Although their proximity to a beautiful Arizona mountain range puts the residents of Arcadia in a geographically significant spot, that special spot in Phoenix, Arizona does not have a particularly unique history. In fact the history of Arcadia mimics in many ways the history of a fair number of developments throughout the United States.
During the 1950s, the section of Arizona now called Arcadia became the chosen sight for a Motorola plant. The executives at Motorola, like executives at many corporations, had expanded their work force. The new employees wanted to live close to their place of business. Hence the decision to have a new development in Phoenix Arizona—a development called Arcadia.
The developers at Arcadia, like developers in many areas of the United States, chose to build ranch homes. Ranch-style homes had gained wide-spread acceptance among American families. Residents in Phoenix, Arizona appreciated the fact that construction of ranch-style homes limited the ability of a neighboring home to obscure a great view.
Realtors in Phoenix, Arizona did not feel surprised at the response to the new development. They understood the most important rule in real estate. Phoenix, Arizona was a growing state, and Arcadia was at a prime location in that state. Many families purchased homes in Arcadia, ready to enroll their children in a Phoenix school.
By 1955 street after street in Arcadia had a consistent appearance. Each street contained rows and rows of ranch homes. Yet during the first decade of the 21st Century, the developments in Phoenix, Arizona began to undergo changes. Many Arcaida residents decided to build a second level onto their ranch home.
The changes seen in Arcadia mirrored many of the changes found at other U.S. developments. Numerous areas that had once had only ranch homes started to have a very mixed appearance. The expansion of the average home size could be viewed as a result of the general population growth. A growing community indicated a need for larger and newer schools.
Not all the residents of Arcadia welcomed the glaring changes. Some of them longed for the consistency of the past. While residents of Arcadia complained about changes in the area’s single homes, residents in a California development had a different concern.
One California developer proposed to complete major changes on the shopping area adjacent to a well-established development. He emphasized the need for consistency. One would have to assume that the California developer did not see eye to eye with the modern day developers in Arcadia.
So should a developer strive for consistency, or should a developer work to fill the desires of a certain land owner? Home owners have found no clear answer to that question.