The City of Chandler and Chandler Real Estate

Chandler is a family-oriented community with good school districts, a popular downtown area and a well-developed park system. Like many Valley communities, it began as an agricultural community, growing cotton for the Goodyear Tire Company and raising ostriches to support the fashion industry, but over time, its focus shifted to technology, and it eventually became known as the “High Tech Oasis of the Silicon Desert.” Today, Chandler is a diverse city of about 250,000 people that celebrates its heritage but invests heavily in its future.

Chandler: A Planned Community

When Dr. Alexander John Chandler, the first veterinary surgeon for the territory of Arizona, decided to subdivide his 18,000-acre ranch, he wasn’t content to let it evolve haphazardly. Instead, he methodically planned the community, drawing on the ideas of the City Beautiful Movement, which sought to make a better social environment through beautiful and monumental surroundings. Key to his plans was a downtown area that would be the focal point of the community.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park served as the city’s original town square and features prominently in Historic Downtown Chandler today. The Chamber of Commerce and City Hall are located here, just south of Chandler Boulevard at Arizona Avenue. Across the street, you’ll find Chandler High School and the Chandler Performing Arts Center, where entertainers like Debbie Reynolds, Wayne Newton, and Ballet Etudes have performed. Upscale shops, trendy boutiques and art galleries line the streets and  include di Sciacca Glassware, Uptown Bridal & Boutique, and Saba’s Western Wear.

Historic Downtown Chandler is also home to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. Urban Tea Loft, Latitude Eight Thai Grill, El Zocalo Mexican Grille, and Irish Republic Public House have all made a culinary impact throughout the East Valley, with Paletas Betty, a frozen treat purveyor, deserving special mention. The San Tan Brewing Company serves seven popular beers plus seasonal beers, small batch specialty beers, and cask-conditioned ales.

For wine lovers, nearby Kokopelli Winery & Bistro pours Arizona offerings. The bistro is known for its wine-related events like the Kokopelli Krush, winery tours, cooking classes, and themed dinners.
Many of the city’s best events take place in the Historic Downtown area as well. The third Friday of each month, the city holds a popular art walk, and from October through May, you can find locally produced vegetables, fruits and artisanal products at the farmer’s market. Every March, Chandler hosts

The Great American BBQ and Beer Festival and the Chandler Jazz Festival, a free event that brings top-tier jazz musicians to the Valley. In December, the city invites people throughout the Valley to watch a uniquely Chandler event—the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree made of up to 2,000 spray-painted tumbleweeds and approximately 1,200 lights.

Of course, you can’t mention the Historic Downtown without mentioning the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort. Built in 1912, the hotel was the first in Arizona to boast golf, tennis, horseback riding and polo—in fact, the 18-hole San Marcos Golf Course is the first grass greens course in the state—and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable guests include Fred Astaire, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Clark Cable, Cher, Christian Dior, and President Herbert Hoover and his family.  

Chandler Is A Growing Community

Chandler is more than its downtown area, though. One of the Valley’s best resorts, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, has a Chandler address. Run by the Gila River Indian Community, the resort features 36 holes of golf, a 2-mile interpretive trail, four swimming pools, a full-service spa, the Koli Equestrian Center, and Kai, the only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star restaurant in Arizona.

The Gila River Indians also operate a casino on property. Across the parking lot from the resort, you can experience the Old West at Rawhide, a 1880s-era town. Or, you can satisfy your need for speed either by watching one of 15 major spectator events at Firebird Raceway or taking a class at the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.

If you’d rather take things a little slower, Chandler offers premium East Valley shopping. The 1.3-million-square-foot Chandler Fashion Center adds top-of-the-line retailers like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Sephora to mall staples like Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch. Next to the mall, Boulevard Shops and Chandler Gateway provide additional shopping opportunities while Casa Pavilions and Casa Paloma western edge of the city. For standalone shopping, check out the Lee Lee International Supermarket, a grocery store featuring spices and products from around the world. Or, satisfy your sweet tooth at Sweeties Candy of Arizona.  

Chandler also has several outdoor recreational opportunities. In addition to the resort golf courses, the city boasts multiple community courses, including the 27-hole Ocotillo Golf Resort. Snedigar Skate Park, part of the Snedigar Sportsplex, is rated among the best in the nation. Chandler also boasts five aquatics complexes, including Hamilton Aquatic Center, rated “Best in the Valley” by The Arizona Republic. The 6.5 mile Paseo Trail provides a 10-foot side concrete multi-use pathway on the eastern side of the Consolidated Canal; the western side is unimproved dirt surface that can be used for horseback riding or bicycling.

Other parks include Desert Breeze Park, which features a hummingbird habitat; Espee Park with its BMX/Freestyle bike riding facility; Veterans Oasis Park and Environmental Education Center; and Tumbleweed Park, home of the annual Ostrich Festival, one of the nation’s most unique festivals. (Check out the ostrich races and try an ostrich burger.) Tumbleweed also has a lighted, 15-court tennis center with a full-service pro shop and a 62,000-square-foot recreation center

Chandler: A Diverse Community

The city boasts a wide range of neighborhoods to choose from. If you like the idea of living near Historic Downtown Chandler, San Marcos Estates is a good option, consisting of homes built between 1986 and 1993. The Twelve Oaks area, including the subdivisions of Twelve Oaks, Glenview Estates and Suncrest Villas, was recently listed among “America’s Best Neighborhoods for the Money” by Walletpop.com, AOL’s consumer finance site. Geneva Estates is strategically located near Paseo Vista Park with its archery range, disc golf course, dog park and playgrounds.

Two lake neighborhoods create a virtual oasis in the desert. Fulton Ranch, a 520-acre master-planned community has a 28-acre lake system and borders on Snedigar Skate Park. Named “Best Arizona Neighborhood” in a recent AZCentral poll, Ocotillo lays claim to 167 acres of interconnected lakes and water features, the Ocotillo Golf Resort and upscale homes. However, if you prefer air to water, Stellar Airpark Estates consists of 65 homes, each with a private hanger and direct access to electronically gated taxiways.

For those looking to lead an active retired life, Sun Lakes has several gated communities, five club houses, golf courses, heated pools, tennis courts, health clubs, recreation centers, stocked lakes, walking paths, and more. Hundreds of interested-based clubs and activities ensure residents always have something to do.  

While it is popular with those 55 and over, Chandler is also a very family-oriented community. Good jobs and good schools draw people to the area. Top employers include Rogers Corporation, Motorola, Microchip, Wells Fargo, AmeriCredit, Charles Schwab, MCI, and Toyota Financial. Students in Chandler predominantly attend schools in the Chandler Unified School District or Kyrene School District, both of which have excellent reputations.