The Dealmaker: 6/12/2017

Downtown Phoenix Hyatt hotel sells for $107 million. “Los Angeles-based DiNapoli Capital Partners” has sold the hotel to “an investor group led by Chicago-based Gem Realty,” which has “owned other U.S. hotels, including the Sofitel in Los Angeles and the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando.” AZCentral has further info on the Hyatt deal — and would likely have quite a bit more had Gem Realty returned Catherine Reagor and Dawn Gilbertson’s “phone calls.” http://bit.ly/2sUIPn2

Mesa, developer moving ahead on downtown project. “Under the proposed plan, 3W [Management] will extensively redevelop 2.75 acres near Mesa Drive and Main Street, east of Benedictine University, into a mixed-use commercial/retail, student housing, row home and luxury apartment development.” Details on “3W’s minimum requirements for the project” at AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2ro94Aw

Elliot Road corridor shines spotlight on Mesa’s tech hopes. “While… much of the Elliot Road Technology Corridor still looks more like the Sonoran Desert than the Silicon Desert… [it] is beginning to attract an array of tech companies to occupy the stretch of land between Signal Butte and Hawes.” And the presence of “Apple’s global operations command center” is one of the big reasons why. East Valley Tribune. http://bit.ly/2rT4Vbq

Groups threaten to sue for public vote on Desert Discovery Center in Scottsdale. “The Desert Discovery Center is supported by some as a place to educate residents and visitors on the Sonoran Desert. Among critics’ concerns are allowing the development in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve… [In May,] NoDDC and Protect Our Preserve… filed a notice of claim… to push for a public vote on the center.” What do council members think about that? At AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2rnKcZH

Battle revving up over motor developments. (Disclosure: Rose Law group represents Apex Motor Sports.) AZBEX’s Roland Murphy brings us up to date on the latest developments concerning APEX Motor Sports Club and its fight against “one group [that] wants to throw a wrench” into APEX’s efforts to bring an “automotive country club” to Pinal County. http://bit.ly/2rSEl1W

Welcome to Wall Street’s housing market. “Investment banks, private-equity firms and hedge funds are turning to a variety of financial vehicles and building the technology to become the largest buyers of most Americans’ biggest asset… And as ‘iBuyers,’ they could set the prices and terms under which homebuyers and sellers transact…” Inman looks at “how it might work.” –> http://bit.ly/2sUDah2

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2sUpLW1

U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords: Bravery and guts take to the sea. “Hundreds waited in line for as long as three hours to take a public tour of the USS Gabrielle Giffords, which [was] in Galveston this [past] weekend for its commissioning ceremony. The warship is the 13th to be named after a person.” In a piece commemorating the event, Senior Reporter/Writer Phil Riske shares his thoughts on the never-to-be-underestimated “Gabby Giffords” in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2slfTI9

FC Barcelona soccer bringing U.S. academy to Casa Grande. “The Barca Academy is coming from the club and Grande Sports World, a residential academy located in Casa Grande, and will take place at their facilities. The program will be taking youth players from the ages of 12 to 19 and compete in the highest division of the US Soccer Development Academy’s youth football categories.” KTAR. http://bit.ly/2sUHsVs 

Valley cities among those with top job gains over the past year. “Governing compiled the latest federal jobs data for all metro areas with workforces of at least 100,000… In all, 33 of the 236 metro areas recorded year-over-year increases exceeding 3 percent.” http://bit.ly/2rSMMKO

Apple CEO Cook warns of social media perils in university speech. On Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed MIT grads, telling them that while the “internet has enabled so much and empowered so many” it can “also be a place where basic rules of decency are suspended and pettiness and negativity thrive.” Did Cook’s message sink in? Or did it mostly fall on deaf ears amongst a sea of black squares, a result of capped heads buried in devices?  Watch the clip at Bloomberg. http://bit.ly/2ro2GJk