Author: BEX Staff

In 2018, DPR Construction and consultant group Site Plus studied seven successful California healthcare projects to determine what they had in common and establish a template for execution. The team has recently released an update – “Rx for a Successful Healthcare Project, Part 2” – developed from interviews that Site Plus conducted in four additional states where DPR recently completed nine significant healthcare projects. Projects reviewed include two Banner Health developments in Arizona. (Source) 

The construction industry added 84,000 net new jobs in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last six months, the industry has added 789,000 jobs, recovering 73 percent of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic. Nonresidential construction employment added 59,700 jobs on net in October. All three nonresidential subcategories experienced increases. (Source) 

Giving Back  1. The Sundt Foundation awarded grants to nine Southern Arizona nonprofits, totaling more than $25K, during its fourth quarter giving round. The Foundation awards grants each quarter to local charities that support disadvantaged children and families. Nonprofits are selected through an application process and reviewed by a committee of Sundt employee-owners.  2. Throughout October, CHASSE Building Team built and installed custom hand-washing stations at 13 elementary schools across Pima County. The project was thanks in great part to partners RG & Sons Plumbing, Ferguson Plumbing Supply and Santa Rita Landscaping, who contributed materials toward the build. Each station allows for students to wash while safely separated and has…

Sales Transactions  1. D.R. Horton Inc. paid $245.5M for 2,783 acres at the SEC of Elliot and Meridian roads, as the winning bidder in Wednesday’s Arizona State Land Department auction. D.R. Horton outbid Shea Homes and two partnerships named Stone Hill Land Partners LLC and Superstition Vista 2783 LLC.  2. Thayer Manca Residential purchased Entrada Modern Apartment Homes, a 424-unit garden-style multifamily property at 4545 N. Via Entrada, Tucson, for $65.5M. Senior Managing Director Art Wadlund and Director Clint Wadlund of Berkadia’s Tucson office represented the seller, Millburn and Company.  3. JRK Property Holdings, Inc purchased 909 West, a 408-unit, garden-style multifamily community located in South Tempe for an undisclosed amount. CBRE’s Tyler Anderson, Sean Cunningham, Asher Gunter, Matt Pesch, and Mark McFate of Phoenix Multifamily Institutional Properties represented the…

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX  Solar was the hot topic at Maricopa County’s November 5th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, as three separate solar generating facility projects were on the agenda.  Each applicant, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., Sun Streams Expansion, LLC, and Candela Renewables LLC was requesting major comprehensive plan amendments to change the land use designations in their proposed areas from Rural and/or Residential to Utilities.  The projects, otherwise known as the Maricopa Solar and Storage Project, the Sun Streams Expansion Solar Project and the Vulcan Solar Project, are all located approximately 40-50 miles west of downtown Phoenix. According to the project documents, “The region is characterized by…

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  New SBA Forms Raise Concerns  The Small Business Administration wants approval to send revised Paycheck Protection Program loan questionnaires to businesses that received more than $2M under the program. Some experts have expressed concern the forms may be used to deny loan forgiveness or as a basis for potential fraud investigations. (Source)  Economic News  Affordable Housing Rent Delinquencies Up  With the expiration of expanded unemployment benefits under the CARES Act, affordable housing developer and operator Community HousingWorks saw an increase in rent delinquencies. The organization’s pre-crisis nonpayment rate was one percent, which increased to three percent in August and five percent in September. Other affordable housing operators are reporting up to 11 percent rates…

National nonresidential construction spending fell 1.6 percent in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, monthly spending totaled $794.3B.   Among the 16 nonresidential subcategories, 13 were down on a monthly basis. Private nonresidential spending declined 1.5 percent in September, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.7 percent. (Source) 

Groundbreakings  1. On behalf of developer Merit Partners, Stevens-Leinweber Construction began a 153.7KSF tenant improvement at 7506 W. Lincoln St., Tolleson, for MiTek. SLC will customize the facility with 4.2KSF of Class A office space, new state-of-the-art dock loading packages, a custom overhead door to manage oversized inventory, and 3,600 amps of additional power. MiTek is expected to move in February 2021.  2. Robert Porter Construction Co., Inc. started construction on the 16KSF Sun City Grand Clubhouse building at Grand and 103rd Avenue for Recreation Centers of Sun City. This will be the second activity building at the existing Grand Center facility. CCBG Architects is the design firm and the project is expected to be complete in Fall 2021.  3.…

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX  The City of Maricopa is looking to sell or lease a total of 24.17 acres of developable land in order to create more jobs within specific areas.  The city recently issued three Invitations to bid for interested developers for the sale or lease of three separate properties, including:  2.64 acres located between north Maricopa County Road and North John Wayne Parkway, north of Honeycutt Avenue;   10.19 acres located at the SEC of west Edison Road and north Estrella Parkway;   And 11.34 acres located on the north side of west State Route 238 between north White Road and north John Wayne…

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  New Aid Announced as Eviction Ban Ends  Just as Arizona’s moratorium on tenant evictions ends, Gov. Doug Ducey’s office has announced $7M in new aid for renters and landlords. The Rental Property Owner Preservation Fund will get $5M, and the Arizona Department of Housing’s Rental Eviction Prevention Fund will receive $2M. (Source)  Shuttered Somerton Businesses Get Nearly $100K  Twenty-nine Somerton small businesses that were temporarily closed as part of Arizona’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 have received a total of $96K in federal grants provided by the CARES Act to help them weather the fallout. (Source)  Expert Duo Calls SBA ‘Antiquated’   Former U.S. Agency for International Development Acting Director Agnes Dasewicz and her colleague, investor and economic development expert…