Author: Amanda Murray

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Every construction and development news outlet in the state – AZBEX included – that includes the East Valley as part of its coverage has devoted an extreme number of column inches to Mesa’s colossal pace of industrial development this year. Note that I said “extreme,” rather than “excessive.” When one city adds more than 20MSF to planned developments in one sector in the span of six months, it is difficult-to-impossible to overstate the impact. As I was hunting around for ideas for this issue’s front page, our DATABEX Manager sent me a message that I…

By Rebekah Morris and BEX Staff for AZBEX We take the deep dive into our topics. The BEX Construction Activity Forecast Event is where we showcase the results of our research every year and apply it in a program that benefits everyone who wants to see what is really going on in the local market. What will be presented? Overview of the Arizona Construction Market – Statewide construction activity has been increasing by more than 10% YOY since 2017 and total activity topped $19B in 2020. Industry employment is hovering around 174K jobs. The BEXperts go deep to see how…

By Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic has acquired 228 acres of land adjacent to its campus in North Phoenix, securing the ability to expand its patient-centered model of care and paving the way to develop a transformative biotechnology corridor. The L-shaped parcel wraps around the existing Mayo Clinic Hospital campus and the Arizona State University Health Futures Center. The parcel extends from 56th Street to 64th Street, south of State Route 101. It was purchased from the Arizona State Land Department at public auction on December 15th. Developing this area of North Phoenix to support Mayo Clinic’s strategic vision and the “Discovery Oasis”…

A major general plan amendment approved this week by Goodyear City Council could open up residential and commercial development on a vacant 180-acre site near Goodyear Ballpark that was originally intended for a city center project. Goodyear Civic Square is now part of a master plan near McDowell Road and 150th Avenue, but the City wants to encourage development at the Yuma Road and Estrella Parkway location. Fulton Homes has proposed a 796-home development for the site’s SEC. Under the new general plan amendment, 88 acres would be designated commercial and 92 would be targeted for residential. Media reports state…

While north Phoenix is seeing the expected volume of heavy investment and development associated with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company facility, the economic impacts are rippling outward as far as Pinal County. Taiwanese chemical producer Chang Chun Group recently purchased 84 acres in Casa Grande for $5.2M, where it plans to build a factory. Many of CCG’s products are used in the semiconductor manufacturing process. LCY Chemical, another TSMC supplier, will also build in Casa Grande. The company spent $5.5M to buy a 34-acre site near Gila Bend Highway and Burris Road. Commercial real estate and land brokers are seeing…

South Pier Tempe Holdings LLC (McBride-Cohen Management Group) plans to add a new $1.8B mixed-use development to Tempe Town Lake. The seven-phase, 15-year project will go on a 12.43-acre site on the north side of Rio Salado Parkway next to the ongoing Pier 202 development, also by South Pier Tempe Holdings. According to media reports, planned components include 600KSF of office, 2,300 apartments, 160 owner-occupied condos, 111KSF of retail and 520 hotel rooms. At its December 9th meeting, Tempe City Council adopted a notice of intent stating it plans to enter into a tax incentive agreement with the developer, a…

Arizona tribal leaders recently expressed hope and optimism about the potential benefits their communities derive from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The recently passed spending measure includes more than $13B for investments in native communities. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Robert Miguel and Salt River Indian Community President Martin Harvier recently appeared at a press conference to discuss issues in their communities and how the bill may help address them. Project types under consideration include roadway repair and expansion, water system modernization, broadband connectivity and other, more general investment intended to raise…

By Associated Builders and Contractors Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.4 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted on November 19th to December 3rd. The reading is up 0.3 months from October 2021 and 1.2 months from November 2020. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in November. All three indices stand above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months. “It’s getting better out there,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While the outlook for construction remains…

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX Plans were recently submitted to the City of Mesa for the review of a proposed industrial park on approximately 39.5 acres just south of Elliot Road and East of Power Road, called Power 42 Industrial Park. Developer, Northern Equities Group, is planning to construct four buildings totaling approximately 542.5KSF, with a maximum building height of 52 feet. The buildings will provide both warehouse space and office space for future tenants. Building one will be about 21.2KSF of warehouse space with one office area totaling 4.4KSF. Building two will house approximately 178.8KSF of warehouse space with…

By Li-Cycle Li-Cycle, an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, has announced it will build its third commercial lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Gilbert. When complete, Li-Cycle’s “Spoke 3” facility will be capable of processing up to 10,000 tons of end-of-life batteries and battery manufacturing scrap per year, bringing Li-Cycle’s total recycling capacity to 20,000 tons per year. The construction of Spoke 3 builds on Li-Cycle’s existing North American Spokes, located in Rochester, New York and Kingston, Ontario, and is part of Li-Cycle’s strategic roadmap to construct twenty Spokes globally…