Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Two major industrial developments on Dysart Road were planned to take up most of the El Mirage Planning and Zoning Commission’s Nov. 12 meeting. If ultimately constructed, the proposals would add another data center to Microsoft’s PHX suite as well as slightly more than 1MSF of new build-to-suit and speculative industrial. Only one of the projects actually made it to the meeting, however. PHX-83 Microsoft has requested a site plan amendment for its collection of data center facilities at the SEC of Dysart Road and Olive Avenue. The existing site plan includes the PHX-80, PHX-81…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX As the once-stalled City North development near Desert Ridge in north Phoenix continues regaining momentum, a formerly canceled dual-branded hotel development is now back in the planning sphere. Overall development at the 100-acre City North master-planned site was struggling before Crown Realty and Development acquired it in early 2019, and then progress was waylaid by the pandemic and other issues. After acquiring City North in Jan. 2019, Crown spent nearly two years and $20M to develop the site’s infrastructure to prepare it as a mixed-use destination for hotels, office, multifamily, hospitality and other uses. Several…

Prescott City Council adopted a new Prescott Economic Development Strategic Plan at its Nov. 19 meeting. The report on the final draft was given by consultants Steven Pedigo and Laura Huffman of Civic Solutions. Notably, Prescott’s population is, on average, older than the typical American community, with a smaller percentage of residents in the workforce and a smaller percentage of residents in the “prime labor-pool age group.” Over the past five years, Prescott has seen a population growth of 9.5%, which is approximately three times the U.S. average. The population is currently 46,000 residents. A large portion of the growth…

The Tempe Development Review Commission has unanimously recommended approval for a use permit and development plan review for the proposed East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center on Apache Blvd. east of Loop 101. The two-story, 23KSF building would provide office space, homelessness services and shelter beds for the non-profit group Tempe Community Action Agency. The building is intended to support TCAA’s efforts to combat homelessness in the East Valley. The group has nine different programs to help low-income and homeless residents, including housing stability, food insecurity, economic mobility, and overall health and wellbeing. The new center will support…

Groundbreakings 1. Vestar held a ceremonial groundbreaking and press conference for Verrado Marketplace on Nov. 20. The 500KSF open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination is located at the NEC of Verrado Way & Interstate-10 in Buckeye. 2. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 7 for the $87M Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facilityat 3901 S. Ave. 6E in Yuma. PCL Construction Inc., which worked on the original facility, is constructing the new phase of the project. The expansion will increase the amount of wastewater the plant can treat from 3.3 million gallons/day to 6.6 million gallons/day. 3. Trammell Crow Company…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Arizona Construction sector added 1,200 jobs in October, making the industry one of nine sectors showing gains for the month. Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The national unemployment held steady at 4.1%. Last October, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was 3.8%. Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted gain of 24,400 in nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 27,800 jobs on average in October,” the report states.…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Four Arizona rail projects are slated to receive a combined total of more than $60.2M in federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Rail Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program. The CRISI Program’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity had nearly $2.48B available. Eligible projects include railway safety technology, capital projects for passenger service or to address congestion or regional railroad infrastructure, relocation and improvements, rail crossing improvements, and connection and service improvements between rail and modes, among others.…

By Associated Builders and Contractors Associated Builders and Contractors has applauded the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which set aside the U.S. Department of Labor’s controversial 2024 final rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees. The rule changed overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The court found that the Biden-Harris Labor Department’s 2024 overtime rule’s July 1, 2024, increase was unlawful as well as the scheduled Jan. 1, 2025, increase. Specifically, DOL’s final rule increased the minimum annual salary level threshold for exemption…

Giving Back 1. Deutsch Architecture Group is collecting new, unwrapped toys in partnership with The Salvation Army Forgotten Angels Program. The program makes it possible to put presents underneath the tree for children who might not otherwise receive a gift. To donate please mail or deliver a toy to the Deutsch office by Dec. 2 at 4600 E. Indian School Road; Phoenix, AZ 85018. For gift ideas see the TSA DAG Toy Drive Wish List at https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/212F57UXU1AH0. Email cstevens@2929.com with any questions. 2. The Greater Phoenix Chapter of IFMA hosted its annual charity golf tournament at the Arizona Biltmore Golf…

Sales Transactions 1. Transwestern Real Estate Services announced it brokered the $53M sale of a 747-acre property in Buckeye at 19300 West Yuma Road. Transwestern’s Paul Borgesen, Dylan Sproul and Royden Hudnall represented Rovey Family Farms in the sale of the farmland to the Vanderwey Family. Plans for the property have yet to be announced. 2. Cushman & Wakefield announced the firm advised the sale of Paradise Valley Plaza. The three-building, multi-tenant office and medical complex totals 100.2KSF. Located at 5010, 5020 and 5040 E. Shea Blvd. in Phoenix, the property is 95% leased. The complex was acquired by Woodside…