My vision of the future of Wickenburg has a question mark on it right now. I see its potential as being fairly unlimited due to it’s privacy from the Phoenix metro area while at the same time being pretty close to a major city.

When we lived in Scottsdale, we had to drive a minimum of 7 miles to get to the closest grocery store from our house. That wasn’t so bad when there were not that many people in the area, but now that’s a 20 minute drive each way.

I would hate to see what happened to the north Scottsdale area happen to the Town of Wickenburg. Responsible planning and development is crucial. One thing that the Wickenburg area has that is SO attractive is the amount of acreage available. The water situation is also great, especially for livestock and equestrian use. It’s a breath of fresh air northwest of the valley.

That is the vision I see of Wickenburg. But it will take some good people in the right places to be able to accomplish that. I don’t see the current housing situation around the country being as bad for the people in Wickenburg as elsewhere since the area itself is so attractive.

Right now we are in a holding pattern while we make up our minds about building there. I see several other people around us there doing the same thing. Once everyone stops holding their breath about the real estate market and lets it out, I think the market should right itself. That is, of course, unless some bozo decides to screw it up again.

Pam

Maybe it would just be easier to talk on the phone, I’m in the book, and open to calls, but anyway…

Have you been to the Zip site? I don’t see how you can equate open lots, land and acreages with HOMES, new or resale. BTW, Zip is up to 354 as of yesterday. It would seem to me, however, that including open land would leave us open to saying logically that there’s at
least a 100 YEAR inventory since Wickenburg is over a century old and we still have un- and under-developed land. I also note your friend said there were about 150 new and resale HOMES sold in the area each year.

I don’t understand the reference to Palo Alto in regards to Santa Barbara. Aren’t these cities hundreds of miles apart? And the teacher/public servant salary question is another issue all its own, I believe.

Santa Barbara and Wickenburg seem comparable to me as they both attract the better-off retiree, SB just gets the best-off.

My vision for Wickenburg? That it changes slowly, protects its heritage, and doesn’t become a supply depot for the Canadian mining interests currently investigating open-pit copper mining east of Constellation Road and north of Buckhorn road.

I hope the Town is able to annex to the south and hold off Buckeye and Surprise.

I don’t have a negative view of retirees (my own father retired when I was 12 so maybe my view is biased?) and think the average retiree is changing, anyway. I know folks are way more active in the post-employment years than in the past, for instance. As we are able to stay healthy longer, we play longer, and stay involved longer.

That’s all for now!
Daryl

Based upon the front page article in the Wickenburg Sun today (Wittmann says ‘no’ to Surprise), it would appear that Circle City, Wittmann and Morristown seek to preserve their identity as much as some people in Wickenburg. They have initiated discussions with the Wickenburg Town Council seeking annexation by Wickenburg!
Allan

Regarding your statement about Santa Barbara, this is a city with a population and per capita income which far exceeds that of Wickenburg. A few years ago the Palo Alto city government had to begin offering rent subsidies to teachers so they could afford to live near schools. That is not a healthy situation.

Regarding your comment about the Zip Realty statistics – whether a lot is empty or has a house, it is still unsold inventory. If you want to subtract the motel from the listing, please do so. Changing the number from 351 to 350 still equates to a twenty-eight month inventory.

The opening section of the article invites readers to contribute their vision for the future of Wickenburg. I also said that we need to find a “balance” between working families and retired residents. You have expressed a few ideas that could be turned into vision statements and it would be a great contribution to the web site if you could develop these into an article describing your vision!

About 100 years ago, Riverside, California was much like Wickenburg – a spot for affluent snowbirds 50 miles from a major city. Look at it now, after a century of sustained “growth” for younger families.

In regards to SB and Scottsdale, they are a couple of ciies that have been too expensive for young families for a minimum of 25 years and yet appear to be viable communities.

Why does Wickenburg being attractive to retirees make Maria sad? I’m just trying to understand.

Thanks,
Daryl