East Valley Communities

Chandler City Hall
480-782-2000

Distinguished as one of the fastest growing cities in the entire Southwest, Chandler joins Tempe and Mesa to form the Tri-City area located southeast of Phoenix and the Salt River. The regional economy has grown along with the boom in population, moving away from agriculture toward an economic base of high-tech industries and leading-edge electronics manufacturing. Widely recognized as a family community, Chandler offers its residents a small-town atmosphere as well as easy access to the complete array of cultural, educational, and employment opportunities throughout the metropolitan area. U.S. Highway 60 or the Superstition Freeway efficiently links the area with neighboring Mesa and Tempe, as well as greater Phoenix via the connection to Interstate 10. Arizona State University and Sky Harbor International Airport are both in close proximity.

In its own right, Chandler already boasts a full-service hospital, a fine performing arts center, the famous San Marcos Hotel and Resort, tennis courts, golf courses, a community college, and acres of lush parks. The recently refurbished downtown district reflects the new image of this progressive suburb that began as a sleepy farm town with a single tree-lined plaza. The naturally beautiful terrain and premier recreational opportunities abound in and near Chandler, from scenic Superstition Mountain vistas and miles of hiking trails to sparkling canyon lakes. Residents can explore art galleries and museums or enjoy annual events that include the acclaimed Doo Dah Festival—and Chandler’s delightfully unique spring Ostrich Festival.

Both residential real estate and multi-family developments remain attractively affordable in Chandler. Newcomers will discover a pleasing selection of newer construction in welcoming neighborhoods that are close to convenient commercial plazas and local parks. The abundance of reasonably priced single-family homes explains, in part, why this area leads the entire Valley in building permits. Most new developments tend to be sold out long before completion.

Gilbert City Hall
480-503-6871

While Scottsdale may appeal to the “urban cowboy,” Gilbert preserves the true essence of the grassroots farming and ranching communities of the past. Once a center for cattle, sheep, dairy, and other agri-business, Gilbert was known in the World War I cavalry days as the nation’s “hay shipping capital.” As one of the driving forces behind the East Valley’s population surge, Gilbert experienced phenomenal growth in the latter decades of the 20th century. Between 1980 and 1990, the municipality claimed Arizona’s growth record for that decade by quintupling its population. Within recent years, hundreds of employers have relocated their businesses to this booming community, adding thousands of jobs to the diverse economic base. Equestrians will appreciate the attractive horse properties or the mini-ranches that are available in a town that annually hosts one of the largest rodeos in the entire nation. The annual Gilbert Days celebration kicks off with a magnificent parade, followed by three days of nonstop rodeo thrills and spills. Ideally positioned to accommodate further residential and commercial growth, the Gilbert area has the advantage of civic leaders who recognize the value of preserving recreational and open space such as the prime 40-acre site for recreation, rodeo, and equestrian events. The cooperative effort between the city planners and members of the local business community guarantees Gilbert’s place as one of the outstanding business and living environments in the entire Southwest. This progressive attitude also encourages the continued development and expansion of quality educational, healthcare, retail, and recreational amenities.

Athletic fields, tennis courses, golf courses, and bridle trails are scattered throughout the area; while Freestone Park provides 65 acres of bicycle and jogging paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, and lighted softball fields. Area residents can attend horse shows, pursue adult education courses, or cast a fishing line in Freestone’s stocked lakes. They can also hike, bicycle, and horseback ride along miles of well-maintained local trails. With its reputation for outstanding services and efficient local government, Gilbert will be reinforcing its reputation as a “Community of Excellence” for decades as the new millennium continues to unfold.

Mesa City Hall
480-644-2211

One of Arizona’s largest cities and one of the nation’s fastest growing communities, Mesa has been recognized as one of the top 100 cities in America. The city combines a pleasing mix of tranquil neighborhoods, attractive retirement communities, and a healthy economy that provides exceptional local employment opportunities. The many companies that call Mesa home include several of the Fortune 500 as well as smaller enterprises. Major medical centers, regional shopping malls, and a highly developed service sector combine with a bustling central district. The development of first-rate cultural and recreational centers and programs combine with excellent freeway access to enhance the quality of life. The city is constantly improving its services and amenities, including the spectacular new Mesa Arts Center with its multiple performance and event spaces—celebrated as the valley’s largest cultural complex.

Distinguished as the largest of Maricopa County’s 10 community college centers, the attractive campus for Mesa Community College complements the area’s exceptional public school system. The vast campus for Arizona State University is situated just a few miles from home in neighboring Tempe. Local recreational facilities and programs are highly developed and expertly managed throughout the city, offering quality leisure activities for all ages and interests. Mesa is also the chosen winter home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, and the site of winter training for the San Diego Padres and the Anaheim Angels baseball teams. Available within an hour’s drive from the city, scenic canyon lakes in the Superstition Mountains are available for boating, sailing, swimming, and water sports.

Housing options in Mesa are abundant, diverse, and affordable—advantages that often attract newcomers as well as those who live in other parts of the Valley of the Sun. Modest but well-kept single-family homes nestled in well-established family neighborhoods contrast with handsome new construction in upscale residential villages that offer luxurious recreational amenities. With its highly developed resources and reputation for serenity and quality of life, Mesa has long attracted seasonal visitors and retirees in addition to families, young professionals, and executives.

Ocotillo
Chandler City Hall
480-782-2000

One of the most popular new master-planned communities located in the Chandler area, Ocotillo is situated just a 10-minute drive from Interstate 10 at Chandler Boulevard. Residents enjoy a good location that provides easy access to Arizona State University, Sky Harbor International Airport, and the cultural and shopping amenities scattered throughout the East Valley. Unlike many planned communities that are designed to be strictly residential, Ocotillo encompasses land that has been preserved to support a significant employment base and provide a convenient mix of retail and commercial space. Ocotillo is also ideally located near a number of the major manufacturing plants and high-tech businesses in Chandler for more close-in employment opportunities.

Designed to offer the highest quality lifestyle, the community harmonizes fine residential neighborhoods with the natural beauty of nearly 140 acres of lakes. The centerpiece of this beautiful community is the spectacular 27-hole golf course. In fact, the Ocotillo Golf Club has been rated by Golf Digest among Arizona’s finest public golf courses. Miles of canals meander through the golf course and wind through the residential neighborhoods, distinguishing Ocotillo as one of Arizona’s most acclaimed water/golf communities. This water-rich, panoramic environment sets the community apart as an oasis in the high desert. Newcomers will find beautiful homes nestled in the interior neighborhoods or magnificent residences that command breathtaking waterfront or fairway views.

Queen Creek Town Hall
480-358-3000

While Queen Creek takes great pride in its friendly, rural atmosphere and rich history, the town is welcoming a surge of residential growth. Civic planners in the Queen Creek area are determined to meet this expansion with a balance of amenities and services that preserve open spaces and the rural character of the landscape. Local amenities that add to the high quality of life include a community center and youth center, a branch library, and an 18-hole golf course. The nearby San Tan Mountain Regional Park encourages outdoor adventure and exploration. Queen Creek attracts thousands of visitors each year to its u-pick fruit and vegetable crops and seasonal celebrations. The annual Country Thunder music festival draws crowds to camp sites with live musical entertainment.

Many newcomers are drawn to this outlying East Valley community for exceptional home values, breathtaking mountain views, and the blend of residential neighborhoods with panoramic ranches and recreational activities. Unique opportunities within the Queen Creek area include one-acre home sites that appeal to aviators and equestrians. Local residents can enjoy the freedom and enjoyment of airpark living that includes horse privileges and easy access to nearby bridle trails in a setting of natural beauty.

Sun Lakes
602-506-3011

The active adult community of Sun Lakes falls under the jurisdiction of Maricopa County, in spite of its close proximity to the City of Chandler. Covering 3,500 acres just seven miles south of Chandler, Sun Lakes has introduced the legendary active-adult lifestyle of the West Valley’s “Sun City” to the East Valley. Creating a small-town atmosphere with resort amenities and an atmosphere conducive to relaxation, Sun Lakes has enjoyed rapid growth since it was originally established in 1972. In fact, the community has been listed among the “Top 20 Retirement Communities in America.”

Sun Lakes’ convenient location just west of Interstate 10 along Riggs Road ensures residents of easy access to shopping and cultural amenities in Mesa, Tempe, and downtown Phoenix. Throughout Sun Lakes, newcomers will discover many picturesque boulevards lined with stately palm trees that surround outstanding golf courses, country clubs, lighted tennis courts, sparkling swimming pools, handsome clubhouses, fine restaurants, and state-of-the-art fitness centers. Sun Lakes provides local shopping, medical facilities, houses of worship, a fire department, and many services associated with a municipality. Residents even enjoy the convenience of a public library.

Tempe City Hall
480-350-4311

Progressive and dynamic, Tempe is well known as an “All American City.” Over the decades, the city has moved far beyond its genesis as a small college town and Phoenix bedroom community into a vital urban center with a strong and diversified local economy. The powerful influence of Arizona State University, the state’s largest institution of higher education, contributes heavily to the first-rate amenities, youthful attitude, and stimulating environment that characterizes this attractive suburb.

To meet the retail and entertainment needs of more than 44,000 students, the city has developed quality services and commercial centers. Surrounding the university is a village atmosphere filled with restaurants, entertainment centers, and retail shops. Tempe has matured into an entertainment center for the entire Valley, showcasing the architectural wonder of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gammage Center and the inverted-pyramid styling of the City Hall. Highlights include world-class cultural events, ASU Sun Devil collegiate sports, an award-winning recreation program, the annual Fiesta Bowl Football Classic, and the biannual Tempe Festival of the Arts along Mill Avenue. Tempe attracts 150,000 revelers to the largest New Year’s Eve party in the Southwest.

While ASU accounts for nearly 40,000 jobs statewide, the university joins other leading employers in Tempe. Literally hundreds of firms have settled into attractive industrial parks that are scattered throughout the city. Efficient transportation facilities serve the area, including the Superstition Freeway and the more recent addition of Loops 101 and 202—the latter forming connections to Interstate 10, Interstate 17, and State Route 51. Just beyond the city limits lies the vast Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport complex with state-of-the-art passenger and cargo services.