Arts

Verrado raises the question: Would you trade an urban community for a suburban farce?

A A A Comments (4) By Robrt L. Pela Thursday, May 29 2008

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courtesy of Verrado

Verrado: Like a TV-movie version of a downtown historic neighborhood.

courtesy of Verrado

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But I didn't. I got back into my car and drove back to the disreputable, dangerous part of town where I live. I pulled up in front of my 84-year-old house and sat in my car for a while, staring at the peeling paint on the doors of our carriage house. And I tried, I really tried, to resist this thought: "If I lived in Verrado, that paint wouldn't be allowed to peel." But I'm afraid I failed.

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VerradoAmy 09/30/2010 3:38:00 AM

I used to live in an historic district in Phoenix, Del Norte. Now I live in Verrado and I love it. There is nothing fake about the community here. I know my neighbors and I can count on them and have counted on them for support and help when I have needed it. I loved Del Norte when I lived there but it is certainly not were I want to raise a family. Oh and I love my front porch on my Craftsman style home which overlooks the park where my son plays.
Justin 09/04/2008 3:07:00 PM

Wow, what a jerk. Is this what you call journalism? Thanks for wasting the last 5min of my life. What did I learn here? The author has a giant chip on his shoulder and that he likes to play gotcha journalism. It does'nt suprise me you have no idea why the NT has the rep that it does.
StevieWhy 06/08/2008 12:57:00 AM

Worst piece of journalism I have read, maybe ever. If you had actually gotten off your azz, stopped sipping your iced tea and actually done some reporting you may have found much more about Verrado. Yes the "New Urbanism" is really the "New Suburbanism" but at least admit that the planning and development of Verrado are a much better step in the right direction than 99% of the developments around the valley. Unlike most developments, there was thought put into the planning and the result is homes, streets, parks and outdoor spaces that are very livable and enjoyable. Most of us like the traditional neighborhood planning without the lead pipes, lead paint, asbestos, and outdated everything that goes along with "This Old House". Verrado is a very nice community. We enjoy living here. Yes it has its problems - which on the contrary actually makes it a "real place". Please do some real homework next time before making flippant observations and comments about what you clearly have no understanding.
ABC 05/29/2008 2:41:00 PM

So you visited one house occupied by a seemingly airhead-type female and decide that Verrado is a pitiful excuse for a planed community? Gimme a break. Do I live there? NO Would I live there? NO But I have visited there and think it's a neat idea. WHO CARES why people move there. Why people move anywhere can be for a variety of reasons. Go to each house. Knock on every door. You're going to hear a bunch of different reasons for why people chose to move to Verrado. For some, it was affordability. More house for less money (than if they chose elsewhere in the valley). For some, it was location - they want to be on the outskirts of town. Perhaps they want to be in a (seemingly) safer part of the valley (though anyone who pays attention to the news knows that plenty of dead bodies pop up in that area of Buckeye all the time and there are lovely at-home hookers advertising on craigslist, etc....yes, sad but true Verrado is not the safe haven that some would like to think). For some they liked the small town feel. Who frickin' cares? We can't all embrace old homes and homeless people walking down the sidewalks and peeling paint. Just because some people like "vanilla" doesn't make those people less worthy.