A Trip Down Lafayette Boulevard in Arcadia

Stately homes, lush tall trees and bushes obscuring yards, a bike route and a river all along the short but beautiful street in Arcadia in the East Camelback Village of Phoenix.

photos: Artur Ciesielski

Arcadia is one of the most unique of neighborhoods in Phoenix: it’s green, has historic interest, a diverse architectural base, superb location and a overall great feel.  

It gets even better when you delve into the details, get on a bike or walk the streets of Arcadia, like Lafayette Boulevard just north of Arizona Canal which is Arcadia’s original lifeline and remains an important icon in the life of Arcadians.  In fact, a smaller canal runs along Lafayette taking water to those who chose to leave their lots irrigated.

Lafayette from Camelback from about 44th St to about 68th St where it meets Indian School.The canal is almost like a little stream, an unusual feature in a desert.  Just along it runs a wide bike lane often busy with cyclist enjoying the rather quite street and beautiful homes.

Unlike Exeter, Lafayette has lots of homes still from the mid last century along with many exemplary homes that replaced them.  I don’t like all of them, but for the most part they are all different and all of some architectural and aesthetic value.

You’ll see homes that are non existent or very rare in other parts of the valley: they are all unique and many focus some life to the front yards where neighbors can occasionally wave to each other.