CG-ROX SPRING 2012

Spring 2012 | 1column titleV.1 I.2 Spring 2012

EvErything about Casa grandE, thE hEart of arizona’s goldEn Corridor

Historical Downtown

reDevelopmentYour questions answereD

o canaDa, eH? page 16

Do You neeD glasses? page 18

Spring 2012 | 3column title

Spring 20124

in every issue letter from the editor 5 rox talk 6 from the top 8 YQA 10-11 O Canada, eh? 16 come on in with sandy 22-23 travel rox 24-25 go with the flow 26 who knew? peru! 28-29 the rox report 31 community service rox 38 cg calendar 40-41

the truth according to wilson b dedman 27

Quote of the Moment: “graininess matters.” -Wilson b dedman

contents

By Roxy Rox, ROX SpokesToon

thanks to all who made our premiere issue a real premier issue:

the talented people at a to z Media led by Kim Meza for their publishing brilliance,

the entire roX family for contributions, and you - the reader - for your enthusiastic support. We thought it was a really super first stab at what we want to be thE leading current affairs/regional development publication in the golden Corridor. but enough of the past - let’s talk about the present, and maybe even about the future! leading off this issue is another inspirational roX talK from our resident curmudgeon rock - who knew he could be so positive? brett takes over for linda Pixler and has much to say about all of the happenings at roX grouP in froM thE toP. your QuEstions ansWErEd (yQa) is back with a feature contributed by larry raines, deputy City Manager of Casa grande explaining the plans the City has for improving our historical downtown; we own a lot of real estate there and are obviously very excited about helping to make down-town a fun place to go again. sandy Wascher brings us another wonderful o Canada, Eh? (our friends from north of the border really enjoyed the first one) as well as her second CoME on in, this time featuring the lovely home of Jon and diana Walker. Wherever we go around the country, we love picking up the local real estate magazine and seeing how people decorate their homes and this feature is no different. as you probably know by now, Casa grande insurance has come into the roX family of companies. and speaking of our Canadian friends, last month our primary insurance partner douglas Morrow of Excel risk Management and insurance of Edmonton, alberta, wrote about how important it is

to closely consider our insurance coverage in arE you naKEd?. this month he talks about the very important subject of business insurance, and introduces Cindy garcia, Casa grande insurance’s new commercial insurance specialist. We resurrected and re-purposed an old parable about the vital importance of representation, which holds true for all of our businesses - insurance, real estate and travel. speaking of travel, rock has some words to say about the state of the industry in travEl roX!; hope Wallace continues her series of anecdotes about travel in go With thE floW; Wilson b dedman contributes his usual piece of sarcastic truth, this time about redefining the term “a.d.” - read it, you’ll love it!; and rock the tireless traveler (and writer?) begins a new regular column about unexpected discoveries called Who KnEW?! a new feature this issue which has heretofore existed only as a blog is roX rEPort: What roX, What suX! as Editor, i’ve had a sneak peek at this issue’s roX rEPort subject and i can say with certainty that the report is totally, completely valid and will foment no dispute, we are sure, although future subjects may certainly kick up some sand. We also kick off new features on pet care; brett returns with his column on Central arizona College, which we hope leads to a regular informational feature by CaC - they are growing so fast and constantly broadening their offerings, there is so much to say; and Casa grande regional Medical Center begins a regular health care column. i know that’s a lot. i’ve probably missed something...and we haven’t even hinted yet at the features we are working on for future issues. Enjoy! roxy can be reached at [email protected] or find her on facebook at facebook.com/roxspokestoon

the publishers of cgrox assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. in no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. cgrox shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from

the use of information contained herein.

letter from the editor

throughout Cg rox you will see the use of a Qr Code. scan the code for additional

information, video, picture or supporting data. to download the free application and start

scanning visit, http://gettag.mobi from your phone’s web browser or download it from your Market Place or app store by searching ‘Microsoft tag reader’.

cgrox is published by a to z Media l.l.C. in conjunction with roX Media.

Editorial content provided by affiliates of roX grouP, community members

and local organizations.

Creative DirectorEstevan sanchez

Art Productionalex Castro

Publishing/AdvertisingKim Meza

robert valdezJamie Wagnersalena reyes

angela Johnson angel t. Cupp

520-421-3155

do you need

glasses? 18

Spring 20124

in every issue letter from the editor 5 rox talk 6 from the top 8 YQA 10-11 O Canada, eh? 16 come on in with sandy 22-23 travel rox 24-25 go with the flow 26 who knew? peru! 28-29 the rox report 31 community service rox 38 cg calendar 40-41

the truth according to wilson b dedman 27

Quote of the Moment: “graininess matters.” -Wilson b dedman

contents

By Roxy Rox, ROX SpokesToon

thanks to all who made our premiere issue a real premier issue:

the talented people at a to z Media led by Kim Meza for their publishing brilliance,

the entire roX family for contributions, and you - the reader - for your enthusiastic support. We thought it was a really super first stab at what we want to be thE leading current affairs/regional development publication in the golden Corridor. but enough of the past - let’s talk about the present, and maybe even about the future! leading off this issue is another inspirational roX talK from our resident curmudgeon rock - who knew he could be so positive? brett takes over for linda Pixler and has much to say about all of the happenings at roX grouP in froM thE toP. your QuEstions ansWErEd (yQa) is back with a feature contributed by larry raines, deputy City Manager of Casa grande explaining the plans the City has for improving our historical downtown; we own a lot of real estate there and are obviously very excited about helping to make down-town a fun place to go again. sandy Wascher brings us another wonderful o Canada, Eh? (our friends from north of the border really enjoyed the first one) as well as her second CoME on in, this time featuring the lovely home of Jon and diana Walker. Wherever we go around the country, we love picking up the local real estate magazine and seeing how people decorate their homes and this feature is no different. as you probably know by now, Casa grande insurance has come into the roX family of companies. and speaking of our Canadian friends, last month our primary insurance partner douglas Morrow of Excel risk Management and insurance of Edmonton, alberta, wrote about how important it is

to closely consider our insurance coverage in arE you naKEd?. this month he talks about the very important subject of business insurance, and introduces Cindy garcia, Casa grande insurance’s new commercial insurance specialist. We resurrected and re-purposed an old parable about the vital importance of representation, which holds true for all of our businesses - insurance, real estate and travel. speaking of travel, rock has some words to say about the state of the industry in travEl roX!; hope Wallace continues her series of anecdotes about travel in go With thE floW; Wilson b dedman contributes his usual piece of sarcastic truth, this time about redefining the term “a.d.” - read it, you’ll love it!; and rock the tireless traveler (and writer?) begins a new regular column about unexpected discoveries called Who KnEW?! a new feature this issue which has heretofore existed only as a blog is roX rEPort: What roX, What suX! as Editor, i’ve had a sneak peek at this issue’s roX rEPort subject and i can say with certainty that the report is totally, completely valid and will foment no dispute, we are sure, although future subjects may certainly kick up some sand. We also kick off new features on pet care; brett returns with his column on Central arizona College, which we hope leads to a regular informational feature by CaC - they are growing so fast and constantly broadening their offerings, there is so much to say; and Casa grande regional Medical Center begins a regular health care column. i know that’s a lot. i’ve probably missed something...and we haven’t even hinted yet at the features we are working on for future issues. Enjoy! roxy can be reached at [email protected] or find her on facebook at facebook.com/roxspokestoon

the publishers of cgrox assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. in no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. cgrox shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from

the use of information contained herein.

letter from the editor

throughout Cg rox you will see the use of a Qr Code. scan the code for additional

information, video, picture or supporting data. to download the free application and start

scanning visit, http://gettag.mobi from your phone’s web browser or download it from your Market Place or app store by searching ‘Microsoft tag reader’.

cgrox is published by a to z Media l.l.C. in conjunction with roX Media.

Editorial content provided by affiliates of roX grouP, community members

and local organizations.

Creative DirectorEstevan sanchez

Art Productionalex Castro

Publishing/AdvertisingKim Meza

robert valdezJamie Wagnersalena reyes

angela Johnson angel t. Cupp

520-421-3155

do you need

glasses? 18

Spring 20126 Spring 2012 | 7rox talk

By Rock Earle

NIMBY NO, YIMBY YES

in one of my favorite songs sheryl Crow sings “it’s obvious what kind

of trouble we’re in…” and i agree. When new horizons to conquer disappear, any group as successful, dominant, rich, and smug as us - yes, us – the world’s richest nation and last superpower, will eventually turn inward upon itself in one last ugly contest. the ultimate frenzy of narcissism, of ME-ness, and doom from within. We have seen the enemy and it is us. Writ large, the evidence is our obvious political gridlock. in our own back yard, it is niMbyism. a proposed new industrial concern? “not in MY baCK yard”! you know who you are. yes, most of us want our own backyards to be perfect and pristine – once we are ensconced in them - after desecrating nature for our own micro-personal sake and after we are secure in our 4,000sf homes with granite counter tops, 3½ baths, and a pool. and yet the plenty that corrupts was born of yiMbyism: “yEs, please bring your business to our burg, let’s create some wealth together”. do yourself a favor, and next time you hear about a new proposal to bring an enterprise to the golden Corridor as well as the inevitable immediate negativity and opposition, think about our position in the world and parse what you hear thoughtfully. if you conclude that we must continue to grow or die, then we think alike; if not, then don’t be surprised at the decay of our community, our nation, and our veritable lives, because it’s obvious the trouble we’re in and you will have caused it. CASA GRANDE INSURANCE ROX! on a more positive note, roX is growing again, having closed the acquisition of Casa grande insurance (Cgi). for over 15 years i have had my own insurance – both personal

and business – at Casa grande insurance, first with stu rasmussen, then Mike Johnson, and finally Paul houston and Carlton taylor of the houston-taylor group; basically, I liked the company so much I bought it! for this expansion into a related yet distinct business, we have partnered up with douglas Morrow of Excel risk Management and insurance, one of our Canadian customers who has become much more than that – a trusted Partner and friend - to create roX insuranCE. When we took our idea of adding insurance into the roX family of businesses to Paul and Carlton, they liked the proposal so much they asked to stay in the deal, which, of course we agreed to immediately.

Cgi is dominant here in personal insurance – auto, homeowners, life and health – and we intend to work hard to increase our level of service to you. for help with any of your personal insurance needs please call lisa, rosie or irene at (520)836-7660. Most important, we see many small and mid-sized businesses finding it difficult to find good insurance products, pricing and service from either the small personal agencies or the large commercial agencies in town. businesses like these are the ones that really need the most support from insurance professionals; these business owners wear so many hats that they really need to trust their key advisors, not compete just

to get an appointment. doug and his Excel insurance team built their business in Canada providing exactly this kind of service and support, and are looking forward to doing the same in Casa grande. as a first good step, we are pleased to announce that we have brought Cindy garcia on board as our first Commercial lines specialist. Cindy has over twenty years of experience in the insurance business, sixteen of which were with our friends at the Mahoney group. Cindy was looking for a new outlet for her drive and talents, and is anxious to help us serve the business community of Casa grande. for any commercial insurance need or question please call her directly at (520)836-7660. BRETT EISELE to help manage all of this growth and new stuff, i am delighted to announce that brett Eisele has become a principal in roX grouP as well as operations Manager and is now responsible for all of the little details that drive me crazy and i do not handle well. brett’s people skills and enthusiasm have already had a super-positive effect on the roX businesses. Please help me in welcoming brett into roX management by calling him with an idea or suggestion (or complaint!) at (520)560-2555. THANK YOU of course, i could think of more to talk about in this space, but i think that’s enough for now. rest assured there is always something new happening at roX. thank you for your patronage; we are excited for the future of the golden Corridor and everyone in it.

roxco.com

And yet the plenty that corrupts was born of YIMBYism: “YES, please bring your business to our burg, let’s create some wealth together”.

ill is

current numbersactive - 190under contract - 237closed YtD - 245current asking price range: $7,250 to $825,000under $100,000 - 66over $200,000 - 45

DiD Youcasa grande Home sales 2011 vs 2012 - 1st quarter

(1-1-2012 to 3-28-12, source arMls)

average list price: $112,696 vs. $130,025average days on market: 93 vs. 79average solD price 2012: $99,163average solD price 2011: $89,339

Know…

statistics

Spring 20126 Spring 2012 | 7rox talk

By Rock Earle

NIMBY NO, YIMBY YES

in one of my favorite songs sheryl Crow sings “it’s obvious what kind

of trouble we’re in…” and i agree. When new horizons to conquer disappear, any group as successful, dominant, rich, and smug as us - yes, us – the world’s richest nation and last superpower, will eventually turn inward upon itself in one last ugly contest. the ultimate frenzy of narcissism, of ME-ness, and doom from within. We have seen the enemy and it is us. Writ large, the evidence is our obvious political gridlock. in our own back yard, it is niMbyism. a proposed new industrial concern? “not in MY baCK yard”! you know who you are. yes, most of us want our own backyards to be perfect and pristine – once we are ensconced in them - after desecrating nature for our own micro-personal sake and after we are secure in our 4,000sf homes with granite counter tops, 3½ baths, and a pool. and yet the plenty that corrupts was born of yiMbyism: “yEs, please bring your business to our burg, let’s create some wealth together”. do yourself a favor, and next time you hear about a new proposal to bring an enterprise to the golden Corridor as well as the inevitable immediate negativity and opposition, think about our position in the world and parse what you hear thoughtfully. if you conclude that we must continue to grow or die, then we think alike; if not, then don’t be surprised at the decay of our community, our nation, and our veritable lives, because it’s obvious the trouble we’re in and you will have caused it. CASA GRANDE INSURANCE ROX! on a more positive note, roX is growing again, having closed the acquisition of Casa grande insurance (Cgi). for over 15 years i have had my own insurance – both personal

and business – at Casa grande insurance, first with stu rasmussen, then Mike Johnson, and finally Paul houston and Carlton taylor of the houston-taylor group; basically, I liked the company so much I bought it! for this expansion into a related yet distinct business, we have partnered up with douglas Morrow of Excel risk Management and insurance, one of our Canadian customers who has become much more than that – a trusted Partner and friend - to create roX insuranCE. When we took our idea of adding insurance into the roX family of businesses to Paul and Carlton, they liked the proposal so much they asked to stay in the deal, which, of course we agreed to immediately.

Cgi is dominant here in personal insurance – auto, homeowners, life and health – and we intend to work hard to increase our level of service to you. for help with any of your personal insurance needs please call lisa, rosie or irene at (520)836-7660. Most important, we see many small and mid-sized businesses finding it difficult to find good insurance products, pricing and service from either the small personal agencies or the large commercial agencies in town. businesses like these are the ones that really need the most support from insurance professionals; these business owners wear so many hats that they really need to trust their key advisors, not compete just

to get an appointment. doug and his Excel insurance team built their business in Canada providing exactly this kind of service and support, and are looking forward to doing the same in Casa grande. as a first good step, we are pleased to announce that we have brought Cindy garcia on board as our first Commercial lines specialist. Cindy has over twenty years of experience in the insurance business, sixteen of which were with our friends at the Mahoney group. Cindy was looking for a new outlet for her drive and talents, and is anxious to help us serve the business community of Casa grande. for any commercial insurance need or question please call her directly at (520)836-7660. BRETT EISELE to help manage all of this growth and new stuff, i am delighted to announce that brett Eisele has become a principal in roX grouP as well as operations Manager and is now responsible for all of the little details that drive me crazy and i do not handle well. brett’s people skills and enthusiasm have already had a super-positive effect on the roX businesses. Please help me in welcoming brett into roX management by calling him with an idea or suggestion (or complaint!) at (520)560-2555. THANK YOU of course, i could think of more to talk about in this space, but i think that’s enough for now. rest assured there is always something new happening at roX. thank you for your patronage; we are excited for the future of the golden Corridor and everyone in it.

roxco.com

And yet the plenty that corrupts was born of YIMBYism: “YES, please bring your business to our burg, let’s create some wealth together”.

. Dill

current numbersactive - 190under contract - 237closed YtD - 245current asking price range: $7,250 to $825,000under $100,000 - 66over $200,000 - 45

DiD Youcasa grande Home sales 2011 vs 2012 - 1st quarter

(1-1-2012 to 3-28-12, source arMls)

average list price: $112,696 vs. $130,025average days on market: 93 vs. 79average solD price 2012: $99,163average solD price 2011: $89,339

Know…

statistics

8By Tom Anderson

Crime Prevention Guidelines for Closing Residences When Leaving for the Season • Make your residence look like it’s not vacant. • Have a neighbor or friend park their 2nd vehicle in your driveway at various times. • If you leave your car parked at your residence, don’t place tarps held by rocks, boards covering tires, or rocks under tires. • Don’t block off windows and arcadia doors with cardboard or sun-blocking materials. • Don’t put rocks on top of trash can lids. • Leave on electricity, but turn off all breakers except for the one that works one or two lights that are on timers. • Motion detector lights are great for of your home. • Radios, on timers, are a good idea for the inside of your home. • Secure everything and don’t leave any valuables behind. Either take them with you or put them in a safe deposit box. • Don’t leave weapons or liquor in the residence. • Remove your name signs from outside your residence and inside of windows. • Watch out for neighbors and trust your instinct if you believe something is suspicious. Call the Police, write down information, and question things, be a good witness. • Stop all mail and newspaper delivery or have a neighbor pick it up frequently, including flyers, business cards, or newspapers in your driveway or door. • Get a home security system. • Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street so emergency vehicles can find you quicker if there is an emergency. • Remove all exterior “hidden keys”. Thieves know all the hiding spots. • Record all your valuables and maintain that information in a secure place. • Exchange personal information with the person(s) watching your home. Include phone numbers, relative names and addresses, etc., in case there is an emergency and you need to be contacted. for more Crime Prevention information contact officer thomas anderson at the Casa grande Police department, (520)421-8711 Ext. 6760 or [email protected]

By Brett Eisele, Rox Group

The Best of Times

linda Pixler has taken a well-deserved rest from the burdens

of management of roX rEal EstatE to spend more time with recently retired husband alan and to concentrate more on her own very successful real estate sales career. linda served as manager of the Mahoney group’s real estate division for many years and then accepted the daunting task of establishing roX rEal EstatE. as a result of linda’s insight roX has become the premier independent real estate brokerage in the area during the worst economic environment we have seen since the depression. i am very pleased not only to have become a principal in roX grouP but also its operations manager in these exciting times…yes, i mean exciting. i see unlimited opportunity ahead for an organization such as roX. it’s the old sears and roebuck Company model. a roX rEal EstatE professional will help you purchase a home, roX Casa grandE insuranCE will advise you on insurance for both your new home and your automobile and finally when you are ready for your well deserved vacation, Peggye and roxanne Eck of roX tEMPtation travEl will handle all the fine points of your vacation adventure. or, maybe you are ready to invest in a rental property. roX ProPErty ManagEMEnt covers it and all you do is receive the rental check at the end of the month! Exciting? indeed! from where i sit, i can see 2012 is going to be a banner year at roX rEsidEntial rEal EstatE. our property management division continues to grow and we are seeing some activity in our commercial brokerage. We are already seeing (and working on) interest in commercial properties amongst our partners and by the time you read this, Keith lavoo will have obtained his broker’s license and be managing the commercial brokerage division. roX Casa grandE insuranCE is big in personal lines (auto, homeowners, life, health and disability) and with the addition of Cindy garcia, it is actively calling on the small businesses in tow. no matter what level of service you are receiving now, we’ll beat it; call Cindy at (520)836-7660. tEMPtation travEl roX, too, is experiencing a resurgence of interest in travel. Peggye and roxanne Eck from the old desert travel have joined with us and are sitting at the other end of the phone right now waiting for your call to handle all of your travel dreams flawlessly. Keep an eye out for roxanne’s “Wines of regions”

travel show scheduled for next autumn. sample wines from a specific region and at the same time look at travel packages to the same region. Phone (520)836-8517 for more information.

roX grouP is involved with our community. the roX travEl division has sponsored travelogues at Eva’s restaurant with all proceeds going to the Casa grande boy’s and girl’s Club. the Chili cook-off was a total success on our side mainly because of the participants from our real Estate division. david’s chili ran out by 2:30 because it was so good! i think you might be getting the picture by now. there is an excitement and momentum happening at roX and you are invited to become part of it!

From where I sit, I can see 2012 is going to be a banner year at ROX RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE.

from the top

8By Tom Anderson

Crime Prevention Guidelines for Closing Residences When Leaving for the Season • Make your residence look like it’s not vacant. • Have a neighbor or friend park their 2nd vehicle in your driveway at various times. • If you leave your car parked at your residence, don’t place tarps held by rocks, boards covering tires, or rocks under tires. • Don’t block off windows and arcadia doors with cardboard or sun-blocking materials. • Don’t put rocks on top of trash can lids. • Leave on electricity, but turn off all breakers except for the one that works one or two lights that are on timers. • Motion detector lights are great for of your home. • Radios, on timers, are a good idea for the inside of your home. • Secure everything and don’t leave any valuables behind. Either take them with you or put them in a safe deposit box. • Don’t leave weapons or liquor in the residence. • Remove your name signs from outside your residence and inside of windows. • Watch out for neighbors and trust your instinct if you believe something is suspicious. Call the Police, write down information, and question things, be a good witness. • Stop all mail and newspaper delivery or have a neighbor pick it up frequently, including flyers, business cards, or newspapers in your driveway or door. • Get a home security system. • Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street so emergency vehicles can find you quicker if there is an emergency. • Remove all exterior “hidden keys”. Thieves know all the hiding spots. • Record all your valuables and maintain that information in a secure place. • Exchange personal information with the person(s) watching your home. Include phone numbers, relative names and addresses, etc., in case there is an emergency and you need to be contacted. for more Crime Prevention information contact officer thomas anderson at the Casa grande Police department, (520)421-8711 Ext. 6760 or [email protected]

By Brett Eisele, Rox Group

The Best of Times

linda Pixler has taken a well-deserved rest from the burdens

of management of roX rEal EstatE to spend more time with recently retired husband alan and to concentrate more on her own very successful real estate sales career. linda served as manager of the Mahoney group’s real estate division for many years and then accepted the daunting task of establishing roX rEal EstatE. as a result of linda’s insight roX has become the premier independent real estate brokerage in the area during the worst economic environment we have seen since the depression. i am very pleased not only to have become a principal in roX grouP but also its operations manager in these exciting times…yes, i mean exciting. i see unlimited opportunity ahead for an organization such as roX. it’s the old sears and roebuck Company model. a roX rEal EstatE professional will help you purchase a home, roX Casa grandE insuranCE will advise you on insurance for both your new home and your automobile and finally when you are ready for your well deserved vacation, Peggye and roxanne Eck of roX tEMPtation travEl will handle all the fine points of your vacation adventure. or, maybe you are ready to invest in a rental property. roX ProPErty ManagEMEnt covers it and all you do is receive the rental check at the end of the month! Exciting? indeed! from where i sit, i can see 2012 is going to be a banner year at roX rEsidEntial rEal EstatE. our property management division continues to grow and we are seeing some activity in our commercial brokerage. We are already seeing (and working on) interest in commercial properties amongst our partners and by the time you read this, Keith lavoo will have obtained his broker’s license and be managing the commercial brokerage division. roX Casa grandE insuranCE is big in personal lines (auto, homeowners, life, health and disability) and with the addition of Cindy garcia, it is actively calling on the small businesses in tow. no matter what level of service you are receiving now, we’ll beat it; call Cindy at (520)836-7660. tEMPtation travEl roX, too, is experiencing a resurgence of interest in travel. Peggye and roxanne Eck from the old desert travel have joined with us and are sitting at the other end of the phone right now waiting for your call to handle all of your travel dreams flawlessly. Keep an eye out for roxanne’s “Wines of regions”

travel show scheduled for next autumn. sample wines from a specific region and at the same time look at travel packages to the same region. Phone (520)836-8517 for more information.

roX grouP is involved with our community. the roX travEl division has sponsored travelogues at Eva’s restaurant with all proceeds going to the Casa grande boy’s and girl’s Club. the Chili cook-off was a total success on our side mainly because of the participants from our real Estate division. david’s chili ran out by 2:30 because it was so good! i think you might be getting the picture by now. there is an excitement and momentum happening at roX and you are invited to become part of it!

From where I sit, I can see 2012 is going to be a banner year at ROX RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE.

from the top

t he first residents of Casa grande came to the area over a century ago. in 1879, crews from the southern

Pacific railroad came here as they worked on extending their rail line across the West. having to halt their work on the line due to the hot summer temperatures, the construction teams stopped in town to wait out the heat. supplies stockpiled here, and by the time work resumed on the line, the town of terminus had five permanent residents and three buildings. terminus, or Casa grande as it is known today, has changed a lot in its first 133 years. buildings have come and gone, horses and

carriages have been replaced by shiny new cars and big rigs, dusty streets have been paved, and 50,000 more people have moved into town! some things, however, have not changed. rail still serves a vital role in the success and development of Casa grande. and the summers are still really hot! Casa grande started along the railroad. the train depots built along the rail were not only a place of farewells and homecomings, but the site of dances, parties, and even Presidential visits. trees lined the streets on either side of the rail line, and created a truly unique place.

one unique characteristic that often goes unnoticed is the geographical alignment of the area. While many cities, dating back to ancient Egypt, aligned their streets with the compass (i.e., streets ran north-south or east-west), Casa grande began at a 45 degree angle. instead of aligning with the compass, Casa grande built around the railroad, which runs in a northwest-southeast direction. to this day, about 230 acres of the downtown area of Casa grande is aligned at a 45 degree angle to the rest of the streets in town. this gives us a sense of arrival when we go downtown, and helps us feel like we are in a special place. and it is a special place. if you have not been to downtown Casa grande, you have missed out on a lot! specialty shops line the streets, and the local restaurants are some of the area’s best kept secrets. the Paramount theater is a community gem, seemingly exuding relics

of the past with each presentation and event held within its walls. art in the alley and farmers Markets are common occurrences, and street fairs, parades and special events dot the calendar throughout the year. one visit to the downtown will be evidence as to why the City believes that the core of Casa grande, the heart and soul of our city, is our downtown. Planning for the success of a downtown area is never a one-step process. Many wide-ranging and far-reaching efforts have been undertaken in the past, in order to ensure that this vital piece of Casa grande remains vibrant

and continues to grow into a destination for visitors from across the globe. While many of these efforts have produced documents and frameworks for success, residents and visitors alike have also noticed that the face of downtown has begun to change. i would like to briefly discuss three interconnected projects that the City of Casa grande is currently embarking on, which will help to further enhance the spirit of downtown. first and foremost amongst these efforts is the downtown streets project. beginning in april, the main passageway through the downtown will be overhauled and beautified, as a means of promoting pedestrian traffic and “walkability” within the downtown. florence street, from near florence boulevard to Main street, will be completely renovated and updated with some of the nicest amenities available. innovative designs have been achieved through vast neighborhood and community outreach, and will be implemented as part of the project.

sidewalks will be replaced. new trees will be planted. benches and chairs will be installed. drainage and parking will be adjusted so as to provide better options for the downtown area. Whereas they had previously been restricted to do so, merchants will soon be able to extend their business onto the sidewalk to allow for outdoor dining and seating. a second exciting project is the strategic plan for community and economic development that will soon kick off. through our partner aPs, the City of Casa grande will soon commence work on a public visioning and will provide the framework for improving the economy as well as enhancing the community’s quality-of-life. the community forums that will be held in conjunction with this project will seek to obtain a consensus on the future direction of the community. the final project is a project of which many of you are already aware. over the course of the past three years, the City has been acquiring land in the downtown area. We have

chosen to do this as a means of cleaning up blighted areas, and not as a means of investment. through these purchases, we have successfully cleaned up three junkyards and scrap metal yards. We have acquired two of the oldest buildings in town, the shonessy house and the Casa grande hotel (both of which are on the national register of historic Places), and aim to preserve and enhance these significant buildings. in sum, the City now owns about 10 acres of land surrounding Elliot Park. in order to determine how to redevelop this area, the City will be hosting public events throughout the summer, in which community residents will be able to share their desires for the area. detailed economic analysis will also be conducted to determine what the area will be able to sustain, and what would be the most economically feasible options for the area. While all three projects have similar attributes, one of the implicit goals with all is to cultivate the ground for business activity. in conjunction with these projects, the City is also researching and studying various options to contend with some of the zoning and parking issues that are problematic and costly for certain business

types. several successful downtown areas have been facilitated through distinguished and specialized zoning, as well as the creation of parking districts. it is anticipated that similar amendments can be crafted to fit our downtown and can be proposed for inclusion in the codes. it is our idea that all of these projects will work hand-in-hand to have a synergistic effect on downtown. together with past studies and plans, these projects will provide an ample foundation upon which the downtown can build for many years to come. all of these projects show that Casa grande is committed to its heritage. the projects seek to inspire more people to return to the downtown area, where Casa grande was established. While the depot may no longer be the gathering spot, we hope that in the future our residents will be able to come downtown to gather, shop, recreate, and enjoy this great piece of our community.

your Questions answered

Historical Downtown Redevelopment

by larry rains, deputy City Manager

“If you have not been to downtown Casa Grande, you have missed out on a lot!”

10 Spring 2012 | 11