F.Q. Story Historic District in Phoenix Arizona
"...now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in central Phoenix. Beautiful streets are lined with well cared for Tudors, Spanish Revivals, Bungalows and English Cottages dating from the early 1920s......" |
Roughly bounded by McDowell Road and Roosevelt Street, 7th and 17th avenues.
“If you just let your mind kind of wander, it’s easy to imagine that we’re near the beach,” says Sally McCarty of her sprawling hacienda on Moreland Avenue in the heart of the FQ Story Historic District. “I know they’re actually cars on the freeway on the other side of our wall, but the ocean waves really don’t sound a lot different. And the sound stops in the front yard, so it’s never bothered me at all. I love this spot.” (Quiet pavement and sound barrier walls help to tame the traffic into calm waves.)
Many neighbors would echo the same love for their spot in downtown Phoenix. Construction of the I-10 (between Moreland and Latham streets) was probably the major impetus for these neighbors banding together to turn their neighborhood into a historic district in the first place. (FQ Story become the second historic districts in Phoenix back in 1986. Roosevelt, also disrupted by freeway construction, was the first.) Some handsome homes were lost to the I-10’s path, but the rest have been jealousy protected ever since.
FQ Story is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in central Phoenix. Beautiful streets are lined with well cared for Tudors, Spanish Revivals, and Bungalows dating from the early 1920s, with detached garages or porte cocheres, manicured green lawns and impressive gardens. These streets beg to be driven slowly so you can admire the scenery and return waves to the neighbors who are out walking their dogs or watering their lawns.
Some of the oldest and most picturesque homes in central Phoenix can be found here, averaging around 1300 to 1600 square feet, usually with 3 bedrooms and 1 or 2 baths. For the lucky ones who live in FQ Story, it is “the spot.” And that freeway hum? A small reminder that these homes are precious.
If you love FQ Story you might also like the picturesque homes in Encanto-Palmcroft or La Hacienda historic districts.
Story Preservation Association, a nonprofit group of Story residents, has been active since 1984: http://www.fqstory.org/index.html. Don’t miss their annual home tour in December.
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