Author: BEX Staff

An alliance of environmental activist groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, the Friends of Ironwood Forest and the Tucson Audubon Society have filed a federal lawsuit in Tucson looking to halt development of Interstate 11 between Nogales and Wickenburg. They allege the Federal Highway Administration did not consider harm to the desert, wildlife and air quality when it approved the road’s route around the west side of Tucson. They claim those effects would be less severe if the highway were co-located with I-10 and I-19. Even though interstates are, by definition, highways, the complaint…

The City of Phoenix will purchase the former Kmart site at I-17 and Northern Avenue and lease an adjacent building to create a workforce and education center. The site had previously been considered for a food distribution center. Since the store closed there had been multiple considerations for its use, including commercial, industrial and multifamily developments. It is one of the few remaining locations available for redevelopment on the I-17 corridor. Work to redevelop the site and its educational uses will continue as part of a joint effort with Arizona State University, the Maricopa Community College District and West-MEC, which…

Sales Transactions 1. Harrison Street Real Estate has sold a 27-property healthcare real estate portfolio of 1.2MSF in 10 states, including Arizona, to Northwest Healthcare Properties for $600M. The Arizona component consisted of six properties in the Tucson area totaling $58.49M. the properties and prices were: Micro-hospital, 7475 S. Wilmot Rd., $20.22M;Micro-hospital, 5620 W. Cortaro Farms Rd., $20.44M;Medical Office Building, 4892 N. Stone Ave. $7.13M;MOB, 551 W. Magee Rd., $3.45M;MOB, 1055 La Canada Dr., $3.88MMOB, 1704 W. Anklam Rd., $3.37M Harrison street was represented by JLL. 2. CrackerJax Land Company, LLC has acquired the approximately 27-acre site located at 16001…

The auction of a 650-acre Arizona State Trust Land site, the planned location for the proposed LG Energy Solution battery plant in Queen Creek, went off as expected this week. The international energy and electronics giant was the sole bidder, paying the minimum of $84.44M for the site at the NEC of Ironwood and Germann Roads. Last month, AZBEX was the first outlet to report on plans for the estimated $2.8B, 1MSF project, which includes development and intergovernmental agreements between LG Energy Solutions Ltd., Pinal County and the Town of Queen Creek. (AZBEX; March 18th). The project has since been…

By ViaWest Group ViaWest Group, in a joint venture with American Opportunity Zone Advisors LLC, has acquired an 8.8-acre land parcel in Goodyear. This unimproved land site is situated immediately south of their Goodyear Crossing Industrial Park project and marks the fourth Opportunity Zone deal for ViaWest Group. Goodyear currently ranks as one of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the US and additionally as Arizona’s second fastest growing city. This site is located 3.2 miles south of a full-diamond interchange on Interstate 10, and within a mile of the future Loop 303 southern extension from I-10. This position…

By Banner Health Banner Health is planning construction for a new, comprehensive medical center in the Southwest Valley of metro Phoenix. Banner Health is the leading health care provider across metro Phoenix, recognized for building new hospitals and ambulatory care sites to meet patient needs as communities grow. Most recently, the non-profit health care system opened Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler in November 2020, which was Banner’s 13th hospital in the metro Phoenix market. The newest hospital is slated to open in Buckeye in 2024. The four-story, 330KSF hospital will be located on the NWC of Verrado Way and the I-10…

The latest Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows residential constructions materials prices (not including energy) increased 1.4% in March, yielding an 8% increase since the beginning of the year. Building materials prices are up 20.4% year-over-year and 33% since March 2020. Services prices are 39% higher since the start of the pandemic. Key findings include: Softwood lumber up 6% in March, up 90.4% since September 2021;Gypsum products up 1.6% in March, 9% since January 2021;Steel products down 4.9% in March, but more than double their pre-pandemic prices. (Source)

Completions 1. Leasing has begun at the Empire Group of Companies’ Village at Pioneer Park Build-to-Rent development in Peoria. The first units in the 322-home developments were scheduled for delivery this month, with the remainder coming to market over the next year. 2. Brycon has announced the completion of a 22.7KSF fabrication shop for mechanical contractor JB Henderson in Chandler. 3. Heritage at Sportsman’s Park, a 10KSF outdoor garden patio, event venue and kitchen at State Farm Stadium, has finished construction.

Guidance issued by the Biden Administration for projects funded by the $1T infrastructure spending package will that require materials purchased for projects be produced in the United States. Waivers will be available if domestic materials are too expensive or if there is not an adequate supply. The requirement is intended to increase domestic manufacturing jobs and materials production, reduce supply chain constraints and to diminish dependency on international suppliers like China, according to officials. President Biden has said existing regulations have been watered down and used to hide the use of imported materials for nearly a century. The administration did…

The Casa Grande City Council has unanimously voted to put four separate bond requests before voters in the November election. The four requests would be for projects dealing with Parks and Recreation ($37M), Public Safety and Fire Stations ($22M), Civic Building Improvements ($15M) and Roads and Transit ($51). The bonds would run from fiscal years 2023-2028. Planned projects under the bonds include 2023 ($25M): Replacing Fire Stations 501 and 502; improving McCartney Road, a new community trail, and Dave White Regional Park;2024 ($25M): Additional work on McCartney Road, Fifth Street and Peart Square, and downtown improvements;2025: City Hall Complex Improvements…