As newcomers flood the area seeking lower taxes and jobs, developers are building taller and denser, creating an urban feel in the middle of wide-open desert.
By Candace Taylor | The Wall Street Journal
Thirty years ago, this 730-acre swath of Arizona land was virgin desert, the vast blue sky interrupted only by towering saguaro cactuses.
Today the cactuses have been replaced by construction cranes in what is now a bustling area known as Kierland. On the border of Scottsdale and Phoenix, the area’s urban feel, with walkable access to restaurants and bars, is part of what prompted Morgane Baldwin to move there after graduating from college two years ago. She and her boyfriend pay about $2,300 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in a new, 10-story building.