenix.

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Deer Valley Airport: A Closer Look

In recent years, North Scottsdale has built itself an image of success and wealth that is unmatched anywhere else in the Valley. It has retail shops, fine dining, jewelry stores, banks, and thousands of office buildings, all centered around the Scottsdale Airpark. Indeed, the Airpark is the landmark that defines the region and the source of much revenue for the neighboring businesses. Since the 1960s, Phoenix has quietly been building up its own version of the Scottsdale Airpark.

I'm talking about the Deer Valley Airport, of course. Better known to pilots by its call sign, KDVT is the busiest general aviation airport in the country. With over 1,200 aircraft calling it home and over 378,000 takeoffs and landings in 2007, Deer Valley Airport is much larger than the Scottsdale Airport in terms of size and traffic. Since it was acquired by the City of Phoenix in 1971, the Airport has experienced a period of growth and expansion that continues to this very day.

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Construction Continues on Interstate 17

Ask any driver what their least favorite thing is about driving in Phoenix and nine out of ten will tell you: construction.

You don't have to drive very far in the valley before you encounter a lane restriction, closure, or detour. This is both a good thing and a bad thing for drivers.

Although it is frustrating when it takes longer to get where you're going, one must remember that we are fortunate to live in a place where the roads are actively maintained, and not simply left to ruin. So who's behind the cones and barricades? ADOT.

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What Is An Urban Village?

Whether you are an Arizona transplant or a lifelong resident of the Grand Canyon State, you may not be familiar with the term "urban village." To me, the word "village" conjures up mental images of a small, close-knit community living in huts with thatched roofs, perhaps on a tropical island. Valley residents can attest that there's nothing like that going on around here, what with our high-rise buildings, cookie-cutter suburban homes, and light rail system.

So what the heck is an urban village, then? If you guessed that it's an invention of city planners to distinguish various parts of the valley, then give yourself a pat on the back.

As the Valley grows larger and larger, city planners are coming up with more ways to divide the city into more manageable sections. Motorists who cruise the roads and highways have no distinction between Phoenix and Scottsdale or Mesa and Tempe, save for those little green signs by the roadside. The importance of these boundaries is not to be overlooked, however.

Phoenix itself is just over 500 square miles and keeping the city running smoothly takes the effort of many thousands of people. For simplicity's sake, the city of Phoenix was divided into 9 special sections known as "urban villages" by the City Planning Commission in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, there are 15 urban villages that make up the greater Phoenix area.

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Welcome

Finally, a North Phoenix blog that's NOT about real estate!

Why now, you ask? Well, they say the key to successful writing is to write about what you know. As a lifelong resident of North Phoenix, I'd like to think I know the area pretty well. So why does the world need a website about North Phoenix? Well, there's a lot going on up here that most people don't know about. With South and Central Phoenix already built up, this is where the new growth and development is happening. In my experience, it is a part of town that most valley residents are unfamiliar with.

The idea is to keep you informed about the area, new business developments, economics, architecture, and highlight some of the more unique places in our little corner of the valley, with an emphasis on the beauty that the natural backdrop of the desert provides for us. There may be articles regarding areas outside of North Phoenix from time to time, but for the most part we'll try to keep on track. If you're one of those folks who has never ventured north of Greenway Road, or even if you have, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you'll find. So without further ado, welcome to the North Phoenix blog!