Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Arizona Construction sector lost 1,700 jobs in May, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. The national unemployment rate was also unchanged from April, holding at 4.2%. In May 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4%. The national rate was 4.0%. Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 19,300 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment lost 6,700 jobs on average in May,” the report states. Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted…

Awards & Accolades 1. AZ Big Media has released the 2025 Ranking Arizona list of Top 10 Landscape Architects. The top firms are as follows: ABLA, TRUEFORM landscape architecture studio, EPS Group, T.J. McQueen and Associates, Logan Simpson Design, Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Studio DPA, G.K. Flanagan Associates, CollectiV Landscape Architects and SmithGroup. 2. AZ Big Media released the 2025 Ranking Arizona list of Top 10 Landscape Contractors. The top firms are as follows: Earthscapes, Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management, Ventana Outdoor Living, AAA Landscape, Grounds Control, AME Landscape Companies, Berghoff Design Group/BDG Maintenance, Creative Environments Design, Pool Spa…

Sales Transactions 1. AEW Capital Management purchased the 159-unit Build-to-Rent community The Bungalows at San Tan Village in Gilbert for $66.1M. The community was sold by Cavan Companies. 2. Continental Realty Corporation purchased Sundance Towne Center, a roughly 200KSF shopping center in Buckeye, for $54.3M. The property is located on approximately 32 acres at 466 S. Watson Road and is anchored by a Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s. The center is more than 94% leased. CBRE represented the seller, Shin Yen Management. 3. Phoenix Enterprises LLC purchased two fully occupied office buildings in the Paradise Village Office Park for $6.2M. The…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX In our June 17 issue, we examined the Maricopa Association of Governments’ freeway project plans for the next 20 years under the Proposition 479 half-cent transportation tax approved by voters last year. While freeway projects get the lion’s share of attention from the general public, arterial streets have an arguably even greater impact on residents’ daily lives. Today’s issue will look at the planned rehabilitation and reconstruction program for MAG’s arterial street projects. Upcoming issues will examine widening and the Arterial Life Cycle Program. Freeways and arterials both took on a greater focus than originally…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The planned Emerald Bay Resort in Bullhead City remains up in the air after no bids were received in an Arizona State Land Department auction for 294 acres of State land that make up a major portion of the development site. Developer Britton Lee’s S3 Group, LLC submitted plans for the 493-acre development early last year and requested the auction. AZBEX was the first outlet to report on the plan, which includes a hotel, golf courses, single- and multifamily residential, a tennis center, a marina, a beach club, storage, assorted commercial, and a sports &…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Mesa City Council will vote July 1 on a tax incentive/development cost reimbursement package for the Medina Station Commercial development at the SEC of Signal Butte and Southern Avenue on the east side of town. SimonCRE’s Medina Station Commercial development is a 40-acre part of a nearly 65-acre master planned area that has been through several iterations over the last two years. As we reported last September, SimonCRE was brought in as the commercial component developer with plans for approximately 300KSF of retail and restaurant development. (AZBEX; Sept. 17, 2024) Medina Station Commercial is…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX In our June 17 issue, we gave a detailed look at the Metro Phoenix data center market and proposals in Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe to issue new zoning restrictions on data center development. (AZBEX; June 17) One of the news items prompting that column was a planned Phoenix City Council vote on a proposed ordinance to update the general plan and zoning guidelines with new restrictions. We pointed out the timeline from the proposal’s first public mention to its planned vote was much shorter than usual for these types of items and that there had…

Groundbreakings 1. The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a $15.1M project June 22 to resurface I-17 between SR 74 and Anthem Way. All work will occur during overnight hours, starting with sidewalk and guardrail improvements near the Anthem Way interchange. In August, resurfacing will begin with pavement removal and asphalt replacement. The project also includes ramp resurfacing, drainage improvements, bridge deck sealing and new signage and markings. Completion is expected by spring 2026. 2. Empire Group of Companies and Brinkmann Constructors have broken ground on The Osborn, a 226-unit senior living community in Old Town Scottsdale. Developed through Empire’s…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The City of Chandler probably didn’t expect to be a trendsetter when it passed its ordinance restricting data center development in late 2022. After all, there were only four projects planned there at the time, and other cities had much more available area and better overall appeal. Chandler’s restrictions included limiting data centers to only areas with planned area developments in place, establishing data centers as an ancillary use, requiring noise studies and mitigation measures, increasing notification requirements and other mandates to make the developments more “harmonious” with residential communities. Then, last December, Phoenix advanced…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX The Mesa Design Review Board received a presentation and then discussed plans for the 36-unit multifamily development, Beverly Apartments, in its June 10 meeting. The meeting was for informative purposes only, and no action was taken. The proposal was then heard in a public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board on June 11. City staff had recommended approval, but results were not available at press time. Developer COPA Health has requested a rezoning to change the property from Multiple Residence 2 and Multiple Residence 3 to Multiple Residence 4 with a Planned Area Development…