'The Lakes' by junge1
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Description
'The Lakes' is a residential project in the City of Avondale, that was developed during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the West Valley of the 'Valley of the Sun', i.e. Greater Phoenix' area. Local farmers, many of them struggling to make a living with the high water costs of irrigation and often a depressed global cotton market with minimum return and profits were approached by developers loaded with money. Often a section (~640 acres - the typical size of the fields) sold typically for about $10 Million, including the water rights. The cities in which these fields were located, loved the proposed development, because the tax base is much higher for residential, commercial and industrial usage than agricultural usage.
The proposed development included a mix of single and multi-dwelling units, a super market of two, an elementary and high school, police and fire departments, and streets very never straight but curved, increasing property values, and with the water available with the grand-fathered water rights that came with the 640 acres of agricultural land, artificial lakes were incorporated, with the only stipulation being that the lakes would be lined to minimize seepage and only recycled water could be used, and often a golf course was thrown in, again watered with re-cycled water only.
Electric boats, mostly house boats were allowed and water fowl was brought in. The Canadian Geese that use these lakes like it so much that they forgot that they are supposed to migrate in summer. They are staying put throughout the year.
In the distance the Sierra Estrella Mountains can be seen.
This picture was taken on 21 January 2017, Sig..
Comments (13)
ArtistKimberly
Breathtakingly Gorgeous
Faemike55
great capture and information - love the clouds in the distance
virginiese
Very nice place for sure.I don't know what to think about the story behind the place : they are positive points and less positive ones. You explain that very well ! Great capture Sig !
LivingPixels
wonderful shot and some cool info!!
sossy
what a perfect composed landscape in this capture! love the wells on left, the palm trees and the amazing cloud formation! a most beautiful view 😃
ontar1
Beautiful looking place!
durleybeachbum
A fascinating story.
T.Rex
Thanks for the photo and the description. I sure remember the advertising about this. Do you have more photos from this development? Would be fun to see what it looks like. :-)
junge1
There are many new developments like this in the Phoenix area and other cities in the Southwest, like Tucson and Las Vegas. If the development is located on retired agricultural land it will come with the grandfathered water-rights that go with retired agricultural land. The required agricultural land used more water than residential developments will, so there is enough water left to put in some small lakes to enhance the value of the properties, i.e. attract more more money.
The problem is that they are running out of retired agricultural land. So there is a tendency to acquire State Trust Land and develop on the outskirts of the cities. This is cheaper for the developer, and any infrastructure necessary will usually be picked up by the tax payers, whether they like it or not.
But there is also a trend in the last few years to re-develop the inner city, usually with condos or high-rise apartment buildings and through gentrification of old neighborhoods.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
bugsnouveau
Great shot
nefertiabet
Very nice landscape and info, love it!!!
flavia49
marvelous