Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Over the course of every 12 months, we put out a total of 100 issues. Today is Issue 100 and brings Volume Year 16 to a close. We’ve marked these year ends in various ways over the years. Sometimes we’ve done top project reviews; sometimes we’ve just let them slide by without note. Since the last year has been one filled with a sense of change—sometimes valid, sometimes not—I’m going to take some space to reflect on what issues have made the greatest imprint on me over the last year. Spoiler Alert: Everything is mostly…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX Decades of planning and discussion have not yet brought about the expansive flood control effort to solve issues with the Rio de Flag in Flagstaff, but an upcoming grant application could be an important interim step before the complete project is put in place. The Rio de Flag Flood Control Project is a joint plan between Flagstaff and the Army Corps of Engineers that will reroute the river to its original course and eliminate flood risks and the floodway designation from Flagstaff’s Southside area. The project has been planned ever since a major flood event…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX The Phoenix Planning Commission has recommended approval for rezoning that will allow development of a proposed multifamily residential community with both standard and affordable units and additional retail space. A total of 162 units is planned on the 8.9-acre site, which currently has a mixture of zoning designations in place for multifamily and commercial. The City of the Americas proposal from Project of America Development Company and its partners has requested rezoning under Phoenix’s Walkable Urban Code. A local news outlet reported project representatives told the Commission the developer’s plan includes affordable units, but applications…

The Gilbert Planning Commission is moving toward implementing further restrictions to manage further construction of data centers. The Commission has argued the move is due to the large quantity of resources consumed by data centers – whether it be power or water. Other concerns surrounding data centers include sound, scale and architectural design. As far as water usage is concerned, data center supporters have argued the buildings recycle 90-95% of water used. Town Planner Sal DiSanto said Town staff is looking into adding a text amendment to the Land Development Code to create new standards and procedures. The code only…

Groundbreakings 1. Sundt Construction has broken ground on a 65KSF manufacturing facility on a 36-acre site near the SWC of Tomahawk Road and U.S. 60 in Apache Junction. The project will support off-site fabrication operations and includes approximately 10KSF of office space. Completion is anticipated in Q1 2027, and the remaining acreage is reserved for future expansion. 2. St. Vincent de Paul has broken ground on the 26.2KSF Center for Purpose, Hope, and Mission on its main campus just south of downtown Phoenix. The project involves the repurposing of an existing warehouse into a community and volunteer center and is…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Mesa Design Review Board is scheduled to examine plans for a multifamily and hotel campus on Rio Salado Parkway east of Loop 101 and the Chicago Cubs minor league and spring training complex. The Den on Rio Salado, also referred to as Rio Salado 25, is proposed as a five-story, 36-unit apartment building and a four-story, 103-room Candlewood Suites hotel on 3.14 acres. Maximum heights are planned at 65 feet for the apartments and 57 feet for the hotel. The apartment portion will also include 13.4KSF of common administrative and support space. The apartments…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Pinal County officials are expected to consider a rezoning and San Tan Valley Special Area Plan amendment request that would rezone 7.7 gross acres at the NWC of Gary Road and Skyline Drive to allow development of a townhome and apartment community with supporting commercial uses. According to the submitted narrative, “The parcels were created from farmland with the development of Morning Sun Farms back in 2008 and have been under the same ownership since. The original intent was to develop into a neighborhood shopping center with a grocery store anchor, some shops and pads.…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX After canceling plans to build $550M hydrogen production hub in Buckeye last year, site owner Fortescue Future Industries is asking the City of Buckeye to eliminate one stipulation and modify two others attached to the rezoning of approximately 158 acres of the plant site. Materials accompanying the submittal variously refer to the property as approximately 158 acres in some sections and 157 acres in others. For consistency’s sake, we will use 158. Submitted materials and staff analysis say the 158 acres and the overall 920-acre site that surrounds it could eventually be used for an…

Yuma City Council met Feb. 4 to consider an ordinance that would authorize the local housing authority to buy 7.64 acres at 221 E. 26th Pl. to advance the development and operation of Vista Apartments—a 200-unit, three-phase affordable multifamily community. Council will take final action on the proposed ordinance Feb. 18. Yuma will not have a financial obligation in buying the former Vista Alternative High School site or in developing the apartment plan. Under the ordinance, the Housing Authority of the City of Yuma will act as the City’s agent to build, maintain and manage the City’s housing projects but…

Sunbelt Investment Holdings Inc. is purchasing 272 acres of land in Buckeye from the Arizona State Land Department for $62.5M. Bids started at nearly $42.1M, with SIHI ultimately being the last bidder standing. Sunbelt VP Brooks Griffith said the land is “one of the last significant mixed-use commercial land sites along the I-10 West corridor.” Sunbelt also owns two sites adjacent to the property. One sits to the north, while the other is toward the south. Collectively, the land totals 375 acres. While specific details have yet to be announced, the company said it is considering a variety of uses…