Author: BEX Staff

Four land purchases over the last year in southeast Mesa suggest Project PIRATE – The Pecos Industrial Rail Access and Train Extension – rail spur may be progressing. PIRATE would connect industrial centers in far east Mesa with an existing Union Pacific line along Rittenhouse Road. Union Pacific paid $14.7M for 41 acres near Pecos and Ellsworth roads last month. In May, the railroad bought six acres near Pecos and Hawes. Late last year, Union Pacific bought approximately 30 acres in the area of Pecos and Sossaman roads. The rail company already had large holdings between Pecos and Rittenhouse. One…

By Associated Builders and Contractors Construction input prices increased 1.9% in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 1.8% for the month. Construction input prices are up 20.1% from a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 20.3% higher. On a monthly basis, input prices were down in four of 11 subcategories in June, with the largest decline registered in the softwood lumber category (-24.8%). All three energy subcategories experienced price increases, with natural gas prices rising…

By Roland Murphy and Rebekah Morris for AZBEX Spiraling inflation costs spurred, in part, by federal stimulus spending intended to boost a U.S. economy stalled by the pandemic and its after-effects is having the unintended consequence of diminishing – and for some projects, negating – the stimulus, itself. Of particular concern is the inflationary pressure those trillions of dollars have triggered – and the impacts of that inflation on long-planned and much-desired infrastructure projects. While some of the various COVID-related spending was focused on accelerating infrastructure project deployments, the hallmark of the Biden Administration’s efforts was the Infrastructure Investment and…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX A May special report from Northmarq shows the U.S. Build-to-Rent market continues to mature. The paces of building and construction are increasing; performance at existing properties is growing stronger, and there are now more than 500 BTR projects spanning more than 20 states. Completions of single-family rental homes were up 5% in 2021, and starts increased by 20%. “Renters by Choice” continue to be a key demographic, particularly after the market saw increased publicity during the pandemic and its associated drive for less-dense living accommodations. As home prices maintain historically high levels and interest rates…

Now that improvements are underway at Inland Port Arizona, three companies have plans in the works to develop projects on the 2,700-acre site. Earlier this month, the Coolidge Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed three site plan applications at IPAZ. The first plan discussed was from NRS Logistics, a petrochemical and pharmaceutical products distributor focused on semiconductor and elective vehicle production. The company has requested a site plan review and conditional use permit for on-site chemical storage. After extensive questioning and discussion, the Commission approved the requests. Crest Park Ventures has proposed a four-building, 1.5MSF speculative industrial project on 128 acres…

Crediting better-than-expected 2021 revenues, Tempe’s new budget features $120M in extra funding compared to last year. Construction and infrastructure make up 40% of total spending, which City officials say reflect Tempe’s long-term goals. Almost $400M worth of infrastructure improvements are planned, and another $61M has been set aside for projects from last year that were delayed by supply chain shortages and other issues. The $461M capital improvements total is roughly $125M more than Tempe spent on construction last year. Of that $125M, roughly $64M is carried over from last year because of delays in planned projects. Even though they do…

Giving Back 1. The Terracon Foundation announces it has awarded a $4,900 community grant to the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation. The funds will be used to support SARSEF’s Creating an Equitable AZ STEM Pipeline. Since 2018, SARSEF has won three grants totaling $12,400 from the Terracon Foundation.  Awards & Accolades 2. The National Apartment Association has announced the Arizona Multihousing Association as a 2022 NAA Excellence Awards winner. AMA won the 2022 NAA Excellence Award in the Affiliate of the Year (State/Metro-32 category). NAA’s annual Excellence Awards program recognizes outstanding performance and leadership across the rental housing industry – celebrating…

Sales Transactions 1. QTS Realty Trust has purchased a nearly 400-acre property between Bethany Home and Camelback roads west of the Loop 303 freeway for $255M. The sellers were Merit Partners, Inc. and First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. Plans for the site are unknown, but speculation points to potential industrial development, possibly a data center. 2. A subsidiary of BentallGreenOak has purchased Lakin Park Building IA along Cotton Lane near MC 85 in Goodyear for $109.2M. The seller was an entity linked to Walton Street Capital. Cushman & Wakefield’s Will Strong and Greer Oliver brokered the transaction, supported by the…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX A foursome of experts from across the industry shared their thoughts and experiences on the current state of construction costs at the June BEX Companies Leading Market Series discussion this week. Moderated remotely by BEX President and Founder Rebekah Morris, the in-person panel consisted of: Julian Anderson, president of Rider Levett BucknallChad Halmrast, director of preconstruction for TDI Industries;R.J. Radobenko, president of Global Roofing Southwest; andBlake Wells, VP of construction for LGE Design Build. After presenting her standard market history overview, Morris gave the audience and panel a snapshot into the increase in entitlement and…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Developers continue to swing for the fences around Ballpark Village in Goodyear, with three new multifamily projects totaling more than 1,000 units in the planning stages. On July 7th, HCW Development Company issued a press release announcing four new projects divided across 27.43 acres at the NEC of Estrella Parkway and Yuma Road as part of Ballpark Village’s expansion. Taken all-together, the projects will deliver 543 residential units in two complexes. These will be followed by a retail development and a hotel with a total site area of 7.73 acres. A third development totaling 535…