By Renata Clo | Arizona Republic
Scottsdale leaders will take another crack at answering a decades-old question: What should development in Old Town look like?
On one side of the debate are those who think allowing taller buildings in Old Town will hurt its “West’s most western city” vibe, and in turn hurt local businesses and tourism.
On the other side, some believe that while it’s important to preserve historical elements, the area will thrive with more people living there to frequent local shops year-round instead of relying on seasonal tourists.
Jason Rose, a Scottsdale native who owns a public relations firm that often represents developers in Old Town, said the area is prosperous because it has balance and doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach.
But after years of critics calling out the City Council for tilting pro-development, Scottsdale’s new council majority is following through on campaign promises to revisit the height and density of Old Town development.
Mayor David Ortega told The Arizona Republic that updating parking rules for new projects in May was the first of three steps to restrict development and preserve Old Town.
