Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX In a Jan. 21 Casa Grande City Council study session, officials with Arizona Water Company presented plans to expand the firm’s services east of Interstate 10 to include wastewater treatment. Several large residential and potential commercial or industrial developments in the area have created a need to create wastewater plants to serve demand, AWC officials said. AWC is Casa Grande’s private water provider. Until now it has not been involved in wastewater treatment. Expanding into water recycling, however, is a major component of the company’s planning to address service capacity, as are measures to reduce…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Arizona Construction sector dropped 3,700 jobs in December, making it the sector with the second greatest losses for the month. Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.8%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The November rate was 3.7%. The national unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, down from 4.2%. In December 2023, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was 3.7%. Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 300 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 5,600…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Worker Power—the Arizona political arm of the California-based Unite Here Local 11 labor union—is maintaining its efforts to derail the $1B-plus VAI Resort development in Glendale. Its latest campaign will result in a special election May 20 for a pair of ballot measures on the project’s land use. The VAI Resort master plan includes multiple components already under construction. With its opening targeted for this year, the development will include 1,100 hotel rooms in four towers, more than a dozen restaurants and retail spaces, and an amphitheater. The resort is expected to become Arizona’s largest,…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX Repair costs for the Tucson Unified School District headquarters have ballooned to more than double the original estimates. The building is located at 220 W. Sixth St., east of North Main Avenue. Renovations were originally estimated at $3.3M, now they sit at $7.2M. TUSD purchased the building from the University of Arizona. The building used to be home to Tucson Electric Power. The District stated it was not aware of the amount of money needed to renovate the property. A Tucson news outlet reported that proposed renovations include HVAC upgrades, floor replacement and ADA accommodation.…

Giving Back 1. The 4×5 Suicide Prevention Program is hosting a charity golf tournament on April 17 to raise funds to end construction suicides in Arizona. The event will be held at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, and all proceeds will directly support the program’s efforts to train construction professionals in Mental Health First Aid, a technique that equips workers to engage and provide life-saving resources to their peers facing mental health challenges. Boards & Commissions 2. Horizon Strategies CEO and former Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels is the new chair of the Arizona State Transportation Board, which is tasked…

Sales Transaction 1. Goodman Real Estate purchased Spire Deer Valley at 24100 N. 19th Ave. in Phoenix for $131.1M. The property spans 18 acres just north of the NWC of 19th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road. An entity tracing to Rockpoint sold the 388-unit multifamily complex. 2. EQT Exeter Property purchased Park Lucero East for $99.6M. The three industrial buildings are located at 410-450 Germann Road in Gilbert. The buildings combine for 562.9KSF across a 36.7-acre site. Artis Real Estate Investment Trust was the seller. 3. Alden Street Capital Management sold The Cottages at Tucson at 1000 E. 22nd St.…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX – BEXclusive The Richman Group of Arizona is planning an 86-unit affordable senior housing development on 1.79 acres at the SWC of 41st Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix. The developer is requesting a rezoning from Planned Shopping Center to Planned Unit Development to enable the construction of TRG 41st Avenue on what the project narrative describes as “a vacant underutilized infill property.” According to the narrative, “The Applicant proposes to develop the Property into a four-story (48-feet), 86-unit affordable multifamily community for senior residents with qualifying incomes. A Planned Unit Development is a far…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX (NOT BEXclusive) A long sought after, much delayed mixed-use project once envisioned for a multi-use campus in Maricopa with a new hospital, luxury condos and a hotel almost got a third shot at life this week. Almost. This would have been the third attempt to create a facility at Copper Sky Medical Campus near State Route 347 and Bowlin Road. The first agreements with former prospective developer S3 Biotech fell through because the company repeatedly missed development deadlines, ultimately leading to the City canceling the plan and trespassing S3 employees from the site. The City…

The Coconino National Forest has published its final environmental assessment for its APS McGuireville to Oak Creek 69kV Transmission Line Project. The project’s intent is to bolster the power grid in the Red Rock Ranger District. The 13.7-mile transmission line will be constructed between McGuireville and Oak Creek. The line will connect to existing lines and create a looped system. A 45-day public objection period has opened for the project. The new transmission line will improve the reliability and resiliency of the system. It will open the opportunity to divert some of the power supply if a section of the…

By Salt River Project To help Arizona’s small and diverse businesses scale their operations and secure high-value contracts, Salt River Project and Arizona State University’s J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute are hosting the Small Business Academy powered by SRP, a six-week program launching on Jan. 28 with workshops held every Tuesday evening. The program will culminate with a final pitch competition on March 4. The Academy will cover key topics, such as managing finances, meeting insurance requirements, boosting cybersecurity, scaling operations and perfecting a pitch. Workshops will be held at the SRP Heritage Center in Tempe and Skysong…