The Dealmaker: 10/26/2016

Notre Dame Prep suspends head coach Mark Nolan. [Note: Rose Law Group represents parents asking Notre Dame Preparatory to terminate the coach and President, appeal the AIA decision and allow Notre Dame to participate in the playoffs.] AZCentral: “Nolan is suspended for Friday’s final regular-season game… Last week, the AIA executive board placed the football program on probation, banning it from the playoffs, because of a recruiting violation and for violating an off season conditioning program… Jordan Rose: “It’s shocking… The kids really shouldn’t be punished for the bad acts of adults…. The diocese should not reward cheaters. It’s egregious the diocese has not appealed this, to employ adults who are found cheating.”… If the AIA does not receive an appeal… by Thursday’s deadline, the Saints will be left out of the… playoffs.” http://bit.ly/2fgis7R

CASH/FLOW ISSUES – Cost, terrain challenge Interstate 17 expansion, Arizona officials say. AZCentral: “Expanding the roadway between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point is one potential solution [to “accidents, closures, and gridlock’], but adding lanes is costly, and the area’s topography presents a challenge… [And] even studies… to see how [to] relieve congestion… can be very expensive.” So until enough funding comes through to make expansion a reality, what will help keep traffic flowing smoothly”? Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Ryan Harding offers some thoughts.  (And after reading his suggestions, you may be tempted to start referring to him as “Captain Obvious.”) http://bit.ly/2dL3q4v

Iconic Bashas’ store won’t be part of proposed midtown Phoenix development. “The grocery-store chain will not be part of a proposed redevelopment of an aging, half-empty shopping center [at the NW corner of Seventh Avenue and Osborn]… A proposed plan calls for developer Trammell Crow to build apartments with retail and restaurants on the… property.” AZCentral also reports that Bashas’ “iconic neon sign“ will not be a part of the redevelopment; however, upon close examination of the rendering, it appears as if the familiar vertical pylon which holds the sign, WILL be incorporated. Check it out —> http://bit.ly/2eRWkxq

Will Sky Harbor’s Terminal 3 become the new Terminal 4? Phoenix Business Journal’s Steve Totten seems to thinks so. He reports that after a “$150 million… remodel…. [that adds] new retailers and restaurants…. [not to mention ‘a garden and dog park, improved ticket counters, a new consolidated security checkpoint…’], it wouldn’t be far off to assume that… passenger activity in Terminals 3 and 4 [‘Sky Harbor’s golden boy’] is going to become a bit more level.” Totten’s full report along with slideshow, here: http://bit.ly/2evW3SG

McCarthy breaks ground on $120M research building on ASU Tempe campus. “Biodesign C will house the world’s first compact X-ray laser, attracting top-line researchers nationwide who want to advance their discoveries at ASU. The [188,000-square-foot, five story, ‘green-bond funded’] facility will be home to upwards of 80 lead researchers and 300 support staff…” Read more about it and check out an image of the funky looking facility, in Phoenix Business Journal. http://bit.ly/2fgjJeN

Falcon Field tech center could replace citrus groves in Mesa. “A cutting-edge business park… could soon occupy a 63-acre swath of land at Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport, bringing new, high-wage jobs… ‘We’re trying to position that property for its highest and best use,’ says Mesa economic-development Director Bill Jabjiniak.” But what’s it going to take to “appease the neighbors” who are a little sour “about the idea of a bustling development replacing quiet citrus groves”? Find out atAZCentral. http://bit.ly/2f7XeK0

Retail proposed for Gilbert ‘City Gate.’ “Barclay Group has submitted initial plans… for 171KSF of retail and commercial building space on 20.47 acres at the SEC of Higley and Baseline…The City Gate Marketplace will feature a 123KSF anchor grocery store, five retail shops ranging from 4,800-12.300SF, two restaurants and a fuel center with canopy.” Further details — including the “design theme” and the planning commission’s staff reaction to it — at AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2evVLuY

County approves retail rezoning near Gilbert AZBEX reports that “[t]he initial concept [from developer, Arrow — T Land and Cattle Company] calls for an 11KSF retail building and a 4KSF restaurant space with a drive-thru… on 2.4 acres near the NEC of Higley Road and Loop 202…” For  property owner info and a birds-eye view of this “currently un-annexed portion of Gilbert,” click it —> http://bit.ly/2eGh6Cm

Central Arizona Project asks to refinance its debt. Arizona Daily Star: “The CAP wants its debt refinanced at a lower interest rate [who doesn’t!?] and a delayed payback schedule [again, who doesn’t!?] because one of its key revenue sources — electric power revenue from the Navajo Generation Station — has crashed in recent years along with energy prices. Project officials are confident the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will grant their request, but if not CAP may have to charge more to its urban and industrial customers…” http://bit.ly/2dJ3eYk

Price appreciation staying strong. Mortgage News Daily’s Jann Swanson looks at the recent index “data released… by both the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller.” Click through for the latest figures from both reports; and find out “how the housing recovery compares with the stock market recovery,” and if Phoenix was among “the cities reporting the largest annual price hikes.” (Speaking of prices, here’s our DEALMAKER “Odd Tip of the Day”: When having a yard sale to get rid things from childhood, always remember that it’s nearly impossible to price stuff like pyromania.) http://bit.ly/2fgjdh3

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2f7W5C9

Get your tickets today for the 6th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, November 5th  – http://bit.ly/2cDo7ji