Author: BEX Staff

By Associated Builders and Contractors Associated Builders and Contractors issued the following statement in response to a proposed rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor on Dec. 14 that would make significant and controversial revisions to the National Apprenticeship System. “ABC supports Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs and offers more than 450 such education programs across the country as part of its all-of-the-above approach to meet the workforce needs of the construction industry,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC VP of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “ABC is thoroughly reviewing the Biden DOL’s overreaching, 779-page proposal and is concerned that aspects of the…

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By American Institute of Architects/Deltek Architecture The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index remained below 50 for the fourth consecutive month. The score of 43 increased by one point from October, indicating slightly fewer firms reporting a decline in billings. Any score below 50 indicates decreasing business conditions but there are encouraging signs of the pipeline. This marks the seventh month in 2023 with a decline in billings. Over the past three months the pace of this decline has accelerated, with firms in all specializations and in all regions of the country reporting weakening business conditions,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker.…

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Groundbreakings 1. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West broke ground on a nearly 12KSF expansion that is expected to complete within two years. Scottsdale City Council approved the expansion along with a donation of $12M from Louis “Buzz” Sands IV. Completions 2. The $42M, 429KSF Mill Avenue Parking Structure for Arizona State University completed in Tempe. The six-level parking garage offers 1,205 parking spaces. DFDG Architecture designed the structure and McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. was the general contractor. 3. TruVista Development began leasing at Village of Chandler, a 109-unit apartment complex in Chandler. Village of Chandler offers one-, two-…

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By BEX Staff for AZBEX The complicated process surrounding S3 Biotech’s master-planned District at Copper Sky development may now be a little simpler following a trio of recent approvals from the Maricopa City Council. The City terminated development agreements with S3 Biotech and Copper Sky Hotel and Residential Group for a mixed-use medical campus in November because the companies were taking too long to build, according to City Manager Rick Horst. Maricopa issued three solicitations for the land associated with the medical campus, all of which were due Dec. 5. According to the DATABEX project database entries on the subject,…

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By BEX Staff for AZBEX The Mesa Design Review Board held a discussion session Dec. 12 to consider plans for Meridian Gardens, a 72-unit multifamily development planned on five acres at the NEC of Southern Avenue and Meridian Road. Rezoning for the property has already been approved by Mesa City Council. The project narrative accompanying the rezoning request noted, “The property has sat undeveloped for well over 30 years, aggregating trash, debris, transients, as well as nuisance vegetation. Development of this property will not only be a tremendous boost to the character of the area, but also will make the…

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By BEX Staff for AZBEX SimonCRE has closed on 44 acres of land for the upcoming development of Asante Trails, a master-planned development that SimonCRE says “will provide a major mixed-use project to the growing community.” The developer’s announcement said, “The land, which has sat vacant since being purchased in 2007 by Kimco Realty, was originally intended for a large-scale power center of more than 90-acres during the height of their popularity. As other major developments, such as Village at Prasada, have been built up, the area and its usage have been reevaluated.” Local news outlets reported an entity affiliated…

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By Roland Murphy for AZBEX On Dec. 21, the Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hear a request to rezone approximately 12 acres at the NEC of Reems Road and Tierra Buena Lane for development of a 168-unit mixed-service senior residential community. Gold Stream Development has requested a zoning change from Neighborhood Commercial with Planned Unit Development Overlay and Rural Residential to Residential High Density. The company has also requested release from a deed restriction covering one portion of the property. The Pointe at Surprise Senior Living Community would combine five existing parcels into one property for purposes…

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The Glendale City Council discussed a new master plan design concept for Thunderbird Conservation Park during a Dec. 12 work session. Plans include possible upgrades to the park’s three trailheads and entrances off 59th, 67th and 55th avenues and Pinnacle Peak Road. The improvements are estimated at $20.3M. The fiscal year 2024 budget has $4.9M allocated for upgrade design. Future funding sources will have to be identified before a timeline can be established, although $6M has been identified for 2029-2033. That amount will have to be adjusted, according to Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios. Councilmembers in attendance praised the new…

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The Gilbert Town Council has approved changes to plans for the Trax at Cooley Station multifamily development at the SWC of Williams Field Road and Verde Drive. While the revisions will not add units or density to the 568-unit, 22.73-acre site, they will affect building heights and setbacks. The updated plans now call for two buildings of up to five stories and 69 feet total height, with 10-foot building and landscape setbacks at the eastern boundary. Four stories at 56 feet, a building setback of 20 feet and a landscape setback of 15 feet were allowed under the original approval.…

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Giving Back 1. Now in its 17th year, SRP Solar for Nonprofits has selected Junior Achievement of Arizona as the latest Valley nonprofit to receive a free solar-covered parking structure. The shaded parking structure will provide clean energy to the organization, help lower overall carbon emissions and reduce monthly energy costs. The solar parking structure will be installed at JA’s Tempe campus. The facility annually serves more than 20,000 students and is also visited by thousands of volunteers, teachers and guests. 2. Valley Real Estate entrepreneur Michael Pollack and partner A New Leaf are teaming up to give 20 Valley…

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