Contributed by: Joanne Meris
Glen Eagle Resident
About November of 1996, my husband Nick and I decided we would start thinking about downsizing our home since we were typical “empty nesters” then..no children or pets at home any longer. The acre lot at Orange Tree and large pool were not what we wanted to deal with in our retirement years.
One Sunday in January of 1997, we noticed a large write-up in the newspaper about a new development of homes, called Desert Ridge, being built in north Phoenix. I decided to “check it out” and drove north on Tatum Blvd. to Deer Valley Rd. (which seemed really far away), drove a few more blocks and came upon a huge billboard sign announcing I had just arrived at Morrison Homes. What I had arrived at was a huge “nothingness” of desert land with four model homes sitting on top of it! If you can picture it now, there was no J.W.Marriott Resort, no Desert Ridge Marketplace, no City North (High Street), no freeway and no median dividing Pathfinder (Marriott Drive)…it was just a dirt road!
Returning with Nick a week later, we thought it just might be nice living here and it would be fun starting brand-new again. We certainly loved the views and the clean air. And when we found the perfect home in the sub-division of Glen Eagle, it was a done deal!
We moved into our new home in July of ’97 and right away met the few neighbors who had moved in shortly before us. There was a lot of construction, noise and dirt flying around- in all of Desert Ridge..east,west, north and south of us!
Within a year or two of enjoying and watching the growth, Nick saw the need for developers and residents to work together to help shape our new community. At different times in the next 12 years, Nick served as the first president of Glen Eagle and served on the Desert Ridge Homeowners Network and the Desert Ridge Community Association Board of Directors.
He worked closely with the J.W. Marriott, the Desert Ridge Marketplace and City North in the interest of the community and as their advocate. He was just a part of a great team of people who cared and still care.
Now, it is so gratifying to drive around our beautiful community, with all it has to offer and remember where we were and how far we have come! And as we continue to grow, we will encounter “glitches” but as good neighbors we can all work together for the best possible solutions.
Nick was quoted as saying, “People are missing out by not involving themselves more… not only do you have a hand in the progress and improvement of your community, but you can have fun, learn new things, meet new people and make new friends.”
