Making Sense Of Place
Phoenix: The Urban Desert
Phoenix: A Statistical Overview
Population = 3.3 million
Area = _____ square miles
Average high temperature = ______degrees
Average snowfall = none
____% population increase in the last ten years
America’s ___the largest city. And growing fast!
Development in Phoenix has revealed a fundamental paradox in
the American dream: we don’t necessarily get what we want as
a community when we pursue what we want as individual.
Post Video questions # 1 What does this statement mean to you?
A Laboratory in the Desert
Reflect upon the conflict between open space and development.
Think about your school. Where is the next closest open space located?
Describe what it looks like
List several reasons to value open space and several reasons to value development.
Value of Open Space
Value of Development
Alfredo Gutierrez-Arizona State Senator (1972-1986)
“What made it possible to live here is bold and courageous public
policy positions. I mean there were people who were prepared to
build __________ and bring water from central Arizona and northern
Arizona and move water around in huge amounts.”
Post Video question # 2 Reflect for a moment on the idea of how moving water
from areas of abundance to areas of need might have changed the ecosystems of
each area. Discuss your ideas with another student(s). Write your thoughts here.
How Big, How Fast?
Urban Areas usually grow two ways-up or out…Phoenix has sprawled easily into the
desert, maneuvering around nature’s barriers. Land on the ____________ is
cheaper, so that’ where development takes place.
Post-video question # 3 How does “hyper-growth” and “land on the fringe”
contribute to the acceleration of Phoenix’s urban sprawl?
After the war, what invention made living in the desert easier?
Building on virgin desert, developers have created an alternative for
homebuyers. They’ve pre-engineered new communities based on extensive
market research- fulfilling a buyer’s desire for a lifestyle of convenience,
recreation, and affordability; manufacturing a sense of place by defining it
as resort-style desert living.
Post-video question #4 How does this type of development illustrate the conflict
between the needs of individuals vs. the needs of communities?
What do you think is the meaning of “leapfrog” development?
Post-video question # 5 What do you think happens to the desert ecosystem when
the land on the fringes is developed? Do you think only the area that is developed is
effected? Explain your answer.
How Long Can it Continue?
Professor John Meunier-Arizona State University
“The whole question about whether Anthem is a good or a bad thing
is a question of ____________. Are we destroying too much, or are
we creating enough, as we continue these patters of development?’
Post-video question #6 List 2 pros (advantages) and 2 cons (disadvantages) of
living in a planned community such as Anthem.
Pro #1
Pro #2
Con #1
Con #2
If you were a prospective homebuyer, would you choose to purchase a home in
Anthem? Explain the reasoning behind your decision.
The Fourteen Lane Freeway
Sandy Bahr- Sierra Club
“Well, we definitely like to build roads in the Phoenix area and we
think that freeways will address traffic_________. But, there are
years and years of experience that show that is you build more
freeways, you get more traffic.”
Post-video question # 7 How has urban sprawl development contributed to both
traffic congestion and air pollution in Phoenix?
Just Add Water
Phoenix has very little water of its own, so it gets what it needs from the
Colorado River. Roughly _____________ of the water that travels down the
Colorado ends up here. The cost of this process is federally and state
subsidized- making water rates here among the lowest in the country,
Post-video question # 8 If the federal and state governments did not subsidize the
cost of bringing water to Phoenix the cost of water would probably be higher. How
do you think this would this affect growth and land development in Phoenix?
The Beautiful Desert
Tom Tucker- Walk Softly Tours
“The Sonoran Desert is the second most diverse ecosystem on Earth.
We have more plant and animal species here than anywhere else on
Earth, except the __________________”
Post-video question # 9 What arguments might an environmentalist make
against urban sprawl and for conserving the desert?
3,300 new ____________________ per month.
150 lane miles of new _______________________ each year.
1 acre of desert per __________________ lost to development.
Post-video question # 10 “For every 5 people who come to Phoenix, 3 people
leave.” Based upon what you have seen in this video, give two reasons why people
are leaving Phoenix
Questions for Further Discussion.
1) Why would the idea of Phoenix as a “great city of the future” have been so
unbelievable 100 years ago? (Hint: What was, or was not, available a
hundred years ago, especially in the area of technology?)
2) Explain how water is a limiting factor to life in the desert ecosystem.
3) How would you life be different if you were forced to reduce your water use
by one half? What are some things you could do right now to conserve
water?
4) Water is the key to Phoenix’s transformation into a metropolis. Cheap water,
which is federally and state subsidized, is adding to Phoenix’s hyper-growth.
Why is it unrealistic to think that the water supply can keep up with Phoenix’s
unlimited growth? Propose a public policy that would slow down growth and
manage water in such a way as to benefit the “common good”.
Second half of Making Sense of Place
The Results You Want
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) was originally founded
over 35 years ago to assist cities in planning for common growth issues like
waste management, water treatment, and
public_______________.Regional planning will only work when individual
_________________ equate their needs with the region’s needs.
Post-video question # 1 How does MAG help people to make decisions that balance
individual needs with community needs?
Revaluing the Land
When Arizona achieved statehood in 1912, the federal government granted
it large parcels of land, with the understanding that they would be sold to
fund ________________.Today, there are new funding sources for schools.
In fact, less than _______% of the education budget comes from the sales
of State Trust Lands. For many, saving the remaining desert is more
important than selling it off for profit.
Post-video question # 2 Why is native desert land no longer viewed as a
commodity or “dirt for sale”?
Post-video question # 3 How can the use of State Trust Land help preserve the
desert ecosystem?
Once relegated to reservations far beyond the outskirts of the city, Native
American communities now find themselves bordered by expanding
_________. Their land, initially thought to have little value, stands directly
in the path of high stakes development.
One of the most valuable areas they control is the Pima Corridor, an 8-mile
long swath on the eastern border of Scottsdale. Worth hundreds of millions
of dollars, they have already begun development, leasing lad for a huge
shopping mall next to the Interstate that runs through the
______________.
Post-video question # 4 How does the Native American concept of “don’t take
more than you need” oppose the idea of urban sprawl?
Dream Street
The American Dream, 60 years ago- a vibrant neighborhood right next
to______________150 empty lots…___________ miles from downtownThe
common wisdom among developers in Phoenix is that there’s more money
to be made building on the edge of the desert than there is redeveloping
communities in the urban ________, particularly those populated by
minorities and the poor. Some say it’s the way the market works…or
doesn’t work.
Post-video question # 5 What do you think would be some benefits for
redeveloping the inner city as apposed to developing the fringes of the city? Do you
think this would be a good way to protect the desert ecosystem? What do you think
would be the drawbacks of redeveloping the inner city?
Lines in the Sand
Citizens and planners instead reversed this process by identifying and
buying open space in advance of impending development. They studied a
110 square mile area in North Phoenix, and created a plan to set aside
______ of it as open space. The Sonoran Preserve Master Plan saves
______ and streambeds- the lifeblood of the desert_ in addition to what
was traditionally saved- the hillsides and mountaintops.
Post-video question # 6 What do you think makes flatlands and streambeds
important in the quest to preserve the natural landscape?
Happy Campers
Pinnacle Peak is an example of the power of place, of people willing to
work, persist, and eventually prevail on behalf of a larger community
interest of simply enjoying _____.
Post-video question # 7 What actions did citizens take to persuade public officials
of the need for a compromise in the public use of Pinnacle Peak?
Conclusion:
A Paradox in the American Dream
…..they like so many other citizens, must resolve a paradox in the American
Dream: Our desire to build the home of our dreams often puts at _______
the very place we call home.
James Garrison- State Historic Preservation Officer
“I think a very basic problem in the United States is the
commitment to how much of what I’m doing is in the community’s
interest and how much of what I am doing is in my self-interest
and how do we make those a _______ situation.”
Post-video question # 8 Describe a situation in which you sacrificed your own selfinterest for the community’s interest.
Questions for Further Discussion.
1) According to the Environmental Protection Agency: “Heat islands form as
cities replace natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other
infrastructure. On hot summer days, urban air can be up to 10°F hotter than
the surrounding countryside.”
How could preserving natural open space help to solve the problem of the
Heat Island Effect?
2) Do some research to find out where your water comes from and how it gets
to you.
3) What is xeriscaping? Compare xeriscapes to mesoscapes (using plants that
are not native and use a lot of water) as to water use, aesthetics, the effect
on heat island, maintenance of native animal habitat, etc.
Making Sense Of Place
Phoenix: The Urban Desert
Phoenix: A Statistical Overview
Population = 3.3 million
Area = _1760__ square miles
Average high temperature = _85__degrees
Average snowfall = none
_45_% population increase in the last ten years
America’s _6_the largest city. And growing fast!
Development in Phoenix has revealed a fundamental paradox in
the American dream: we don’t necessarily get what we want as
a community when we pursue what we want as individual.
Post Video questions # 1 What does this statement mean to you?
A Laboratory in the Desert
Reflect upon the conflict between open space and development.
Think about your school. Where is the next closest open space located?
Describe what it looks like
List several reasons to value open space and several reasons to value development.
Value of Open Space
Need Answers
Value of Development
Alfredo Gutierrez-Arizona State Senator (1972-1986)
“What made it possible to live here is bold and courageous public
policy positions. I mean there were people who were prepared to
build __dams_ and bring water from central Arizona and northern
Arizona and move water around in huge amounts.”
Post Video question # 2 Reflect for a moment on the idea of how moving water
from areas of abundance to areas of need might have changed the ecosystems of
each area. Discuss your ideas with another student(s). Write your thoughts here.
Need answer
How Big, How Fast?
Urban Areas usually grow two ways-up or out…Phoenix has sprawled easily into the
desert, maneuvering around nature’s barriers. Land on the __fringe_____ is
cheaper, so that’ where development takes place.
Post-video question # 3 How does “hyper-growth” and “land on the fringe”
contribute to the acceleration of Phoenix’s urban sprawl?
Land on the fringe is cheaper, thus massive numbers of people are attracted to move
to Phoenix, which leads to runaway growth, also known as hyper-growth
After the war, what invention made living in the desert easier?
Air conditioning became readily available to Phoenix residents after the war.
Building on virgin desert, developers have created an alternative for
homebuyers. They’ve pre-engineered new communities based on extensive
market research- fulfilling a buyer’s desire for a lifestyle of convenience,
recreation, and affordability; manufacturing a sense of place by defining it
as resort-style desert living.
Post-video question #4 How does this type of development illustrate the conflict
between the needs of individuals vs. the needs of communities?
Need answer
What do you think is the meaning of “leapfrog” development?
Need Answer
Post-video question # 5 What do you think happens to the desert ecosystem when
the land on the fringes is developed? Do you think only the area that is developed is
effected? Explain your answer.
Need answer
How Long Can it Continue?
Professor John Meunier-Arizona State University
“The whole question about whether Anthem is a good or a bad thing
is a question of _balance_____. Are we destroying too much, or are
we creating enough, as we continue these patters of development?’
Post-video question #6 List 2 pros (advantages) and 2 cons (disadvantages) of
living in a planned community such as Anthem.
Pro #1 Recreation facilities and classes are conveniently located there
Pro #2 Community facilities, ie. Schools and shopping centers are located within
Anthem
Con #1 Long commute time to work, as Anthem is located 35 miles from central
Phoenix
Con #2 Loss of natural desert habitat
If you were a prospective homebuyer, would you choose to purchase a home in
Anthem? Explain the reasoning behind your decision.
Answers will vary
The Fourteen Lane Freeway
Sandy Bahr- Sierra Club
“Well, we definitely like to build roads in the Phoenix area and we
think that freeways will address traffic _congestion . But, there are
years and years of experience that show that is you build more
freeways, you get more traffic.”
Post-video question # 7 How has urban sprawl development contributed to both
traffic congestion and air pollution in Phoenix?
Urban sprawl spreads the population into the fringes. This requires more roads to be
built, which increases traffic congestion. More cars create more air pollution
Just Add Water
Phoenix has very little water of its own, so it gets what it needs from the
Colorado River. Roughly _one-eight___ of the water that travels down the
Colorado ends up here. The cost of this process is federally and state
subsidized- making water rates here among the lowest in the country,
Post-video question # 8 If the federal and state governments did not subsidize the
cost of bringing water to Phoenix the cost of water would probably be higher. How
do you think this would this affect growth and land development in Phoenix?
Need answer
The Beautiful Desert
Tom Tucker- Walk Softly Tours
“The Sonoran Desert is the second most diverse ecosystem on Earth.
We have more plant and animal species here than anywhere else on
Earth, except the _rain forest_____”
Post-video question # 9 What arguments might an environmentalist make
against urban sprawl and for conserving the desert?
An environmentalist might argue that urban sprawl is destroying the rare ad precious
ecosystem known as the Sonoran Desert. Once it is gone, it’s gone. Endangered
species of plants and animals are in danger of becoming extinct, unless concrete
efforts are made now to conserve the desert
3,300 new __homes_____________ per month.
150 lane miles of new __road______________ each year.
1 acre of desert per _____hour_________ lost to development.
Post-video question # 10 “For every 5 people who come to Phoenix, 3 people
leave.” Based upon what you have seen in this video, give two reasons why people
are leaving Phoenix
Questions for Further Discussion.
5) Why would the idea of Phoenix as a “great city of the future” have been so
unbelievable 100 years ago? (Hint: What was, or was not, available a
hundred years ago, especially in the area of technology?)
6) Explain how water is a limiting factor to life in the desert ecosystem.
7) How would you life be different if you were forced to reduce your water use
by one half? What are some things you could do right now to conserve
water?
8) Water is the key to Phoenix’s transformation into a metropolis. Cheap water,
which is federally and state subsidized, is adding to Phoenix’s hyper-growth.
Why is it unrealistic to think that the water supply can keep up with Phoenix’s
unlimited growth? Propose a public policy that would slow down growth and
manage water in such a way as to benefit the “common good”.
Second half of Making Sense of Place
The Results You Want
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) was originally founded
over 35 years ago to assist cities in planning for common growth issues like
waste management, water treatment, and
public___cities_________.Regional planning will only work when individual
equate their needs with the region’s needs.
Post-video question # 1 How does MAG help people to make decisions that
balance individual needs with community needs?
MAG helps the 25 municipalities to work together on regional growth issues such as
waste management, water treatment, and public transportation in a coordinated way
that will benefit everyone’s interests, not just one community’s interest.
Revaluing the Land
When Arizona achieved statehood in 1912, the federal government granted
it large parcels of land, with the understanding that they would be sold to
fund __education___. Today, there are new funding sources for schools. In
fact, less than __2_____% of the education budget comes from the sales of
State Trust Lands. For many, saving the remaining desert is more important
than selling it off for profit.
Post-video question # 2 Why is native desert land no longer viewed as a
commodity or “dirt for sale”?
Native desert is no longer viewed as “dirt for sale” because now it is valued as a
beautiful and rare ecosystem that is in need of protection and conservation
Post-video question # 3 How can the use of State Trust Land help preserve the
desert ecosystem?
Need answer
Once relegated to reservations far beyond the outskirts of the city, Native
American communities now find themselves bordered by expanding
_suburbs____. Their land, initially thought to have little value, stands
directly in the path of high stakes development.
One of the most valuable areas they control is the Pima Corridor, an 8-mile
long swath on the eastern border of Scottsdale. Worth hundreds of millions
of dollars, they have already begun development, leasing lad for a huge
shopping mall next to the Interstate that runs through the
___reservation______.
Post-video question # 4 How does the Native American concept of “don’t take
more than you need” oppose the idea of urban sprawl?
The Native concept of “don’t take more than you need” opposes the idea of urban
sprawl because it teaches a deep appreciation and conservation for Mother Earth and
its natural state
Dream Street
The American Dream, 60 years ago- a vibrant neighborhood right next
to__downtown_____
Now 150 empty lots…___3__ miles from downtown.
The common wisdom among developers in Phoenix is that there’s more
money to be made building on the edge of the desert than there is
redeveloping communities in the urban _core___, particularly those
populated by minorities and the poor. Some say it’s the way the market
works…or doesn’t work.
Post-video question # 5 What do you think would be some benefits for
redeveloping the inner city as apposed to developing the fringes of the city? Do you
think this would be a good way to protect the desert ecosystem? What do you think
would be the drawbacks of redeveloping the inner city?
Need answer
Lines in the Sand
Citizens and planners instead reversed this process by identifying and
buying open space in advance of impending development. They studied a
110 square mile area in North Phoenix, and created a plan to set aside
_one-third_____ of it as open space. The Sonoran Preserve Master Plan
saves ___flatlands___ and streambeds- the lifeblood of the desert_ in
addition to what was traditionally saved- the hillsides and mountaintops.
Post-video question # 6 What do you think makes flatlands and streambeds
important in the quest to preserve the natural landscape?
Need answer
Happy Campers
Pinnacle Peak is an example of the power of place, of people willing to
work, persist, and eventually prevail on behalf of a larger community
interest of simply enjoying _open land____.
Post-video question # 7 What actions did citizens take to persuade public officials
of the need for a compromise in the public use of Pinnacle Peak?
Citizens showed up a public meetings, wrote letters and persisted in letting the City
Council members hear their concerns regarding preservation of Pinnacle Peak and
access to the trails
Conclusion:
A Paradox in the American Dream
…..they like so many other citizens, must resolve a paradox in the American
Dream: Our desire to build the home of our dreams often puts at _risk____
the very place we call home.
James Garrison- State Historic Preservation Officer
“I think a very basic problem in the United States is the
commitment to how much of what I’m doing is in the community’s
interest and how much of what I am doing is in my self-interest
and how do we make those a _win-win__ situation.”
Post-video question # 8 Describe a situation in which you sacrificed your own selfinterest for the community’s interest.
Answers will vary
Questions for Further Discussion.
4) According to the Environmental Protection Agency: “Heat islands form as
cities replace natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other
infrastructure. On hot summer days, urban air can be up to 10°F hotter than
the surrounding countryside.”
How could preserving natural open space help to solve the problem of the
Heat Island Effect?
5) Do some research to find out where your water comes from and how it gets
to you.
6) What is xeriscaping? Compare xeriscapes to mesoscapes (using plants that
are not native and use a lot of water) as to water use, aesthetics, the effect
on heat island, maintenance of native animal habitat, etc.