This week’s featured neighborhood – Central Phoenix

I’m willing to go out on a limb here and share my contention that Central Phoenix is the best place in the entire Phoenix area to live right now.   Everything you could possibly want is right at your fingertips and what’s even better is how stylish, beautiful, and safe it has become. Just so we’re all on the same page here, this is coming from a Phoenix native and a bit of a Scottsdale snob (yes I’ll admit it). Between the easy access to the light rail, beautiful new apartment communities, oodles of entertainment venues, and buzzing nightlife, I’d consider “moving on up” to downtown!

I’m serious. I’ve done some shopping and am seriously considering any one of these three gorgeous apartment communities. Check them out for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

The Station on Central – I can’t find a single drawback to living here.  It’s located on Indian School and Central and is literally across the street from the light rail, making catching a Diamondbacks game on a Saturday afternoon, or a night out for dinner and drinks at my favorite new place, Blue Hound, a snap. Common areas at the Station on Central are open, trendy, and inviting. I have to mention the yoga studio, tanning bed, fitness center, and huge pool. You can rent an open, one bedroom at 696 square foot unit, or a three-bedroom 1,378 square foot place depending on your needs. I may have found my new home!

The Hawthorne – Just down the street at 3^rd Avenue and Indian School, The Hawthorne is fresh, convenient, and safe. This complex has you seeing doubles. Seriously.  The Hawthorne is equipped with two pools and two soothing therapy spas, in addition to their 24-hour fitness center, clubhouse, and security gate. You can’t go wrong with all that! The units themselves are classic, flowing, and certainly high-end. The kitchens feature granite countertops, deep wood cabinetry, and they are pet-friendly. A unique feature in Phoenix and certainly downtown are the open grassy areas and lush plant life, which are a really nice feature aesthetically and for the pups.

The Pavilions on Central – The Pavilions on Central are certainly in the running to be the next place I call home. It is located on Central and Campbell (just between Indian School and Camelback) and has that ultra convenient location right across from the light rail. One feature I love is that all of the units are as vertically spacious as they are in square footage thanks to the open lofts above head. Your place will be complete with a fireplace, hardwood floors, and granite countertops as well. The Pavilions also goes all out when it comes to the amenities! I’m talking Wi-Fi equipped pools and clubhouse, dry cleaning service, 24-hour fitness centers, and complementary DVD rentals, among a handful of other awesome features.

Now comes the hard part when I have to make this difficult decision. All three spots are within a mile, to two miles from each other. Where will I call home?