Taking on the perspective of a middle class family of four, I
would choose to live in Peoria, AZ. I grew up in Peoria with my parents,
brother, and sister and feel it would be an ideal place for anyone to raise a
family. The Peoria School District is the best in the state, and all the
elementary schools are located within communities, making them easily
accessible and very community-oriented. Also, Peoria has a very low crime
rate and a strong police force, which makes for safer streets and neighborhoods.
Peoria has many shopping centers, restaurants, and grocery stores, which
are essential for any family. The City of Peoria also has various community centers and opportunities for recreational activities such as sports and games. This also contributes to a family-oriented community and sense of security. The neighborhoods and subdivisions within
Peoria have affordable housing and a majority of them have been kept up well
and are still in good condition. If my
husband and I had to commute to and from work every day, the Loop 101 is in
very close proximity and is easily accessible from just about anywhere in
Peoria. Another reason I would choose
Peoria is because it doesn’t present much risk for negative change. There are still new subdivisions being built,
and residents moving into the city are most likely coming from a middle
class financial standing, which means the surrounding businesses, parks, and
restaurants will still receive business and use which makes for less likelihood of vacant lots and buildings. Having a stable economy for the surrounding businesses also means that the value of our home is less likely to have a dramatic decline if and when we decide to move.
Julie- Many of the reasons you chose to live in Peoria are the same reasons for where I chose to locate. I feel like proximity to freeways, shopping centers, restaurants, and good schools are some of the most important reasons as to choosing where to locate. Sense of security and a good community to live in are also very important to me as they seem to be to you. I enjoyed your blog this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ashley. As much as I do believe Peoria and communities that are similar to it are good places to live and raise a family, I could also make an argument that those who are raised in these cities are missing out on different aspects of a community, as well. Peoria does not have much cultural diversity, and is really lacking in any type of historical richness that contributes to making urban cities so great. Everything is so spread out and requires driving, which isolates people and discourages a lot of interaction.
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