District boundaries are roughly: Virginia Avenue to Coronado Road, 8th Street to 14th Street
Both of us chose Coronado as our home so we are, admittedly, prejudiced about what a fabulous place it is. Home to 1920s Bungalows and 1940s Ranches, one of the larger city parks (Coronado Park at 12th Street & Palm Lane), and one of the most competitive and highly recognized high school programs in the metro area (the International Baccalaureate program at North High School), Coronado is a diverse place.
The Coronado Historic District covers a bit more than a half square mile. The homes on the edges of the official District are no less sweet and desirable, however, which expands greater Coronado to about one square mile. Generally speaking, Coronado is known for smaller homes, usually (but certainly not always) with two bedrooms and one bath. Sometimes as small as 700 square feet, the average bungalow still has a small footprint averaging about 1000 square feet. Sustainable living at its best!
The wide porches, possibly the first thing you’ll notice, add shady outdoor space for family, friends and neighbors to gather and may be one reason why everyone in Coronado seems to know each other. Ample backyards provide private space and lend to the diversity of the place too—possibly home to a permaculture garden, or perhaps a guest house, a flock of chickens, or a state-of-the-art addition that quietly hides behind a traditional Territorial in front. There is often more to Coronado than meets the eye.
And then there are the things that some very active neighbors manage to accomplish—like the Virginia street calming project (between 7th and 12th streets), the blooming traffic circle (12th & Oak), the metal logo “banners” that welcome you to the neighborhood on most streets, the Coronado Community Garden (1211 E Virginia)… we could go on and on! The most recent accomplishment is a face lift for the tiny Virginia pocket park (Virginia &15th Street) that reopens to the public in August 2010.
Maureen claims (without any actual statistics to validate her claim) that Coronado has the highest per capita population of architects and artists in Phoenix. Her 8-block evening stroll with Abby (her dog) passes the homes of at least 8 architects plus the studios of nationally-renowned painter Ed Mell and woodworker Kevin Irvin.
The Tuck Shop, Coronado Historic District
Barrio Cafe in Phoenix Arizona
Yes, the houses in Coronado are charming and the neighbors are a friendly and creative bunch, but Don also loves the restaurant choices in this Gourmet Ghetto. From Coronado Café on 7th Street to Tuck Shop at 12th & Oak (must try the house-made Gin & Tonic). And then there’s the amazing salsa array at La Condessa on 16th Street and—need we even mention?–the 5-star Barrio Café just south of Thomas on 16th too. There are so many choices, in fact, that it’s best to just call Don at (602)795-2260 and ask for a recommendation…
You can email Don, too:
don@historicphoenix.com
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