Economic Development

Phoenix Needs More High-End Housing

By Eugene Scott for the Arizona Republic Construction worker Paul Chen (Cq) moves a trash can at the new Roosevelt Point apartment complex in downtown Phoenix on Friday, March 29, 2013. Michael... 

• Casino Court Win Might Alter Tribe’s Relationship with Glendale
• Arizona Climbs Toward Recovery as Jobs Return
• ASU Creating Space in Phoenix-Area Libraries for Entrepreneurs To Learn, Grow
• Healthcare Companies Merge, Affiliate to Provide Better Service

Federal News

Construction Industry Blasts Immigration Reform Bill

By Kristena for Phoenix Business Journal Supporters of immigration reform held a rally outside the U.S. Capitol last week. Photo Credit: Kent Hoover Construction advocates blasted the U.S. Senate’s... 

• January National Construction Dollars Slide to $883B—Maybe Not
• Sequester Kills $4B in Federal Construction, Work at Luke Appears Untouched
• FAA Proposed Maximum Height Limits Could Hamper Arizona Developments
• Feds to ADOT: Use That $6.5M Where You Need It

Commercial Real Estate

Healthcare Real Estate Market Overview First Quarter 2013

By Kathleen M Morgan, Trisha A Talbot, Julie A Johnson for GPE Healthcare Investment Group Medical Office Lease Activity The leasing market for medical office space in the Valley for the First... 

• Commercial Real Estate News 5-21-13
• Commercial Real Estate News 5-14-13
• Strong Activity Stabilizes Tucson Industrial Market
• Commercial Real Estate News 5-7-13

Legislation issues

Resolution Copper Gets Congressional Win; Could Go Without Land Exchange

Original sources: The Arizona Republic and Arizona Geology Resolution Copper head frame for shaft #10.Photo Credit: Nyal Niemuth, AZGS Federal legislation that would allow plans for a copper... 

• Arizona Technology Council Pushing R&D Tax Credit, Early-Stage Capital Bills
• Rep. Sinema’s Bill Seeks Break for Green Technology
• Arizona Sales-Tax Bill Clears Legislative Panel
• Proposed Sales Tax Compromise “Deforms” Reform Effort for Builders

National Indices

Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Construction Loses Small # of Jobs

By Eric Jay Toll for Arizona Builder’s Exchange If there is one fact economists are learning about post-recession recovery 2013, it’s that nothing is following the rules. No one has seen... 

• Statewide Construction Employment Gains 2,600 Jobs in March
• AZ Construction Jobs Grow at Triple 10 Year Average
• Statewide Construction Job Gains Less Than Previously Thought
• AIA Queries Lead Optimism Scale; January AIA Index Tops 54

Green / Renewable Energy

Spain-Based Abengoa to Build $110M Plant in Glendale

By Ryan Randazzo for The Arizona Republic Spain-based Abengoa announced it will build a $110M pyrolytic gasification facility in Glendale that will cook household trash at extreme temperatures,... 

• Eight Takeaways from Solar Summit 2013
• Verizon Plans to Invest $100M in Solar, Fuel Cell Technology
• Scottsdale Startup Solar Company Makes Bid for Goodyear Suntech Plant
• Colorado River Named Most Endangered

Planning & Development

Rocking K Closer to Development; Smaller-Scale Project Will Start Construction within Two Years

By Tony Davis for the Arizona Daily Star After nearly a quarter-century of planning and controversy, the huge Rocking K development next to Saguaro National Park East should be ready to start... 

• Website Set to Rally Support for Loop 202
• South Mountain Freeway Marathon Outreach Hearing Tuesday
• Harkins Multiplex to Queen Creek; Vestar Refinancing Readies Project Site
• $14M Overhaul of TPC Planned in Controversial PGA Lease

Trends

Construction Leads the Pack in Percent Job Growth Projections

By Eric Jay Toll for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Builders rumbled to the top of the employment gain projections posted by the Arizona Department of Administration. With modest job growth... 

• Construction Spending Decreases on U.S. Government Slump
• January Contracting Sales Slip; FY-to-Date Up 3.2%
• The Best Cities for Job Growth
• CRE Experts Say Capital Spigots Will Continue Remain Open