Sunnyslope

Now that I am the last of the 'Kotkas' siblings living in the Phoenix metro area, I wanted to highlight some things I really like about the area. A lot of people think of the Stucco Cardboard box houses in the suburbs when they think of housing in Arizona. Lots of ranch style homes with little personality.

But trust me when I say that there are many charming neighborhoods in the Phoenix metro area.

One area I drove through recently was Sunnyslope. Sunnyslope is in the northern part of traditional Phoenix, designated roughly between 19th street and 16th street west and east, and Cactus and Northern for north and south.

The area is not cookie cutter by any means. Even when I was a kid I enjoyed biking and later driving through the houses near Central Avenue and Northern. They seemed opulent (yet classy) in comparison to the little dinky tract home of my youth.


Lined with mature trees and irrigated expansive lawns. Nice size lots, and a variety of architecture types. Xeriscape was not even a term when these houses were built. Not that I have an issue with that urban philosophy, but the trees and the rolling lawns do seem to give this neighborhood a life.


North of the neighborhood, and easy bike ride away, are rugged mountains excellent for hiking and mountain biking.

Many of the lots in this area are a tad bigger than other Phoenix urban neighborhoods, and it is not uncommon in some areas to see the house sitting slight angled to the street instead of straight forward.

Truly, a neighborhood worth visiting.

Cheers, nca