articles @ sedonainformation.com

Around Sedona

March / April 2007

Joel Gilgoff, associate broker, president

RE/MAX Sedona

What’s Happening:

Click on the links below to get a current list of events in and around the Sedona area.

http://www.sedonaaz.gov/tourism/acEvents2.aspx

http://www.sedona.net/index.cfm?Render=EventCalendar_ViewEvents

The first Friday of each month continues to be a special event at 15 Sedona art galleries. Stop at any gallery and hop on the free trolley to see all the rest. For information call 282-3809.

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra will present seven concerts at Northern Arizona University’s Ardrey Auditorium running through April, 2007. In addition, the orchestra will offer two free summer 2007 concerts at Coconino County’s new Pine Mountain Amphitheatre at Fort Tuthill.

New Developments:

Construction on the new $10.5 million Red Rock Ranger Station and Sedona Visitors Center is ongoing with completion scheduled for early in 2008. The station is located on Hwy. 179 approximately 1 ½ miles south of the Village of Oak Creek. When completed, the building will encompass 25,395 sq. ft. and will service approximately 700 visitors a day. It will house 86 forest service employees plus Sedona chamber staff and volunteers. The construction is running ahead of schedule at this time.

The Sedona City Council has committed to join a regional task force with the goal of making Sedona a bicycle friendly community. The committee will access current and future planned trails to make sure they are bicycle friendly and create signage and maps for the public.

The City Council has approved off track betting for ILX Resorts. Patrons visiting “On the Rocks Bar” will be able to place bets on horse races taking place at Turf Paradise (Phoenix).

The Marketplace at Flagstaff Mall, a 40 acre shopping and dining development is planned for just east of the existing mall. Plans call for the mall to begin opening in October 2007. Stores include Marshall’s, Best Buy, Old Navy, Linens n’Things, Cost Plus World Market and Petco. Home Depot will also open a 2nd Flagstaff location within the development. Preliminary plans also call for a 10 screen movie theater. In the interim, the existing mall’s food court is undergoing remodeling and will remain closed until October.

Keep Sedona Beautiful has announced the recipients of their 2006 architecture and lighting awards. The winners were Desert Hills Bank, Tequa Plaza, and the Masters Bible Church.

The Sedona Fire District Governing Board has approved the purchase of 1.52 acres of land in the Chapel area to build a new fire station.

Highway Construction:

We recommend that during ongoing construction of Highway 179 visitors to Sedona come via Highway 260 (Hwy 17 exit 287) – proceed west to Hwy 89A – then north to Sedona. This will avoid any possible Hwy 179 construction delays. Oak Creek Canyon which was closed for about 10 days for road repair is now open.

Sedona’s first two roundabouts should be complete in July. They will be located at Back O’Beyond Road and Bell Rock Blvd. on Highway 179.

Possible new developments in the city:

Two office buildings and 40 units of lodging across the street from the Les Springs Subdivision in West Sedona.

A possible 48 unit residential condominium project called “Falls at Oak Creek”. The project will include the redevelopment of the Oak Creek Mobile Lodge property along SR 179.

A 9 lot single family residential subdivision called “Seven Vistas” located at the intersection of Badger Drive and Lynx Drive in the chapel area.

A new 30 lot single family residential subdivision called “Hillside Vista Estates” located west of Bristlecone Pines Road in West Sedona.

Possible redevelopment of the Loma Casi Resort and adjacent commercially zoned property.

A possible new 7 lot single family residential subdivision located just west of the Basha’s shopping center on Payne Place.

Birding:

Birding is quickly becoming one of America’s top hobbies. The Sedona area has over 350 species of birds that either live in the area or migrate through it. Spring is top migration time, it seems that birds love Sedona as much as tourists do and stop on their flight between South America and Canada. The 2007 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival will run from April 26th – April 29th at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.

Miscellaneous Around Sedona:

Javelinas on Parade, Sedona’s public art project, will continue on display through November 2007. Javelinas on Parade, a 104 page book of photographs and stories, is now available for sale. The book is available at the Southwest Inn or on the Javelina website www.javelinasonparade.com for a cost of $20.00. Proceeds from book sales will be used to support Sedona’s art community.

Cliff Castle Casino has been voted the #1 casino in Arizona for the 8th consecutive year by Arizona Business Magazine. The casino, located about 25 minutes from Sedona, is open 24/7 every day of the year.

The Vienna Boys Choir will perform on March 16th in Sedona under the auspices of Chamber Music Sedona. For information visit www.chambermusicsedona.org

The 37th Annual Sedona St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 10:30 AM on March 17th.

The Museum of Northern Arizona features a new exhibit: “Lasting Light: The Photography of the Grand Canyon”. Sixty images representing the work of 26 fine art photographers will be on display through June 17th. For more information visit www.musnaz.org

Out of Africa Wildlife Park (25 minutes south of Sedona) has just opened its’ first “community aviary”. The aviary will be a permanent part of the park and feature over 90 birds.

The Sedona Dog Park will soon open. The park is located off Soldier’s Pass Road in West Sedona.

Casa Rincon Restaurant has closed. The building will soon reopen as a Moroccan Nightclub.

The Sedona Airport now sees approximately 50,000 landings per year. The airport, which has no scheduled commercial flights, is used by commuting business executives and other general aviation traffic.

The Sedona Marathon which was held February 10th this year will repeat itself on February 8, 2008. This year’s marathon drew approximately 1,500 entrants.

The 13th Annual Sedona Film Festival was held February 28th through March 4th and screened over 150 films. Tickets will soon be available for next year’s event.

The nation’s leading exercise program for seniors is coming to the Sedona Community Center with a new class “Silver Sneakers 1 – Muscular Strength and Range of Movement”.

Daniel Petrie, Jr., screenwriter/producer/director, was the guest speaker at the Annual Sedona Chamber of Commerce Membership meeting. His movies include “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Big Easy”, and many other popular films.

Events continue weekly at Red Rock State Park. For information call 282-6907.