The City of Chandler, Arizona, municipal government endeavors to provide the best possible service for its citizens by constantly striving to improve and excel. In their efforts to help achieve this goal, Chandler employees are constantly rethinking and refining the way they do business. In 1989, an employee task force was formed to help crystallize this goal. This group of employees brainstormed a mission statement and a set of core principals for the City. They reviewed their ideas with a broad cross section of City employees and received positive feedback. To this end, the City’s VALUES program was under way. This multi-faceted campaign has evolved over time, being modified and improved by periodic employee Town Hall meetings, brainstorming sessions and opinion surveys.
Historic Downtown Chandler
One Historic Backdrop ... a downtown center rich in history and tradition
Dr. A.J. Chandler wanted to create a city like no other in the world. He chose the City Beautiful Movement design to create a Center with a grand public park, a covered colonnade system complemented with classical architecture. Later, he joined with world-renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, to create a center that would reflect the surrounding desert.
Historic Downtown Chandler has been designated a historic commercial district and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Downtown Chandler is also home to Arizona’s first golf resort, the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort that opened in 1913. The historic buildings date from 1912 to 1930.
The City completed a major renovation and rebuilding of the colonnade system that covers the expansive sidewalks in front of the buildings. In partnership with property owners of the district’s historic buildings, the City of Chandler has been restoring the facades of the historic buildings to their original character of the early 1900s. The Chandler City Council created the Downtown Chandler Historic Preservation Incentive Program to assist in facilitating the restoration of the historic facades.
Two large redevelopment projects currently under development are ideal locations for retail, restaurant and office space. The first project broke ground on January 10, 2005. The 123 Washington Townhomes at Historic Downtown Chandler will be 54 urban-style townhomes, which are under construction, at the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Washington Street (1 block east of Arizona Avenue). This is the first phase of a two-block, mixed-use project that will include retail, restaurant, office and residential development at the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue.
San Marcos Commons is the second planned redevelopment project and is located at the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue. This will be a three-block development that will include retail, restaurant, office and 79 townhomes. This project will break ground in the Spring of 2006.
The intersection at Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue also is seeing dramatic transformation as it was recently widened as a part of the City’s investment in capital improvements for the area. Other capital improvements include the creation of new parking lots, the installation of period lighting, directional signage and pedestrian linkages and improvements.
Community Profile and Demographics
The City of Chandler, Arizona was founded in 1912 and incorporated in 1920. Since its early beginnings, Chandler is a vibrant, diverse community. Below is a brief community profile:
- Economic Change - From agricultural town toward a high-tech industrial city
- Growing Population - 9,531 in 1960 to 247,097 in July 2007
- Average Household Income - $71,456 in 2004
- Incorporated Area - 70 square miles
- Centerline Street Miles - 781
- Developed Parks - 53
- Diverse Community (Source: 2000 Census) - For greater detail, refer to the "Additional Links."
- White (77.4%)
- Hispanic or Latino (21%)
- Asian or Pacific Island (4.3%)
- African American (3.5%)
- Native American (1.3%)
The City operates under the Council-Manager form of government in which policy-making and administration are two separate entities. The following takes place under this form of government:
- Only elected officials can set policy
- City Councilmembers select and supervise a professional City Manager
- The City Manager serves as the chief executive whose main responsibilities include appointing department heads and overseeing the day-to-day operations of City government
Learn more about CHANDLER , ARIZONA
City of CHANDLER , AZ official website
County of MARICOPA, AZ official website
City of CHANDLER , AZ chamber of commerce
City of CHANDLER , AZ yellow pages
The Chandler Times