The houses are of brick and wood-frame construction. These are pleasant and shady neighborhoods of old-time character, almost a stereotype of the college town. The area attracts students and faculty. South of Southern Avenue, Tempe essentially becomes the land of red tile roofs and stucco. Northeast Valley Fountain Hills Isolated from the rest of the Valley by the ridge of the McDowell Mountains, Fountain Hills revels in its small-town atmosphere.
Residents swear by the friendliness of neighbors.
A planned community, Fountain Hills set its sights on retirees when it opened in 1970. The area had previously been a cattle ranch. The houses were intended to be small to fit the needs of the retired couple. Life would center on the golf course that wends its way through town along Saguaro Boulevard and on Fountain Park, where the world's tallest fountain can send a jet of water up to 560 feet into the air. The town's master developer, MCO Properties Inc., says that the market changed and demanded larger houses.