Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX After nearly two years with little to no movement, plans for Laveen Towne Center—a mixed-use master plan in south Phoenix between Vestar and BRIO Investment Group—are moving forward with a significantly expanded property size and the addition of a new use component. The project was first reported in January 2023 and planned for a mixed-use development on 40 acres with retail and specialty shops, restaurants and entertainment uses centered around the historic Hudson Farmhouse in Laveen. (AZBEX; Jan. 6, 2023) BRIO purchased the 90-acre total site at the SEC of Dobbins Road and Loop 202…

In partnership with Realm LP, Pennant Development LLC has paid WinCo Foods $10M for the remaining parcels in Skyline Ranch Marketplace. The new owner plans to build out the property and finish the development that was started more than a decade ago. The sale was confirmed by the Phoenix office of SRS Real Estate Partners. Skyline Ranch Marketplace is approximately 31 acres at Gary Road and Hunt Highway in San Tan Valley. WinCo foods bought 41 acres from Miller Global in 2023 and chose to keep 10. The company recently broke ground on the site for its newest Valley store.…

By EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure announced the acquisition of an additional 43.87 acres of land in Mesa and expanded data center capacity designed to deliver 450 MW+ to its hyperscale customers. This new parcel of land more than doubles the buildable acreage EdgeCore controls in Mesa. “Today’s expansion announcement of EdgeCore’s operations in Mesa, Arizona is an exciting milestone in our company’s evolution,” said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. “Since establishing our first Mesa campus in April 2023, we have worked quickly to construct and commission 206 MW at the site. This new tranche of land enables…

Groundbreakings 1. Creation announced the groundbreaking for Heritage Park, a 10-acre mixed-use development in Gilbert covering an entire city block at Gilbert Road and Juniper Avenue. The initial phase includes 47KSF of retail and restaurant uses. Heritage Park will open in phases, with the first openings anticipated in 2026. LGE Design Build is leading construction. Phoenix Commercial Advisors oversees leasing activities. Creation is also partnering with Crescent Communities at the site. Crescent will develop NOVEL Heritage Park, a 288-unit luxury multifamily community with a planned opening in March 2027. Future phases of Heritage Park will include a 125-room hotel, office…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Arizona Construction sector gained 2,400 jobs in April, 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 March, holding at 4.2%. In April 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4%. The national rate was 3.9%. Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted gain of 20,900 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 9,500 jobs on average in April,” the report states. Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted…

By Maricopa Association of Governments Members of the public are encouraged to participate in a virtual public scoping meeting and provide input on the SR 74 Corridor Study. The Maricopa Association of Governments is evaluating the 30-mile stretch of the SR 74 Corridor between Interstate 17 and US 60/Grand Avenue to develop a plan for the corridor. The goal of the study is to enhance mobility and accessibility within the SR 74 Corridor by identifying future near-term and long-range plans. MAG invites you to participate in the virtual public scoping meeting to learn more about the study and provide feedback.…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Conditions imposed by the City of Yuma on a requested rezoning for a 50-acre parcel at the SEC of State Route 195 and 40th Street have not been well received by the landowner. The disagreement prompted the Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission to continue a discussion and vote on the request during its April 28 meeting. In the March BEX Leading Market Series event dealing with housing, land use attorney Benjamin Tate of Withey Morris Baugh told attendees he is more frequently encountering situations in which cities and other jurisdictions impose greater portions of development…

A new 19-story apartment tower could soon get underway at the NEC of Campbell Avenue and Speedway near the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. Mortenson Development’s plans for Theory Tucson include 395 apartments/1,064 bedrooms of market-rate multifamily residential in a tower totaling 686KSF. The planned unit mix is comprised of 52 studios, 59 one-, 70 two-, 43 three- and 171 four-bedroom apartments targeted at students and young professionals. The project will also have a retail component, although no specifics have been announced yet. Theory Tucson will occupy the site of the current Palm Shadows apartment community, which will be…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Despite being one of the leading markets in the U.S. for data center development, the City of Phoenix is considering new zoning restrictions on where they can be built. City leaders, including Mayor Kate Gallego, have expressed concerns about data centers’ power usage and perceived negative impacts to surrounding areas, including noise pollution, monolithic aesthetics, low post-construction job creation numbers, and impacts on walkability and neighborhood vibrancy, according to a recent article on Axios. Metro Phoenix consistently ranks in market-leading positions for data center development, absorption and land availability, all of which have combined to…

Giving Back 1. Willmeng Construction served as the presenting sponsor of the Construction in Indian Country Student Endowment Golf Tournament. The event supports American Indian students pursuing careers in construction management. 2. Brycon announced it has supported the ASU ACI Annual Concrete Cup for nearly a decade. The golf tournament is hosted by the ACI Student Chapter at Arizona State University. Money earned goes toward student programs. Awards & Accolades 3. Ranking Arizona has announced its 2025 list of Top 10 Arizona Heavy Construction Companies. Companies are ranked based on public voting. The winners are: Haydon, Hunter Contracting Company, Sandstorm…