Author: BEX Staff

By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Late last week President Donald Trump issued an executive order intended to advance opportunities in education, training and program transparency for American workers. The order establishes the National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, which are tasked with solving, “the new challenges faced by American workers,” according to the White House announcement. Among other things, the Council will develop a strategy to address workforce issues, work to raise awareness about concerns such as the skills crisis and the importance of STEM education, develop a plan to recognize…

By Adrienne St. Clair and Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange EJM Development Co. is requesting a zoning change from the City of Scottsdale to build a mixed-use development that will be specifically designed and curated to help revitalize South Scottsdale. The plan, which will feature 3- and 4-story buildings, consists of a 267-unit apartment complex and 14KSF of retail space, along with common amenity areas for future residents. It is projected to be valued between $25M and $35M. The proposal requests a zoning change from the site’s current designation of highway Commercial Downtown Overlay C-3 to Planned Unit Development.…

Sales Transactions 1. Institutional Property Advisors, a division of Marcus & Millichap, closed the sale of Willow Creek, a 402-unit value-add multifamily asset in Tempe. The property sold for $60.5M. IPA’s Cliff David and Steve Gebing represented the seller, Acacia Capital, and procured the buyer, JB Partners. 2. D.R. Horton successfully bid $31.35M in an Arizona State Land Department auction for 125.36 acres of State Trust Land in Peoria that is zoned for residential use. It was the only bid in the auction, with the minimum allowable bid. That figure is the appraised value of the subject parcel, at the SWC…

By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed steady from May to June at 4.7 percent, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The national rate rose from 3.8 percent to 4.0. Twelve months ago, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.8 percent, and the national was at 4.3. The state had a net loss of 44,900 non-farm jobs over the month. Government shed the most, losing 40,100. Seven of the 11 sectors tracked showed gains. Construction in Arizona was up 4,500. The Construction sector features three…

By Jane Stewart for Arizona Builder’s Exchange A new mixed-use, multi-family residential community is being proposed at the NEC of 90th Street and San Victor Drive in Scottsdale. Wood Partners has made a non-major General Plan Amendment and Rezoning request for the 3.16-acre infill site, which is currently occupied by a partially vacant office building. Land attorneys Berry Riddle, LLC is representing Wood Partners who is making the request for the amendment “from Office to Mixed-Use Neighborhoods and an amendment to the McCormick Ranch Planned Community District to rezone [the] site from Commercial Office, Planned Community District (C-O PCD) to…

By Adrienne St. Clair for Arizona Builder’s Exchange JLB Partners has submitted a rezoning approval request to the City of Scottsdale to build a new community that will include both residential units and office space on McDowell Road in southern Scottsdale. The community, called “The McDowell,” will be built on the 12.3 gross acres (11.6 net acres) that are currently occupied by Chapman Scottsdale Autoplex. The dealership plans to relocate by this October. JLB Partners plan for approximately 371 residential units and 8KSF of flexible office space in the new mixed-use neighborhood, valued between $60M and $75M. The project, which…

Giving Back 1. Arizona Builders Alliance and Cancer Support Community Arizona worked with Herberger Theater Center July 15 to offer an evening with Mary Poppins for foster children and families affected by cancer. Awards & Accolades 2. The Ranking Arizona list of Top 10 Shopping Centers has been announced. Scottsdale Fashion Square topped the list. 3. AZRE has released its list of The Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2018. Winners will be honored at a reception at The Camby on Aug. 23. Boards & Commissions 4. The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona, Inc. has announced its 2018-2019 Board of Directors.…

Groundbreakings 1. LGE Design Build broke ground on HQ2, its new headquarters, July 19. The $4M project, designed by LGE Principal Architect Ben McRae, will feature mid-century modern design that uses the same building systems as LGE client projects. Blended with a state-of-the-art interior that features a warm, industrial aesthetic in an open floor plan concept, the single-story, 22KSF building will be located at 1200 N. 52nd St. The project is to be complete in the second quarter of 2019. 2. (WIP Casino del Sol, Arizona Daily Star) Work officially got underway July 12 on Casino Del Sol’s newest hotel. The 151-room…

By Tasha Anderson for Arizona Builder’s Exchange More than 100 people gathered at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Tempe on Thursday, July 12 for what was by far the most popular AZBEX Leading Market Series topic: the public K12 market. While most LMS events so far have covered projects that are upcoming/in the works and how to get work within the market, this particular topic was more focused on the unexpected K12 procurement rule change expected to go into effect by July 1, 2019. The rule was added to an amendment of the recent education reconciliation bill and stated that as…

By Adrienne St. Clair for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Banner Health has submitted a zoning change and plan approval to build a physical rehabilitation hospital just east of the southeast corner of 7th and Willetta streets in Phoenix. The project, called Banner Health Acute Inpatient Rehab Hospital, will “improve site conditions and expand medical facilities in the area,” according to the proposal. The development will be part of the Banner University Medical Center campus on McDowell Road in Phoenix. The new three story, 71KSF building will be built on 2.5 acres and will have 60 beds. The project is valued between…