Scottsdale’s Old Town Ushers in the New Written by Yael Grauer Scottsdale is known as “the West’s most Western town,” and that’s something the city’s Old Town has long tried to embrace. But recently, with luxury condos and millennials moving in, the city’s downtown has been making plans to ensure that it meets expectations. Old Town Scottsdale used to refer to a touristy part of town filled primarily with  “cowboys and Indians” kitsch and other Wild West souvenirs for sale. But in January, the city’s rebranding effort led to it expanding the area it refers to as “Old Town” to include Scottsdale’s many engaging art galleries as well as its popular shopping mall, Scottsdale Fashion Square.

The downtown has also seen an increase in high-end restaurants and wine tasting rooms, as well as nightlife and entertainment-based industries that are attracting a new audience to Old Town. But a tourism-related downtown feasibility study for the city of Scottsdale indicates that about half of surveyed merchants have seen an overall drop in foot traffic in downtown in the past five years. Not correcting course could lead to a gradual deterioration of the aspects that make downtown Scottsdale vibrant, according to the study. The Scottsdale City Council passed an updated downtown plan this past summer that allows buildings neighboring Old Town to double in height up to as much as 150 feet in some areas. The population of downtown Scottsdale is projected to reach 6,100 in 2020, according to the city’s feasibility study. Being able to go high will allow developers to build the housing and office space needed to accommodate these new residents. “The downtown area is…growing up around the core,” said Carroll Huntress, who has owned the iconic Sugar Bowl ice cream parlor on Scottsdale Road since 1985. He said millennials are buying smaller residences located in or near downtown, which has been great for business and led to increased foot traffic. Jessica Rose Boutwell, 35, grew up a few miles from the current location of Růže Cake House, a bakery in Old Town’s arts district that she opened with her mother in 2016. She was surprised to learn that she could afford the rent there. “Just being able to say we’re in Old Town Scottsdale has a bit of prestige,” she said. In spite of its apparent prestige, Old Town suffers from a lack of connectivity and limited open space. The city has many beautification projects in the works for downtown, said Scottsdale public information officer Holly Walter, with plans to build small parks and adding more public art. But she pointed out that this type of development can be difficult because there is limited land area, requiring the city to collaborate with private businesses. Rob Millar, Scottsdale’s acting economic development director, said the best way to tackle it is through zoning requirements that accommodate the city’s needs. “This is going to have to be addressed as new projects come in,” he said. Currently, developers who want to build high are required to provide the city with a public amenity such as public art, public parking, or pedestrian walkways.

Millar points to ways Old Town has changed in the past five years: revitalizing its entertainment district, building more multi-family homes, and “becoming a hub of companies that want to be in an urban environment,” such as Weebly, the web building platform, which is headquartered in San Francisco and has an Arizona office on Scottsdale Road. He said Old Town will continue to attract other tech businesses going forward. “There are other smaller tech companies that want to cluster in the same area, and Bay Area companies are thinking of expanding here because it’s less expensive,” Millar said. Additionally, there are plans for 10 separate individual service hotels in Old Town to accommodate travelers. One, dubbed Museum Square, will include a 13-story hotel on the northwest corner of North Marshall Way and Second Street. Housing, hotels, restaurants, office spaces and businesses — Millar expects to see a continuing revitalization in downtown Scottsdale for many years to come. Continue Reading