Sandalo is an overpriced condo stuck in the ghetto that is known as the SW corner of Shea and Scottsdale Road. Surrounded by a slightly run down high school and tons of old, ugly, and cheap condo/apartments, I can’t believe how much they are asking for these units. One of the great phenomenons of Scottsdale is a Walgreens parking lot. You can be in the nicest part of the city, but if you go to the nearest Walgreens, you are certain to find all sorts of shady people on the payphone and lounging in the parking lot. I haven’t figured out what goes on here, but I don’t care for it.
I’m certain of this: in a year, the Sandalo Condos will be selling for $100k less than they are now. No one wants to pay 400k for a 2 bedroom adjacent to a drug store. Something tells me that the people who did buy these places didn’t drive around the neighborhood.
Check out this crime map of the Shea & Scottsdale intersection. This is from the Scottsdale government’s own website. You can see that there is more crime at this intersection than in the rest of Scottsdale combined! Sexual assault, robbery, assault, oh my! And this is just for the past 60 days.
May 7, 2008 at 10:13 pm
This has to be one of worst reviews I have ever read. You claim to be a ’scottsdaleguru’ yet apparently you know nothing about the city. If you want to talk about the “ghetto” of Scottsdale, that would be around the Thomas and Scottsdale Road area. Not 70th and Shea which is right by some of the finest restaurants in the Valley. Not to mention, your reference to that “run down” high school is completely flawed as the school has been renovated and rated one of the top public high schools in the nation. The finishings along with the space that Sandalo provides is by far superior to that of the new developments being implemented in Old Town. Why would someone want to spend $500k on a 1500 sq.ft two bedroom in a saturated market?
As to your crime claim. It is a pure exaggeration on your part to say, “there is more crime at this intersection than in the rest of Scottsdale combined.” Especially since that map shows a four block radius. Not to mention that there are two night clubs across the street where there is bound to be some issues. Do some research next time you post.
May 8, 2008 at 12:21 am
I admit that I exaggerated. Nevertheless, Sandalo is overpriced and Shea & Scottsdale is a dangerous intersection. There is certainly more crime than anywhere in Scottsdale north of Thomas. I would like to point out that the front gate to Sandalo has been broken for about a month. Not a hallmark of quality construction.
May 8, 2008 at 5:58 am
You tell me where you can get 2000 sq. ft, multi-level with granite counters and travertine tile for the price in Scottsdale…oh, wait, you can’t. What you can get is a small two bedroom condo in a congested area with cheap finishings. Or, if you want quality, pay the million-plus to get a spot at waterfront. Your argument about the gate is weak and trivial. It is the exit gate and it is due to the concrete island being about a half inch too high, causing the gate to catch. Something that is easily correctable. If you are going to judge a community based on a gate, you might as well judge a car based on how tight the gas cap can close.
I would also like to point out your flawed logic in terms of your argument regarding crime. You took a sample size of 60 days…60 days. Really? Is that long enough to make an assumption? An assumption that you are posting ignorantly on the internet. You say you frequent Pita Jungle often. Do you ever feel unsafe? How about when you are at Oregano’s or California Pizza kitchen. Do you feel like you need protection? If you do, well, you either need help or to get over yourself.
Finally, you have lived here seven years, I have lived here my whole life. Are you really the guru that you think you are? Based on the lack of comments on your blog, I would have to say the answer is no.
May 8, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I’m sorry that I made you so angry. If you’d like to see a better review of Sandalo, please write one and I will post it. As for the crime, it is a simple fact that Shea & Scottsdale has a lot of it. Sandalo is a nice, new condo. It is simply overpriced (given its location), in my opinion.
October 30, 2008 at 6:10 am
I live in this community and have lived in Scottsdale in this area my entire life. For the money and the product there is not a better buy in the area. The high school has been completely redone and after all it has PV zip code. The last time I checked Paradise Valley real estate is still going pretty strong. It is fair to say that maybe these condos are not quite worth what they were when we all bought them of course. Lets not forget that this is the case everywhere so if you bought at Sandalo or any other development or house in the last 2 years with todays market you probably paid too much. Your crime example is awful you make it sound like they are shootings in the neighborhood once a month. There are many great restaurants, strip malls all within walking distance. Yes there is a Walgreens across the street that has had a couple of innocents, but we none of us live sleep at Walgreens. I have friends that live on Shea between 64th and Tatum you can make the same argument with the shopping centers right on Tatum and Shea. Enough Said! The gate has been broken, however that doesn’t make the community worth anymore or anyless at this point. What do you do? You live here for 7 years and act like your a pro of real estate in Scottsdale. I know people that have been doing Real Estate in Scottsdale/PV for 30 years I think they might have a little more insight than you. Have a great day.