The Dealmaker: 6/29/2017

In Surprise, both sides desire meetings on Mattamy. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group recently began representing Surprise Center Development Corporation and Mattamy Homes.) “Proponents of the proposed Mattamy Homes community in downtown Surprise including detached, single-family homes, and the four members of the City Council that voted the project down June 6 agree on the need to have face-to-face discussions soon.” In this report from YourWestValley, Rick West, Chairman of Carefree Partners Investments, L.L.C., which operates Surprise Center Development Corporation, says “We are not giving up on Mattamy. Mattamy is not giving up on their project,” but also adds: “We thought were on strong ground. We have no idea what the legal basis was for denial. We were shocked.” http://bit.ly/2tqjggv

312SF Parc Pinnacle industrial project breaks ground. “Dallas-based Jackson-Shaw has partnered with Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners Inc. to break ground on Parc Pinnacle, a… three-building speculative industrial project… situated on 20 acres at the [N.W.] corner of Pinnacle Peak Road and Central Avenue.” BTW, this news was quite the attention-grabber around Dealmaker HQ, with some even suggesting that the development has the potential to be honored by NAIOP should the association ever start handing out awards for Most Humungous Spec Developments of the Year. Check it out at AZRE. http://bit.ly/2u3j0SC

ANOTHER INDIAN ‘BEND’? – Scottsdale Indian Bend traffic calming idea met with Paradise Valley chagrin. “A proposal to adjust Indian Bend Road to better accommodate certain development parameters approved by the city of Scottsdale for a new shopping center coined ‘The Palmeraie’ was not well received by Paradise Valley Town Council… Vice Mayor Bien-Willner says the traffic calming proposal is closer to being set in ‘La La Land’ [and calls it] ‘a terrible idea.’” One glance at the crazy-looking route in an aerial of the proposed traffic calming adjustment at Paradise Valley Independent, and it’s hard not to share the vice mayor’s sentiments.–> http://bit.ly/2ttWnJL

MALLS MAULED – Has America built its last major mall? “Appetite for building enclosed malls of mor than 800,000 square feet has dried up. Department stores… are closing… [M]ore mall space sits idle and foot traffic wanes, hastening the march toward death… It has been three years since a major new shopping mall opened in the U.S.” The Wall Street Journal looks into whether Taubman Centers’ “862,000-square-foot Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, Florida” could be “the last of its kind.” http://bit.ly/2toAyem

Hey homebuilders, Canadian lumber tariffs could jump nearly 30%. “U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced a new proposed Canadian lumber tariff that would stack on top of the tariff announced back in April on Canadian softwood lumber imported into the U.S.” — and NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald is none too happy about it — in HousingWIre. http://bit.ly/2sVov78

How thieves can use your information after a data breach. “Not much is known about what happens to one’s personal information after it has been compromised. Recently, however, the Federal Trade Commission… released a study attempting to track the use of consumer data that has been made public. The findings were eye-opening.” By Laruen Reynolds, Rose Law Group attorney focusing her practice on Cyber Security and Dan Gauthier, law clerk — in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2t5gJ9u

Tucson utility proposes $6 million cut to energy conservation programs. “[Tucson Electric Power] is seeking a 26 percent cut from a $23 million budget for two energy conservation programs and is no longer accepting applications for the programs this year… a move an Arizona consumer-interest group said would hurt residents, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2slqwe5

City manager says farewell to Peoria, heads into retirement after 35 years of government service. “Outgoing City Manager Carl Swenson received a standing ovation at his final City Council meeting… After accepting a proclamation from the city and a brick that will be installed in the Decades Walk at Centennial Park Plaza, Mr. Swenson, visibly moved, said he was ‘pretty speechless.’ But he found his voice to thank the staff, mayor and council for ushering in the culmination of his career.” Tap through for Carl Swenson’s farewell remarks and his Q&A with Peoria Today. http://bit.ly/2sqTZPi

News media picks up a few more friends. “The 20th annual State of the First Amendment survey, out Thursday from The First Amendment Center… found 57% of Americans who participated in the survey said that the news media report with bias… The good news? The press gets a better grade today than in recent years…“ USA TODAY has highlights from the survey, including results from a question about “fake news. Pretty shocking. Let’s just say if respondents had their way, say so long to The Onion. http://bit.ly/2uoo1EK

Court says tribal agency has jurisdiction in state school labor dispute. “The ruling by a divided three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a district court that said the tribe’s jurisdiction was ‘so plainly lacking’ that exhausting the case in a tribal setting before going to state or federal court ‘would serve no purpose other than delay.’… The appeal concerns complaints about merit pay, tribal employment and a dismissal from six employees of the Window Rock Unified School District and one employee of the Pinon Unified School District.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2sqUKI8