By Yihyun Jeong | The Republic
The Scottsdale City Council happily stunned critics on Monday when it hit pause on the proposed Desert EDGE in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve until a citizens initiative plays out.
The council also directed staff to explore other city-owned sites for the project, including Taliesin West, and to try to pare back the $68 million the city now estimates the center would cost.
Desert EDGE is proposed as a desert-appreciation center on 5.34 acres near the preserve’s Gateway Trailhead. While supporters say Desert EDGE, previously called Desert Discovery Center, would boost city tourism, critics oppose its placement in the preserve.
