As time went on, the Valley became more water-conscious. The neighborhoods built in the 1950s through the 1970s saw a mixture of green lawns and desert landscaping, with grass lawns still tending to outnumber the desert landscapes. By and large, these neighborhoods are full of ranch-style houses built without basements on concrete pads. The developments built in the past 15 to 20 years tend to have a more spacious feeling. Two-story houses have become more common.
Garages are the norm.
The developments themselves have sunken greenbelts for flood protection, which opens up the landscape of a neighborhood. The greenbelts become places to jog, walk the dog, ride your bike or just meander. Many newer developments are built around artificial lakes or golf courses to add a touch of cool, green relief to the surroundings. On the higher end of the price scale, some communities are gated and have their own security. Homeowner associations have become more common, both in older neighborhoods and in new developments.