Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Since we broke the story of the KOREPlex site in Buckeye quietly going on the market and confirmed the demise of the planned $1.5B-plus battery plant, several new details have come to light. (AZBEX, Jan 31) While we won’t devote a lot of resources to reporting on a dead project, several of these newly disclosed items will continue to impact Arizona companies and projects for some time to come. As a result, we feel compelled to give them due coverage. Yates Recorded a $10.4M Mechanics’ and Materialmen’s Lien On Jan. 14, KOREPlex general contractor Yates…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX In its Feb. 5 study session, the Gilbert Planning Commission will discuss an amendment to the Bella Storia Planned Area Development, along with plans for a new 367-unit apartment community as part of the Bella Storia Master Plan at the NWC of Power and Williams Field roads. No action will be taken during the meeting. According to the staff report, the PAD amendment seeks to update the approved development plan for a 13.07-net-acre portion of the site located at the NEC of Williams Field Road and Delatorre Drive. That location is already approved for a…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX A planned project that would finish a connection between the Salt River Project and the Central Arizona Project, which together supply water to more than 80% of the Arizona population, has been awarded $154M in funding under the Inflation Reduction Act. The SRP/CAP Interconnection Facility is being pursued by a partnership of central Arizona communities and water companies. Rep. Greg Stanton’s announcement explained the project will allow “for water deliveries from the Salt River Federal Reclamation project to upstream users along the Central Arizona Project and the Colorado River.” The Arizona Republic reported local government…

By National Association of Home Builders With President Trump announcing that he plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods coming into the United States, the National Association of Home Builders is urging the president to exempt building materials from the proposed tariffs because of their harmful effect on housing affordability. Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices. In a letter to the president, NAHB noted that on his first day in office Trump…

Giving Back 1. Two Achen-Gardner Construction employee-owners represented the company at Northern Arizona University’s Part-Time Opportunities Career Fairon Jan. 22. The representatives engaged with students, discussed career paths and built connections. Awards & Accolades 2. Steve Chanen of Chanen Construction Company was the recipient of ENR’s Legacy Award. The Legacy Award is granted to individuals in the design/construction industry who have dedicated their lives to the craft and given back to the community along the way. 3. The Arizona Housing Fund has named NexMetro Communities its 2024 Partner of the Year. The award recognizes NexMetro’s success in raising awareness about…

Sales Transactions 1.Ten years after UHS of Tucson, LLC announced the acquisition/operation of Palo Verde Behavioral Health at 2695 N. Craycroft Road in Tucson, the transaction has concluded. Tucson Medical Center sold the 83.6KSF medical facility to UHS for $19.1M in December. Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR’s Rick Kleiner represented the seller. 2. Oracle Limberlost Shopping Center LLC, an affiliate of Whirlygig Properties, sold Limberlost Retail Center at 4128-4146 N. Oracle Road in Tucson for $5.6M. The 38.4KSF retail center had two vacant spaces at the time of sale. SRS Real Estate Partners’ Patrick Luther represented the buyer, T Limberlost…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX [UPDATE: We received a response from the City of Buckeye after this issue of AZBEX had already gone out to our subscribers. In the interests of thoroughness and timeliness, we are including the relevant section of Deputy Director of Communications John O’Halloran’s response here: “We greatly value our strong working relationships with both the media and the businesses considering Buckeye as their home. At this time, we have not received direct communication from KORE Power regarding their business decisions in Buckeye. Until we do, we are unable to provide an update on their plans.”] Wednesday…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Wood Partners is proposing a new retail and residential mixed-use development in Old Town Scottsdale on 6.14 gross acres at the NWC of Goldwater Blvd. and Indian School Road. According to the 5th & Goldwater project narrative submitted by Nelsen Partners, “This project proposes development of 232 luxury residential units and approximately 32KSF of a mixture of commercial uses including retail and restaurant. The site is located on 4.82 net acres of property at the northwest corner of Indian School Road and Goldwater Blvd. Existing buildings on site will be demolished and utilities relocated to…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX In its Jan. 15 meeting, Phoenix City Council approved a rezoning request that had accompanied a minor General Plan amendment request from The NRP Group that would allow the developer to build a 288-unit multifamily development on 10.75 acres at the SWC of 69th Avenue and Thomas Road. The Maryvale Village Planning Committee recommended approval for the request on an 11-0 vote in its Nov. 13 meeting. The Phoenix Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend approval when they met on Dec. 5. According to a local news report, the Planning Commission and City staff made…

The Glendale City Council has approved hiring two consultants to measure public attitudes toward a possible new General Obligation bond request for the November 2025 election. Areas of focus for the request would consist of libraries, government facilities, parks and recreation, and flood control. Parks and recreation could be the largest component of a GO bond request, as the City has no bond funds remaining for projects under that heading. Major projects include a $44M-plus Heroes Regional Park aquatic and recreation center, which had been planned for bond funding but no longer has money in place. Libraries have almost $6.2M…