Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX A new residential and commercial master plan is set to add to the burgeoning development in the area of I-17 and Loop 303. Property owner Britmet Ventures LLC and developer Blueprint Capital have submitted a request to the City of Phoenix to rezone 40.04 acres at the NEC of Sonoran Desert Drive and the 29th Avenue alignment in the far north of the city. If approved and built as planned, the project will produce 360 traditional apartments on the northwest portion of the site, 259 Build-to-Rent townhomes on the eastern half, and 26KSF of commercial…

Thompson Thrift Retail Group is seeking a rezone for 24 acres in Glendale to allow an $85M mixed-use project featuring 234 apartments, a four-story hotel, storage, a car wash, restaurants and a convenience store at the SEC of Northern and 99th avenues. The site for the Loop 101 and Northern Avenue project is in the process of being annexed into the city. Thompson plans to close on the site this month, which it is purchasing from Old Scottsville LLC. Possible amenities for the three-building multifamily component includes covered parking, detached garages, a pool, barbeque and lounge areas. SPS+ Architects LLP…

Officials in Casa Grande have announced kitchen and bath equipment manufacturer Kohler Co. will build a new 1MSF manufacturing facility in the city’s industrial corridor. Known as “Project Buckshot” while negotiations were ongoing, the development will be located south of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and will take approximately 18 months to complete once construction begins. Casa Grande City Council is expected to approve the development agreement this week. (Source)

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board has approved a request to rezone 155 acres near Sossaman and Pecos roads to enable development of the 2.5MSF Unbound Gateway project. According to the narrative provided by Unbound Development, the project includes large distribution, warehouse and manufacturing facilities in keeping with Mesa’s long-held industrial vision for the area. Union Pacific Railroad opposed the requested rezone, claiming it intends to create a $100M rail line extension in the area. Railroad officials said Unbound Gateway lacks the necessary rail rights of way for the extension. The Pecos Industrial Rail Access and Train Extension project, would…

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and other City leaders recently highlighted progress in economic development, transportation and other areas during the State of the City address. Woods acknowledged Tempe, like other cities, faces challenges on the housing and rent fronts, but praised the City’s initiatives to improve affordability. He took special steps to highlight Tempe’s “Hometown for All” initiative, which has so far raised $6M to acquire sites, remediate City-owned properties and partner with developers to create new housing. He also praised the City’s combined historic preservation and economic development efforts, pointing out the particular challenges in rehabilitating the Hayden House…

Casa Grande City Council recently approved three zone changes in the hopes of increasing the city’s affordable housing. Council approved two changes switching the planned area developments for Carlton Commons to add 245 and 222 lots. The size of the neighborhoods will remain unchanged. Senate Bill 1274, passed earlier this year, permits the addition of lots to a subdivision provided the additions to not increase water demand. Planners were able to request the adjustments due to water use efficiency upgrades. The third zone change allows the creation of the Hancock Cottonwood Build-to-Rent community. Planners recommended the change to Council, saying…

Flagstaff City Council has begun discussions on a possible November 2022 bond election that would fund municipal projects under a secondary property tax. Council identified project needs earlier this year, and a citizens committee will begin exploring bond options next month. Key items from Council’s infrastructure retreat in September included funding for housing, climate actions and an Alternate Response Care Center. Specific potential projects discussed in this month’s meeting include: A pedestrian underpass from Florence Street to Walnut Street, A north-south Flagstaff Urban Trails System, The Southside Community Civic Space, and Flood control in the Museum Fire Flood area. Council…

By Associated Builders and Contractors The construction industry added 44,000 jobs on net in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered 963,000, or 86.5%, of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 33,000 positions on net, with all three subcategories showing gains for the month. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors and heavy and civil engineering added 19,300 and 12,100 jobs, respectively, while nonresidential building employment rose by 1,600 positions. The construction unemployment rate decreased to 4.0% in October.…

Awards & Accolades 1. U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recognized Withey Morris PLC, a prominent Arizona land use and real estate law firm, in its 2022 edition of Best Law Firms. Firms receive recognition for “professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers,” according to U.S. News-Best Lawyers. 2. Rebecca Stenholm, director of public affairs at EPCOR USA, has been awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by the American Water Works Association. 3. Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission Member John Ruggles has been named a “Distinguished Citizen Planner” by the American Planning Association’s Arizona…

Sales Transactions 1. Decron Properties Corp. has paid $125.5M for Avery on the Green, a 324-unit property in Chandler. The purchase is the company’s fourth in the Valley in the past six months. 2. Gurney’s Resorts, BB Hotels, Metrovest Equities and BLDG MGMT have announced the $85.34M purchase of the of Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley. The seller was Robert H. Castellini. 3. ABI Multifamily has announced the $41.6M sale of Westover Parc Apartments, a 160-unit multifamily apartment community at 6515 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. ABI’s Institutional Apartment Group – Alon Shnitzer, Rue Bax, Eddie Chang, and Doug Lazovick…