Good morning, Scottsdale. The National Weather Service has an extreme heat warning up from 10 AM Tuesday to 8 PM Thursday, with highs of 111 to 116, so front-load errands and outdoor plans to the early hours.
- 🏠 Scottsdale tightens the rules on event rentals. The city says it closed a gap that let short-term rentals operate as commercial event venues.
- 📈 The median sale price is $932,500. Up 4% from a year ago, and homes are sitting on the market longer.
- 💧 A new water credit for the city. Scottsdale bought Harquahala groundwater credits to add to its long-term supply.
- 🎵 Free indoor library programs run all week. Storytime, a kids music series, and a Thursday open mic, most of it air-conditioned.
- 🏀 Around the Valley: the Mercury host two home games. Plus Dear Evan Hansen and T.I. downtown.
The short-term rental crackdown
Scottsdale says it has closed an enforcement gap that let short-term rentals operate as commercial event venues, the setup behind the neighborhood party houses residents have complained about for years.
Key facts:
- What changed. The city moved to close a loophole around commercial events, the weddings, parties, and corporate functions booked at short-term rentals.
- Who it affects. Neighbors near rentals in Old Town and the older mid-city neighborhoods, where event noise, traffic, and parking have drawn the most pushback.
- The backdrop. Arizona law limits how far cities can restrict short-term rentals, so tightening enforcement is one of the few levers Scottsdale has.
The tension here is the one that runs under a lot of Scottsdale civic fights: a national tourism brand bumping up against the people who actually live next door to it. Details.
Property beat
The median sale price hit $932,500 through the end of May, up about 4% from a year ago. Buyers put 555 new listings on the market and closed on 563 homes over the period.
The one number worth sitting with: the median home now takes about two and a half months to sell (76 days). Details.
Around Scottsdale
- 💧 The city added to its water bank. Scottsdale bought Harquahala groundwater credits, a stored-water reserve it can draw on down the line. Details.
- 🐴 A McCormick Ranch man is running horse therapy for first responders. Ed Morales works with police, firefighters, and medics processing trauma, using the horses to slow the room down. Details.
This week
A 116-degree stretch is a good week to be indoors, and the library calendar cooperates. Nearly everything below is free and air-conditioned.
- 🇺🇸 America 250 Family Storytime. Patriotic stories and finger plays for ages 0 to 5. Arabian Library. Tuesday. Details.
- 🎵 Kids music series starts at Civic Center Library. Music Fun-damentals for grades K to 2 and a ukulele series for grades 3 to 5, both six-week runs, both open Tuesday. Details.
- 🎤 Powerful Voices Open Mic. Music, comedy, and poetry on one bill. Scottsdale. Thursday. Details.
- 🛋️ Feathers and Azadi pop-up showroom. Custom furnishings and fine rugs on display at 10354 E Celestial Drive, north Scottsdale, running through August. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth the drive this week.
- 🏀 Phoenix Mercury, two home games. The Chicago Sky visit Tuesday and the Indiana Fever come Thursday, both at 7 PM at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The Fever game is the tougher ticket of the two. Tickets.
- 🎭 Dear Evan Hansen. The touring production lands at the Hormel Theatre at Phoenix Theatre, Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Tickets.
- 🎤 T.I. The Atlanta rapper plays The Van Buren downtown, Wednesday at 8 PM. A small room for a name that size. Tickets.
- 🎸 Wavves. The California surf-punk band at Crescent Ballroom, Tuesday at 8 PM. Tickets.