Where are the mid-century modern homes in Scottsdale? Some of the city's most intact postwar neighborhoods sit right in 85250. Two of Scottsdale's four historic districts are here: Villa Monterey Units 1-7, centered on Miller and Chaparral roads, with 758 homes built from 1961 to 1969, and the Sands North Townhouses on East Joshua Tree Lane, built in 1972.
What year is considered mid-century modern? There's no legal cutoff. The City of Scottsdale's postwar housing study looked at almost 15,000 houses built between 1946 and 1973 in 236 subdivisions, and that window is a practical definition for Scottsdale. Owning in a designated district comes with real benefits and a few extra steps, both covered below.
Data note: District facts come from the City of Scottsdale Historic Register (last reviewed August 2023), the City's historic preservation pages and guidelines, and its self-guided mid-century driving tour. Confirm the ZIP, HOA and historic status of any specific address before you buy.
Scottsdale's Postwar Story in Brief
The City's 2002 study, Postwar Modern Housing and a Geographic Information System Study of Scottsdale Subdivisions, sorted the era's homes into recognizable styles:
- Simple Ranch and California Ranch
- Character Ranch and Contemporary
- Split-Level, Los Ranchos and Post Ranch
Townhouses became a big part of the story too. The City's driving tour notes that by 1975, one out of every four homes in Scottsdale was a townhouse.
The Historic Districts
The Scottsdale Historic Register includes four postwar residential neighborhoods:
Villa Monterey Units 1-7 (85250)
- Where: east and west of Miller Road, north and south of Chaparral Road
- Size: 758 homes and 13 common tracts on about 115 acres
- Built: 1961-1969 by Butler Homes; architect Ralph Haver and Associates
- Designated: June 7, 2011, the City's first townhouse historic district
- Character: developer Dave Friedman offered facades in Spanish Colonial, Territorial, Mission, Monterey, Mediterranean and Pueblo styles. Ornamental ironwork is most common in later units along Chaparral Road.
- Ownership: Friedman sold townhomes on their own lots, not condominiums. Each unit had its own pool, clubhouse and ramada.
Sands North Townhouses (85250)
- Where: 7233 East Joshua Tree Lane and surrounding addresses
- Built: 1972 by Phoenix developer E. T. Wright
- Size: 51 individual townhouses with a clubhouse and swimming pool
- Designated: October 1, 2019; National Register listing September 2022
Two More, in South Scottsdale
- Village Grove 1-6: 255 single-family homes, built 1957-1959
- Town and Country Scottsdale: 62 homes, built 1958-1960, designed by Ralph Haver
Mid-Century Landmarks Nearby
- The Garden Church (Glass and Garden Community Church), 8620 E. McDonald Drive, 1966, architect E. Logan Campbell
- St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 6261 N. Granite Reef Road, 1967, a thin-shelled concrete design
- Hotel Valley Ho, 1956, and Scottsdale City Hall, 1968, both on the Historic Register
Buying or Renovating in a Historic District
Designation is about the exterior. The City says it does not affect how you use the property, and you can modify the interior. Here's what changes:
The Review Process
- Exterior alterations and demolition need Historic Preservation review
- Minor work that meets the guidelines: a staff-issued Certificate of No Effect
- Major work: a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission, which meets the first Thursday of each month
- Villa Monterey: submit plans to your HOA first. The City's preservation plan asks owners to include the HOA's approval with the application.
- Demolition: the Commission can issue a one-year stay of demolition
The Rehabilitation Grant
- Only owners in the four historic districts can apply to the Historic Residential Exterior Rehabilitation Program
- It reimburses 50% of project cost, up to $5,000, after the work is done
- Selection is competitive, and work can't start until the Commission approves it
- Recipients agree to maintain the exterior and dedicate a conservation easement
Due Diligence Items
- Year built: the original homes in these districts all predate 1978, so expect the federal lead-based paint disclosure
- Historic status: Arizona's standard seller disclosure form asks whether a home is in a historic district. See my Arizona seller disclosure guide.
- HOA documents: each Villa Monterey unit has its own HOA, so read the CC&Rs, rental rules and fees for that specific unit
- Older systems: have roofs, plumbing and electrical inspected, and check the home's termite history
“I love showing Villa Monterey because no two facades on a street are quite the same, and that was the plan from day one. The buyers who are happiest there read the preservation guidelines before they fall in love with a remodel idea. Swap the kitchen however you like. If you want to change the front of the house, we bring the HOA and the City into the conversation early, and the process goes smoothly.”
— Elizabeth Vijan, Tackett Team, eXp Realty
FAQ: Mid-Century Homes in Scottsdale
What year is considered mid-century modern?
There's no legal definition. Scottsdale's postwar study covers 1946-1973, and its historic districts were built from 1957 to 1972.
Where are mid-century modern homes in Scottsdale?
Throughout the city's postwar subdivisions. Two of the four historic districts, Villa Monterey and Sands North, carry 85250 addresses.
What is Villa Monterey in Scottsdale?
A 758-home townhouse historic district around Miller and Chaparral roads, built 1961-1969 and designated in 2011.
Can you remodel a house in a Scottsdale historic district?
Yes. Interiors are up to you. Exterior work needs a Certificate of No Effect or a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Want the Mid-Century Shortlist?
Original postwar homes don't come up every week, and the best ones often sell to the buyer who was ready first. I'll send you a curated list of mid-century homes in and around 85250, with the historic status, HOA notes and permit history for each one, so you can move fast with confidence.
Elizabeth Vijan | Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Chaparral Park Resident & 85250 Real Estate Expert
Send Me the 85250 Mid-Century Shortlist · Call or text 602-885-7752
Sources: Scottsdale Historic Preservation Program · Scottsdale Historic Register (PDF) · Historic Residential Exterior Rehabilitation Program · Mid-century self-guided driving tour (PDF) · Postwar subdivision study (PDF) · Villa Monterey preservation plan and guidelines (PDF) · Sands North Townhouses design guidelines (PDF)
Disclaimer: Historic designation, HOA rules and program funding can change. Confirm the status, ZIP code and requirements for any specific property with the City of Scottsdale Historic Preservation Office (480-312-7767) and the HOA. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.
