Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX High Street Residential is requesting a rezoning and minor General Plan amendment to allow the development of Sundown Commons, a 239-unit mixed-use multifamily community on approximately 8.53 gross acres at the NEC of 70th Street and Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale. According to the submitted narrative, “The GPA request from Commercial to Mixed-Use Neighborhoods and rezoning request from C-2 (C)/P-4* to PUD PSD allows for a synergistic mixed-use community comprised of existing commercial/retail and new residential development including housing for first responders, healthcare workers, and teachers.” To maintain that focus on workforce affordability, units are planned…

By Arizona Commerce Authority MicroStar Logistics has expanded its investments in quality services for the beer industry with a commitment to build a new Keg and Pallet Quality Services Center in Tucson. The approximately 270KSF facility adds to MicroStar’s industry-leading repair and maintenance capabilities in order to service millions of kegs and new, reusable pallets each year, benefiting its customers ranging from small craft brewers to the largest individual brewery in the world. The new facility will be operated by approximately 200 quality professionals and feature a range of first-of-its-kind equipment including one of the largest, most sophisticated pallet cleaning…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX – BEXCLUSIVE Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.5% in June, up from 3.4% for the month of May, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The national unemployment rate decreased to 3.6% from 3.7%. In June 2022, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.8%, while the national rate was 3.6%. Construction led Arizona employment sectors reporting job gains, adding 1,500. The state had a loss of 39,800 non-farm jobs. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment lost 51,600 jobs on average in June,” the report…

Giving Back 1. SDB Contracting Services will host its 15th annual charity golf tournament in October. A total of $538K has been raised to date to benefit the Arizona Department of Disabled American Veterans. Vans have been purchased to transport Veterans to appointments. Boards & Commissions 2. Jared Holland has been named Chair of the Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission. He had previously served as Vice Chair, a position now filled by Ken Chapman. 3. The Arizona Association for Economic Development has elected new members to its Board of Directors that represent both rural and metro communities across the state.…

Sales Transactions 1. Cushman & Wakefield announced the firm advised Westcore in arranging $73.3M in acquisition financing for Hatcher Industrial, a newly constructed 906KSF industrial park in Glendale. A Cushman & Wakefield Equity, Debt & Structured Finance team of Rob Rubano, Brian Share, Max Schafer and Becca Tse represented the borrower. Will Strong, Kirk Kuller, Micki Strain, and Molly Hunt of the firm also provided local market advisory. 2. CBRE arranged the sale and leaseback of six buildings in metro Phoenix. The combined 233.8KSF properties were negotiated by CBRE’s Geoffrey Turbow, Gary Cornish and Colliers’ Todd Noel on behalf of the sellers for $63.2M. The two properties…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX The Gilbert Planning Commission recently reviewed a proposal from developer Wood Partners in a study session for a 257-unit apartment development site plan near the SEC of Arizona Avenue and Desert Lane. The Gilbert Town Council approved a minor General Plan amendment for the development in December. Aldi Commons will be built on 4.91 acres of a 10-acre site. The remaining space may be used for an Aldi store to be built later, though no plans have yet been filed. Planned amenities for the multifamily component include two pickleball courts, a clubhouse, a fitness center,…

By University of Arizona Health Sciences The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies received a strong vote of support from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors with the June 28 approval of $4M in funding for the life sciences innovation hub being developed on the Phoenix Bioscience Core in downtown Phoenix. The Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, or CAMI, builds on the idea that the most effective defense against health issues is the body’s natural immune system. CAMI will advance knowledge of the immunology of cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune conditions. The…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX COVID and the social and market repercussions of the post-pandemic shift have created new development opportunities yielding tens of millions of square feet and hundreds of thousands of new units, not to mention hundreds of millions of words written about the phenomenon over tens of thousands of news articles. One equally interesting but less frequently reported on phenomenon is how the market changes have brought many projects that had previously sat idle off the sidelines and back into the development pipeline. One such project that’s certain to add significantly to the coverage word count once…

Brundrett Properties Inc., owners of Norwood Furniture in Gilbert’s Heritage District, proposed a 68-foot-tall mixed-use development with office space, restaurants and a rooftop patio and bar two years ago. That request was recommended by the Redevelopment Commission but ultimately received a recommendation for denial from the Planning Commission because it exceeded the Heritage District height limit. This week the Planning Commission was scheduled to hear a revised infill proposal for the project, which lies between Norwood Furniture and the Farmhouse Restaurant near the SWC of Gilbert Road and Page Avenue. The new plan is for a four-story building that tops…

By Mesa Community Colleges The Construction Trades program at Mesa Community College will offer new certificate programs beginning with the Fall 2023 semester. Plumbing courses will be offered in Fall 2023, HVACr courses in Spring 2024 and masonry and solar classes will be available in Summer 2024 at the Southern and Dobson Campus. A Certificate of Completion can be completed in two semesters. Students begin with an eight-week online course covering construction safety, hand and power tools, calculations and blueprint reading. The last eight weeks consist of hands-on training in a lab, based on the student’s chosen area of specialization.…