Author: BEX Staff

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,…

Awards & Accolades 1. Terracon, in collaboration with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County and general contractor Rummel Construction, received the APWA Arizona Project of the Year award in the “Environment, Less Than $5M” category for the Durango Campus Landscape and Water Conservation Retrofit in Phoenix. Groundbreakings 2. Cunningham Aviation has broken ground at Falcon Field, 4906 E. Falcon Dr. in Mesa, on an expansion adding three aircraft hangar buildings and a two-story Fixed Base Operations facility. 3. Modus Development will break ground in November on Papago Village, a $60.2M Build-to-Rent community at 6200 E. Oak St. in Scottsdale.…

By BEX Staff for AZBEX The City of Goodyear issued a request for proposals in July seeking a qualified master developer to create a retail, restaurant and entertainment mixed-use area around Goodyear Ballpark. The park serves as the spring training home for the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds baseball teams, and the area has seen significant growth in the last several years. Goodyear wants to capitalize on the population increase and tourist demand with a project that will serve as a draw for 58 City-owned acres surrounding the park, including a “Retail Liner” of four retail spaces directly attached to…

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX The Opus Group has requested a development plan review for a new speculative industrial park it has proposed at 1920 W. University Dr. in Tempe. The Tempe Development Review Commission is scheduled to consider the request in its Sept. 9 meeting. Materials submitted in support of the plan refer to the project as both 1920 University and Sky Harbor Innovation Park, or S.H.I.P. The 18.8-net-acre property is currently occupied by an underutilized office park with four buildings, all of which will be demolished to make way for the new development. The site will be redeveloped…

By BEX Staff Now that revitalization efforts, including road widening and pedestrian enhancements, are finished on Tucson’s Miracle Mile leading into downtown, developers are looking to capitalize on the revitalization momentum with the area’s first new multifamily community. The Arizona Daily Star reported Sloane McFarland and partner Ridgehouse Companies are planning approximately 270 units in a new development known as Welcome Broadway on the site of a former car dealership at the SEC of East Broadway and South Euclid Avenue. In reviewing documents on file with the City of Tucson, BEX research staff found the current submittal calls for 231…

By Associated Builders and Contractors The construction industry lost 7,000 jobs in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 58,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%. Nonresidential construction employment decreased by 1,200 positions on net, with losses in two of the three subcategories. Nonresidential building lost 3,300 jobs, while nonresidential specialty trade lost 200 positions. Heavy and civil engineering added 2,300 jobs for the month. The construction unemployment rate dropped to 3.2% in August. Unemployment across all industries increased from…

Giving Back 1. The Society for Marketing Professional Services Arizona Chapter announced the 2025 Phelix Award winners, honoring excellence in A/E/C marketing, business development and leadership. Firm Awards were: Arizona Builder’s Exchange (AZBEX): Grand Phelix, Burns & McDonnell for Corporate Identity, Achen-Gardner Construction for Newsletter/Publication, Canyon State Electric for Social Media, Speedie & Associates for Advertising and KE&G Construction for Retention and Recruitment. Individual winners were: Shannon Kopp: Marketer/Business Developer of the Year; Jessica Dresang: Firm Leader of the Year; Erin O’Connor: Up and Comer of the Year, and Maisha Christian: President’s Choice. Company News 2. AVI-SPL has acquired CCS…

Sales Transactions 1. Southwest Value Partners purchased six Class A office assets totaling 1.2MSF in Phoenix from City Office REIT, Inc. for $266M. The portfolio is made up of: Block 23 at 101 E. Washington St., SanTan at 3100–3200 W. Ray Road, Papago Tech at 1600–1700 N. Desert Dr., The Quad at 6200–6390 E. Thomas Road, Camelback Square at 6991 E. Camelback Road and 5090 N. 40th St. JLL Capital Markets represented the seller. 2. An entity linked to INDUS Realty Trust purchased three industrial buildings in Tolleson from Link Logistics for $116.7M. The first industrial property comes in at…

The Queen Creek Unified School District will present a request to fund four major construction projects as part of its 2026 capital Plan. The QCUSD Governing Board approved sending requests for two new elementary schools and two existing school expansions to the School Facilities Division for review earlier this month. Both additions are targeted for completion by 2031. The two new elementary schools are planned to open by 2029 and will serve 750 K-6 students. The District owns five vacant parcels. No specific sites have been chosen for the new schools, although all five are listed as potential locations. Crismon…