Is it just me, or does everyone in Scottsdale/Paradise Valley have a gravel driveway? (Tucson: house, neighborhoods)

[tommy64]

Oh sure, there are some driveways with beautiful pavers and some nice exposed aggregate concrete driveways, but it looks like at least half of them in that area are gravel or just plain old dirt.

Am I imagining things? If not, why so few paved driveways in Scottsdale/PV?

[asufan]

I usually only see DG driveways in areas on large lots that aren't connected to city sewer and county islands. Most neighborhoods in Scottsdale have concrete/paver driveways, especially in an HOA.

[Driver 47]

Gravel is cheaper than asphalt besides, in that area asphalt might get too soft in the sun.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by tommy64

Oh sure, there are some driveways with beautiful pavers and some nice exposed aggregate concrete driveways, but it looks like at least half of them in that area are gravel or just plain old dirt.

Am I imagining things? If not, why so few paved driveways in Scottsdale/PV?

Look at the map of Scottsdale. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sc...wcW4?entry=ttu It goes from the 202 (near Tempe) all the way NORTH of Cave Creek. Of the 300,000 people living in Scottsdale, I'm guessing a FRACTION of driveways is gravel or dirt. You must be driving around a very specific area.

[KurtAZ]

None of the homes we lived in in Scottsdale had gravel or dirt driveways...are you looking in a specific area?

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by Driver 47

Gravel is cheaper than asphalt besides, in that area asphalt might get too soft in the sun.

Asphalt driveways? That would be an oddity...most are paver or concrete.

And no, while it does get hot here, asphalt does not "get soft" here except in VERY extreme conditions. Otherwise our roads would just disintegrate every summer.

[tommy64]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Look at the map of Scottsdale. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sc...wcW4?entry=ttu It goes from the 202 (near Tempe) all the way NORTH of Cave Creek. Of the 300,000 people living in Scottsdale, I'm guessing a FRACTION of driveways is gravel or dirt. You must be driving around a very specific area.

NE corner area of Scottsdale Rd & Cactus, W on Lincoln from Scottsdale Rd. Not the McMansion subdivisions so much, the ranch style homes with bigger lots.

My old stomping grounds (Metro Seattle) anything unpaved in non-existent.

I'm fairly new to the area and in driving around/checking it all out it struck me as odd that so many pricey homes have dirt/gravel driveways.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by tommy64

I'm fairly new to the area and in driving around/checking it all out it struck me as odd that so many pricey homes have dirt/gravel driveways.

On a large lot with the house set back from the street, building a concrete driveway would be a considerable expense.

I lived in a neighborhood similar to what you're describing, although in Colorado, years ago. The homes were originally built in the 1960s and at that time they were at least a couple miles from any city development. I bought the house in the 1990s. By that time it was surrounded by newer subdivisions. We were left in a so-called county island... no sidewalks or curbs, no street lighting. I had an asphalt driveway, but other homes in the neighborhood had gravel.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by tommy64

NE corner area of Scottsdale Rd & Cactus, W on Lincoln from Scottsdale Rd. Not the McMansion subdivisions so much, the ranch style homes with bigger lots.

My old stomping grounds (Metro Seattle) anything unpaved in non-existent.

I'm fairly new to the area and in driving around/checking it all out it struck me as odd that so many pricey homes have dirt/gravel driveways.

I see what you are saying (in that specific area). This the area you are discussing at ground level: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5970...8192?entry=ttu Or at a global level here https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sc...r9yf?entry=ttu

But it still seems "most" (over 50%) of these (very) large lots still do have cement or paver driveways. I assume when they were built, they were out in the "boonies". At $5-$6 a square foot for pavers, the cost adds up fast. The bulk of Scottsdale has an HOA. And therefore, paved driveways and mandatory requirements.

[TimAZ]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Asphalt driveways? That would be an oddity...most are paver or concrete.

And no, while it does get hot here, asphalt does not "get soft" here except in VERY extreme conditions. Otherwise our roads would just disintegrate every summer.

Come down to Tucson — our roads disintegrate to rubble all year round.

A subdivision we lived in had a paving project in June 2016 where they placed an asphalt overlay. A few days later when the temperature was triple digits a heavy cement truck left ruts in the road that are still visible today.