I recently noticed these new apartments located near a heavily commercial part of central Phoenix. The colors caught my eye so I stopped to take a few photos.
They are called Trend at 51 and the 51 means the state route 51, a freeway that cuts north and south through central Phoenix. You actually can see the highway from this complex.
I checked their website to see what these apartments might run and I have to say I was a bit shocked by the prices they are charging. They seem quite expensive for the area and in my opinion they don't really look upscale at all. It made me think about that Frontline investigative report that was on my local PBS station this week about affordable housing. Did anyone see that? I found it quite disturbing. It talked about how we (the taxpayers) are paying more in tax money to subsidize housing for the poor but there are less and less affordable housing places being built. You probably guessed the problem. Some developers have figured out how to scam the system to make themselves rich. Couple that with the neighborhoods that fight against any affordable housing being built in their areas and you have a double hit. Don't you just love it? Grrrrr....
That's awful Sharon. I've never had a problem paying extra tax to subsidize those less fortunate, but it's dreadful if the builders are making so called affordable housing unaffordable.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be a way of life in the US these days. Game the system any way you can! Forget the notion of a "commonwealth." It's all so sad. And discouraging.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a way, someone will find a way to get rich off of anything. No those don't look upscale at all. I would not like to live in those buildings.
ReplyDeleteI googled these apartments and we couldn't believe how much the rent was. It definitely is not worth what they are asking. I wouldn't think these qualify as affordable housing apts.
ReplyDeleteAffordable housing has become a big issue here since our house prices have gone through the roof!
ReplyDeleteOur society is changing in ways that's disturbing. Yes, where has the concept of Commonweath gone? Sometime I think that profit is the prime motive for any public endeavour. Not a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteInteresting commentary, Sharon. I am probably guilty myself. I live in attractive high end neighborhoods and would not be excited about seeing low end apartments squeezed in. It is hard squaring our values and self interest some times.
ReplyDeleteI get it. Seen it all over. Who, in fact, pays those prices? We all know about the expression "a fool and his money." Another example of why there are many historians and economists writing about the end of capitalism.
ReplyDeleteUnusual colour. In my experience, the word of a developer isn't worth a damn. And I've had bad experience with a wannabe developer recently, so if he were clinging to the edge of a cliff, I might be inclined to step on his fingers.
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