Author: BEX Staff

The $15.3M Arizona budget allocation to improve and expand the Prescott Rodeo Grounds has been temporarily halted pending the outcome of a lawsuit. Howard Mechanic and former Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Ralph Hess—aided by legal advocacy group Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest—filed the lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court alleging the funding violates state law and that the plaintiffs, as taxpayers, would suffer a financial loss due to “the burden for replenishing…wrongful and illegal expenditures.” The lawsuit claims the payment violates the “Gift Clause” of the Arizona constitution, which prohibits public entities from making payments that…

UPDATED on Aug. 21, 2023 – Per our sources, this project has been canceled. By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval for a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning request for a roughly 122.25-acre site northeast of Grand Avenue/U.S. 60 and Rocking Horse Lane in the unincorporated area of Morristown, near Wickenburg. Behavioral health services provider Meadows Behavioral Healthcare wants to build a youth-focused, co-ed behavioral health facility on the location and is requesting “to change the land use designation in the White Tank Grand Avenue Area Plan from Rural Densities to Office…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX The Rio Nuevo Board has unanimously approved investing up to $4.5M to attract an as-yet-undisclosed “internationally known boutique grocery” to the corner of Broadway and Plumer in Tucson’s Sunshine Mile. The site is currently occupied by a vacant Dollar Store and tabernacle, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Tucson developer Marcel Dabdoub presented plans to acquire the entire block at the SWC for a 13.2KSF grocery store and retail outlet. According to Rio Nuevo’s announcement, revenue forecasts for the new store approach $30M/year. Construction costs are estimated at more than $8M. The investment would come…

Road projects planned under Gilbert’s $515M 2021 voter-approved bond are progressing, but construction cost inflation means the funds will only cover 48 of the originally planned 57. In addition to increased construction costs, the uncertain status of the Proposition 400 Maricopa County transportation sales tax renewal means projects that were scheduled for later in the five-year planning cycle could experience additional delays to make sure the top priority projects are completed. Town staff is working to secure additional regional and federal funding, according to Gilbert Public Works Director Jessica Marlow. If the Prop 400 renewal legislation is approved and allowed…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX Rider Levett Bucknall has released its latest Quarterly Cost Report, giving details for the North American construction industry in 14 key markets. According to the announcement, “With data current to mid-Q2 2023, the latest RLB quarterly cost report shows that the national average increase in construction costs was 1.56% over the previous quarter, with Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, and San Francisco experiencing increases over the national average this quarter. Boston, Honolulu, Las Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Washington DC experienced gains that were less than the national average.” The introduction by RLB President, North America Julian…

Groundbreakings 1. Optima, Inc. has announced construction is expected to begin on the 22-acre, $1B+, 1,330-unit Optima McDowell Mountain Village this summer. Phase I will deliver approximately 210 apartments and another 210 condominiums. 2. Martens Development and its general contracting partner Willmeng Construction broke ground on Mission Park, a two-building, 723.5KSF Class A industrial park at I-10 and Perryville Road in Buckeye. 3. Sunbelt Investment Holdings Inc., along with general contractor Graycor Construction Company Inc., have debuted design plans for and started construction on Phase I of Camelback 303, totaling 516.3KSF. The project initiates SIHI’s 4MSF industrial park in the…

A new $6.3M bridge over Bitter Creek on Broadway Road in Clarkdale could be in place and operational in two years. The existing bridge failed to meet current standards in five areas, according to Town Manager Susan Guthrie, but none of the shortcomings are structural. Key among the difficulties is that the existing bridge is only wide enough for one vehicle to cross at a time. Since the existing bridge is structurally sound and historically significant, the Town plans to keep it in place for pedestrian and bicycle use and to build the new two-lane bridge nearby. The Town will…

Developer Park West Partners has proposed The Shops at Rio Verde—a commercial development planned on approximately 17 net acres at 174th Street and Rio Verde Drive in the unincorporated community of Rio Verde. Plans call for a center anchored by a 52.2KSF grocery store with other small commercial buildings that could feature restaurants, salons and other services, and medical offices. Because of the remote and rural character of the area, located approximately 10 miles from the nearest retail services, commercial development has traditionally been discouraged. The area has seen increased population growth in recent years, however, adding to the desire…

SimonCRE and Carefree Partners have formed a joint venture to develop part of the master-planned Surprise City Center. The JV will develop an initial 70KSF of retail and restaurant space to be followed in the future with office, ground floor retail, apartments and entertainment outlets on between 30 and 40 acres. The initial $35M development has already secured several tenants, mostly restaurants, and approximately 35KSF of the space is under lease or has commitments in place even though construction has not yet begun. Construction of the first phase is expected to commence in Q3, with delivery expected in approximately a…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Earlier this month, the Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a rezoning approval for an approximately 12.9-acre site at the NWC of Cotton Lane and Cactus Road. City Council followed the recommendation and approved the rezoning on June 20. Developer NexMetro Communities requested the rezoning from Regional Commercial to High Density Residential so it can build Avilla Foothills, a 108-unit Build-to-Rent community. NexMetro is a major regional and national developer in the Build-to-Rent sector. The DATABEX project database shows the company has completed eight projects under the Avilla brand and has another eight—not…