By Mike Wilson | Paradise Valley
OPINION – I read the article regarding assisted living facilities in our town. The article referenced resistance to a reduction in occupancy from 10 to 6. Those resisting, it seemed, were mainly those running these commercial enterprises.
I read of their stated need for assisted living in close proximity to our town, but there are already dozens of these facilities within a 10-minute drive of our borders. And a comment that there was no parking problem related to 10 occupants with related staffing although it is hard to see one of our single-family sites accommodating visitor parking for 10, or even six occupants along with the staff of the facility.
There are a lot of ways to take advantage of our central, quiet and safe location with commercial developments. In each case the developer could argue that it would provide a valuable amenity to our citizens. A gas station on Doubletree and Invergordon would do a good business and would provide an amenity, as an example.
Why wouldn’t many more business operators buy or build or remodel homes in our town to accommodate 10 occupants paying a few or many thousand dollars a month? It is a good business plan even at six occupants. I remember the short-term rental business starting benignly then expanding to the point that it upset our way of life here.
We have a unique living environment that has increased the value of our homes while still affording a quiet, traffic- and crime-free environment. This while Scottsdale has steadily increased the housing and commercial density with more and more density-related problems. Let’s avoid that. It is one thing to have a few luxury resorts in our town, but much different to have commercial developments on our quiet residential streets whether it is six or 10 occupants.
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.