Author: BEX Staff

By Beale Infrastructure Beale Infrastructure announced an updated project design for its proposed data center project (previously referred to as Project Blue) in Pima County. The updated design, which was developed in partnership with the Pima County Board of Supervisors, incorporates air cooling technology that utilizes a closed-loop system. The initial phase of the project is located in Pima County’s Southeast Employment and Logistics Center. (AZBEX, April 30) “Beale is focused on bringing long-term value to the region, and we are committed to continuing to partner with stakeholders to ensure that this project reflects the community’s values and priorities. We…

Groundbreakings 1. Regional Center for Border Health has broken ground on a $2.5M, 6KSF Birth Center[EH1]  at 250 S. Oak Ave. in San Luis. Built by Riedel Construction, the facility will feature three delivery suites and is scheduled to open in February 2026. 2. Acorn Montessori Charter School broke ground Sept. 8 on a new middle school building at 8556 E. Loos Dr. in Prescott Valley. JEBCO Construction is the general contractor, and Stroh Architecture Inc. is the design firm. The $800K project will add classrooms and a covered outdoor learning area. Completion is expected in spring 2026, increasing capacity…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX Coinciding with its rejection of a proposed annexation and development for Beale Infrastructure’s $1.2B Project Blue data center facility, the Tucson City Council directed staff to devise amendments to the City’s Unified Development Code to create standards and regulations for large-scale data center developments. (AZBEX, Aug. 8) The Tucson Planning Commission will meet in a study session on Sept. 17 to discuss staff’s proposals. AZBEX was the first outlet to report on the specific area development plan activity that would ultimately be revealed to be Project Blue. (AZBEX, April 30) The study session will be…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Goodyear Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of Harvard Investments’ request to rezone 1,505 acres in the Estrella area to enable a new master-planned development. The action came during the Commission’s Sept. 10 regular meeting. The Estrella area is part of its own 10,000-acre master plan and is partially built out. Most of the Estrella development consists of “single-family residential with a commercial and services core near the intersection of Estrella Parkway and Elliott Road,” according to the project narrative. Currently, development in Estrella 14, as the proposed project area is known, falls under…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX Continuing its ambitious campaign of commercial mixed-use offerings in the area, Vestar is working to place another multiservice development on 126.6 gross acres on the east side of Interstate 17 between Sonoran Desert Drive and Dove Valley Road in far north Phoenix. The proposal for Dove Valley Towne Center “proposes a commercial center with a fitness center, four hotels, and retail and restaurant pads,” according to the City of Phoenix staff report. According to the submitted site plan, the development is planned for four hotels totaling 544 rooms, an 85.9KSF fitness center operation, four anchor…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX After appearing to quietly step away from a potential lawsuit against the State of Arizona over a law that enables Axon Enterprise’s plans for a corporate headquarters and mixed-use campus and scraps a referendum drive by Scottsdale residents in the first half of last week, the Scottsdale City Council, then partially pivoted to keep the issue alive. In a special meeting Sept. 12, Council voted to authorize the interim City Attorney and outside counsel to file a notice of claim against the State over the “Axon Bill,” Senate Bill 1543. As we reported last week:…

Awards & Accolades 1. The City of Mesa earned first place in the 2025 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation in the 300,000–599,999 population category. Residents pledged to save 22 million gallons of water, 6.2M kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduce 75,975 pounds of CO₂ emissions. Kerr Center for Agriscience, a Mesa K–6 school, was also recognized with 50 pairs of Zenni sunglasses for its sustainability efforts. 2. Jackie Orcutt, Executive VP at CBRE, has been named AZCREW’s 2025 Woman ICON honoree. She has completed more than 82MSF and $2.1B in industrial transactions over the past decade. 3. Avalli Knutson,…

Sales Transactions 1. BKM Capital Partners purchased a portfolio of eight light industrial parks totaling 889.4KSF across 46 buildings in Phoenix and Tempe for $167.85M. CBRE represented the seller, an affiliate of Equus Capital Partners Ltd. The portfolio consists of: Elwood Industrial Park at 4202 E. Elwood St., Roeser Commerce Center at 3702 E. Roeser Road, Buttes Business Center at 2105–2231 S. 48th St., Expressway Corporate Center at 3015, 3101 – 3131 S. Park Dr., 3010, 3110 and 3120 S. Potter Dr., 2307 and 2315 W. Fairmont Dr., Harl Industrial Park at 7425 S. Harl Ave., Mineral Road at 1520…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Tempe Development Review Commission earlier this week recommended approval of a development plan review and planned area development overlay for a 72-unit live-work multifamily project called Minima Apartments at 5454 S. Beck Ave. Located southwest of Priest Drive and Baseline Road, the live-work community from developer Ridgeway Investments will also include 4,825SF of commercial space. Five of the seven two-story residential buildings are situated around a central amenity area, while two will stand along the eastern edge of the irregularly shaped 2.9-acre vacant parcel. The site was previously entitled in 2005 for a mixed-use…

By Associated Builders and Contractors Construction input prices increased 0.2% in August compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased 0.2% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 2.3% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 2.6% higher. Prices decreased in all three energy categories last month. Crude petroleum and natural gas prices were both down 2.8%, while unprocessed energy materials prices decreased 2.5% in August. “Construction materials prices rose modestly in August,…