The Dealmaker: 12/08/2016

BYE BYE BIRDIES? Phoenician resort could cut golf course for hundreds of houses, condos. “Phoenix will consider a rezoning of the land to allow for the development of 382 new houses, townhomes, condos and resort casitas… 27 holes of golf would be pared down to 18 to make space… Some neighbors, however, are raising concerns about the effects of hundreds of new residents in the area.” More in AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2goNk5p

2 apartment towers going up next to Arizona State University in Tempe.The “yet to be named” Opus Group development “on the northwestern corner of University and Forest… will include 20-story and 12-story buildings with a total of 407 apartments [and]… 31,000 square feet of space for retail and restaurants.” With AZCentral ’s Catherine Reagor reporting that among the amenities will be a “bike workroom with storage for more than 450 bikes,” perhaps the place should be called something like “The Spokes,” “The Sprockets,” “Derailleur Towers,” “Road Rash Village,” or “The Face Plant Vistas.” http://bit.ly/2ha7cKu

Movie screen manufacturer proposes location in Pinal. “Severtson Screens currently leases three facilities in Mesa to produce its screens for movie giants like AMC, Regal Cinemas, Harkins Theatres and others but hopes to… consolidate the three buildings into one… San Tan Valley site… on the southwest corner of Airport Drive and Schnepf Road…. The Board of Supervisors has approved a comprehensive plan change that would allow [the] manufacturer to take over [the] facility.” But according to this Pinal Central report, some “neighbors of the San Tan Valley site” would rather see Severtson get screened out. Find out why —> http://bit.ly/2hp2gy2

New Casa Grande mayor outlines ‘open for business’ agenda. Presiding over his very first city council meeting Monday night, Casa Grande’s new mayor, Craig McFarland, laid out “big plans he wants to initiate during his first term.” As Pinal Central’s Kevin Reagan reports, the mayor’s plans — and his ‘open for business’ mindset” — revolve around  “economic development, education and marketing.” http://bit.ly/2hkhXue

2017 Economic Outlook: Optimism in the air for Tucson. Whether it’s jobs, the stock market, retail development or housing, “experts say there are reasons to be optimistic about the direction of the local economy” — although, there are a few exceptions when it comes to housing. According to this Inside Tucson Businessreport, causes for this less-than-optimistic outlook in housing revolve around labor shortages, lack of developable land, and cautious lenders. http://bit.ly/2gfbH28

[OPINION] The cure for costly housing Is more costly housing.Bloomberg financial columnist Noah Smith argues that “[a]llowing more market-rate housing in [rent-controlled cities like San Francisco] is a good way to bring down the cost of living, not just for high earners, but for the poor and working class as well.” http://bit.ly/2gG7w0f

[OPINION] 5 things to watch for in next week’s Fed meeting. Bloombergeconomic columnist Mohamed A. El-Erian takes a whack at what’s “likely to emerge from the statement by the Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee and the ensuing press conference by Fed Chair Janet Yellen” on December 14.
http://bit.ly/2hp44ai