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By David Hanson

Willo, Phoenix, Arizona

A newly hot old neighborhood is bringing people back to the desert.

Amid the sameness of suburban Arizona, what a treat to find Willo, a downtown neighborhood of historic cottages. Crisply manicured lawns and small, doted-on houses of all types characterize this charming community. Like many old neighborhoods in growing cities, Willo has faced tear-down pressures, but locals have been savvy about bringing the area back from urban decay.

The comeback has corresponded with revitalization efforts by the city. "Phoenix is more of a sprawl town," says Eric Vondy with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office. "But over the last 20 years or so, there has been a concerted effort to artificially create a sort of New Urbanist downtown." The result: Willo is hot, and real estate prices have caught fire.

Community Profile

Location: 2 miles from downtown Phoenix

Map it: Willo neighborhood

Number of homes: 1,000

What $300,000 will buy you: Tack on another $100K and you’re in the market for a modernized two-bedroom, one-bath, 1,200-square-foot home.

Closest latte: Willow House Coffee Shop, on the south end of Willo

For more info: willohistoricdistrict.com

The Way They Live

Homes: Willo, a street grid half a mile wide by a mile long, comprises 22 subdivisions built between 1900 and the start of World War II. Willo is the antithesis of cookie-cutter, thanks to an architectural range including Spanish Rancho, Tudor Revival, Greek Revival, Pueblo Revival, Colonial Revival, and ranches.

People: Homes and proximity aren’t the only reasons Willo is popular. The friendly atmosphere is a big draw. The neighborhood association has no shortage of volunteers. The group hosts such get-togethers as the home tour, a big garage sale, and an annual outdoor breakfast prepared by members of the police and fire departments.

Shops and Hangouts: At the south end of Willo are antiques stores and other shops and eateries, including the classy My Florist Café (a converted flower shop) and the adjacent Willo Baking Company.

Greenspace: Folks meet at Walden Park for neighborhood gatherings. The 222-acre Encanto Park (one of Phoenix’s biggest) boasts a pool, tennis courts, and two golf courses. In the center is an amusement park for 2- to 10-year-olds, including a carousel, train, and pond with pedal boats.

Cottage Twist: San Francisco has the Transamerica Pyramid; Chicago, the Sears Tower. Phoenix? The Dial Building, former headquarters of the soap company. From Willo you can see it—now the Viad Building—rising in the sky like a giant bar of soap.