JPMorgan Chase building big new campus, landing 4,000 jobs in Tempe. How big? Sixty-seven acres — at Elliot and the Loop 101. And PBJ reports that the “bank will be shifting a number of jobs from the Chase Tower in downtown Phoenix to the new Tempe campus.” Click through for Chase’s statement about the project and its commitment to the “metro Phoenix market. http://bit.ly/2opWwIz
Fry’s in Downtown Phoenix breaking ground in April. “RED Development will break ground on Block 23, which is located at First and Washington Streets, on April 13. The project includes Fry’s [‘the area’s first grocery store’], 200,000 square feet of creative office space, 330 apartment units and retail space.” AZRE. http://bit.ly/2oifHqp
ANOTHER GROUNDBREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT – Rancho Mercado breaks ground April 4 in Surprise. “The… master plan is a 1,300 acre PAD… designed to offer a broad range of housing types including single family and multi-family residential, retail/commercial services, employment, parks, schools and an open space network… 4,703 dwelling units are proposed with a projected population of more than 12,000 residents…. William Lyon Homes has scheduled the ground breaking… at 10 a.m.” And you should be able to make out the exact location of Rancho Mercado using the vicinity map at YourWestValley — just as long as you ZOOM IN. http://bit.ly/2oHkMFs
Realtor outcry prompts swift pull of Scottsdale sign ordinance amendment. According to Scottsdale Independent, the City Council received “500 emails about the ordinance.” The concerns? “Some of the proposed regulations to this new category of post and panel signs could directly harm Realtors, such as limiting how often they can change a sign, location and duration.” http://bit.ly/2nEtGUL
In pursuit of understanding the true cost of Scottsdale infrastructure needs. The Capital Improvement Plan Subcommittee has ”had three public meetings to date with department heads to better understand the mentality of addressing the needs and wants of the municipal entity.” And though there aren’t enough funds to “pay for hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure needs,” Scottsdale Independent reports that the “council subcommittee is leaving no fiscal stone unturned.” http://bit.ly/2nrmFFR
LINES OF LEAST RESISTANCE – SRP’s controversial Chandler power lines get new route. “[T]he proposed above-ground-lines have drawn the ire of residents concerned about property values and potential health and safety risks…. The newly proposed route requires 5-6 miles of lines, compared to the original plan for 17 miles…” KEY QUOTE: “[N]o route… will please everyone…” Reactions from officials and residents along with a map of the proposed Price Corridor power-line route, at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2oHASPu
Apartment market slumps as supply surges. “Rents in the first quarter were lower or flat in 28 of the 79 metropolitan areas tracked by Reis Inc… That was up from 14 markets with lower or flat rents in the fourth quarter…. The country’s two priciest markets were particularly sluggish.” Says one economist: “To some degree it looks like operators have panicked in the Bay Area and New York…” More, including average rents and occupancy rates nationwide, in The Wall Street Journal. http://bit.ly/2ohZjWR
Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2oq0HnQ
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
‘A good thing’: Sen. Jeff Flake defends blocking Internet privacy rule. “Flake [says] that claims of Congress gutting privacy protections are overblown… He also said some online customers like targeted advertising.” And Flake told the Arizona Republic that turning back the rule is “a good thing.” (After which he likely was inundated with internet ads trying to get him to purchase the 1989 hit “Good Thing” by the Fine Young Cannibals.) More from Flake along with a sampling of the “furor” he and his fellow Repubs are facing from privacy advocates, here: http://bit.ly/2opXnZM
A look at what’s driving (or stunting) income growth in the states. “[M]ost Western states recorded personal income growth rates of at least 4.5 percent for 2016, according to newly released annual estimates from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis… Other parts of the county… didn’t experience the same kind of growth.” Find out where and see how Arizona measures up, at Governing. http://bit.ly/2nIak2K
Maricopa County report says 40,000 voter registration forms found sitting in boxes. County Recorder Adrian Fontes explains: “[I]f a voter registration form did not comply with Prop. 200 — and it did not show proof of citizenship — it went into a box after a letter went out saying, ‘We need more information.” KTAR also reports that “168 votes in the Nov. 8 general election were counted twice”; however, it “doesn’t appear the issue affected any election results,” according to candidates who squeaked out victories. (Kidding. Recorder Fontes said that.) More here: http://bit.ly/2nnsof7
Politically loyal staffers get sharp pay increases under former House speaker. Arizona Capitol Times looks into what was supposed to be then-House Speaker David Gowan’s “gesture of appreciation” — a 3 percent salary increase — for every employee of the House of Representatives, but what turned out to be a “handful of staffers” receiving “much bigger raises.” http://bit.ly/2ojROiU
Former Pinal official calls county ‘ground zero’ for misuse of RICO funds. How should “law enforcement agencies spend and report assets seized from criminals”? Pinal Central examines HB 2477, a bill that former Pinal County Supervisor Cheryl Chase says is a “‘critical step’ to adding more oversight on how seized criminal assets, also known as RICO funds, are spent.” http://bit.ly/2oifFyY
Newsmaker BONUS: Build solar ‘wall’ in Mexico, sell power to customers in U.S. “Mexican poet Homero Aridjis wants to build a solar barrier between his country and the United States — and have the United States pay for it by selling electricity to customers in border cities. Aridjis, an internationally known poet, novelist and environmental leader, said he has received overwhelming support for the Mexican-built barrier.” He talks about his idea with Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2nIgnEp
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