NOPHO PRICES HEAD NORPH – High demand continues upward pressure on home prices. “Home prices across the country continued a long upward trend, especially in the western states, as low inventories of existing homes led to quick sales in July… The story is similar locally. The exclusive monthly Real Estate Watch analysis by In&Out Magazine and North Phoenix News… finds inventory in July tightened… [and] prices were up in four of the five NoPho zones…” –> http://bit.ly/2wFl7jM
Are days numbered for historic downtown Tempe home? “Today, just a handful of the dozens of 19th-century homes that once dotted the town center are all that remain to convey Tempe’s early history. Each has its own special story to tell. Like the Harrington-Birchett House.” In this piece for AZCentral, historian Jay Mark looks at the history of this Victorian-cottage-turned-stucco-covered-Tudor — and its “uncertain future.” http://bit.ly/2gd6LAm
Dispute develops in Fountain Hills over Park Place fees. “Development fees totaling $417,294 due to the town from N-Shea Group for the Park Place [mixed-use] development on the Avenue of the Fountains are long past due.” Letters have been sent, a construction shutdown has been considered, and deadlines for payment have come and gone as N-Shea Group President Bart Shea “does not believe he owes the fees.” Read about the Park Place standoff in The Fountain Hills Times. http://bit.ly/2wbmYK6
[SLIDESHOW] What you get for $2.85 million. Nice shot of Camelback Mountain in this New York Times slideshow of a “minimalist home in Paradise Valley.” Also featured: A “renovated early 20th-century house in New Orleans, and a Georgian-style home in Charlottesville.” http://bit.ly/2w4IzWo
Developer, Havasu economic leaders join discussion on The Villas project. “The Villas [is] a residential community adjacent to the lavish community of Havasu Foothills… Officials from the Lake Havasu City Partnership for Economic Development on Wednesday met to discuss [the] housing development with representatives from Janecek Homes.” And based on this report in Havasu News, people are pretty psyched up about it. http://bit.ly/2ix2fgV
[OPINION] Building code deprives citizens of their rights. “In this Arizona Republic “My Turn” piece, author and mechanical engineer Roy Otterbein rails against the 2012 International Energy code which “has the requirement that a house be designed to be no cooler than 75 degrees.” Otterbein sees “this mandate as a violation of a fundamental human right — the right to build your own house to your liking, as long as it’s safe and energy- efficient.” http://bit.ly/2vdRUMH
Number of single-family homes built-for-rent decreases. “[O]ver the last four quarters the number of single-family homes built-for-rent decreased to 28,000 from 35,000 the previous four quarters,” See what NAHB’s Chief Economist Robert Dietz has to say about the downturn in Builder. http://bit.ly/2wb99LX
Toll’s average price falls as company aims for millennials. “Reuters staffers Arunima Banerjee and Yashaswini Swamynathan report on this decline for Toll Brothers, which this year introduced a range of homes aimed at millennials that has prices starting from $300,000.” To access the Reuters report, tap to Builder. http://bit.ly/2wvwBWD
MANAGING ‘NET’ LOSSES – Glendale losing less on Gila River Arena, but what if Coyotes leave? “Gila River Arena posted one of its best seasons financially since 2010, but the city still saw a net loss of $4 million. That’s a sizable improvement from a net loss of just under $10 million in fiscal 2015 and a net loss of $22.8 million in fiscal 2011.” As for the Coyotes, AZCentral reports “the city hasn’t developed a contingency plan,” but should such a loss occur, Glendale “would likely pursue more non-hockey events.” (At that point, would there be any other option?) http://bit.ly/2vd4ewM
Glendale part of group bidding on World Cup. “A joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup to North America has added Glendale to a list of possible host cities for one or more games… Host countries are required to have stadiums [✔️] and infrastructure requirements [✔️]; principles of sustainable event management [✔️], human rights and environmental protection [✔️]; and details on aspects, such as governmental support [✔️], among other things required that have yet to be finalized.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Glendale Star. http://bit.ly/2xzCMpG
ATTENTION (DWINDLING) K-MART SHOPPERS! – Sears lists Kmart in Mesa in latest round of store closures. “The last Kmart in Mesa [near U.S. 60 and Power Road] will be among the 28 stores going out of business in the next few months, parent company Sears announced Thursday.” KTAR. http://bit.ly/2iwUVSd
Big-box stores growing in East Valley for more than retail. “Growth in the East Valley marketplace largely has been driven by grocers [‘Fry’s has been especially active’] and non-traditional users — such as entertainment venues and fitness centers — that face less online competition than traditional retailers.” CBRE vp Jami Savage: “It just goes to show us that retail isn’t dying; it is adapting.” East Valley Tribune. http://bit.ly/2xzrsK4
Attorney for freeway opponents encouraged by appeals court order. “I took the order as a very good sign.” That’s the view of Howard Shanker, “lawyer for a group trying to halt further work on the South Mountain Freeway,” on last week’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit. The court ordered the group to “identify areas… that would be subjected to blasting before a panel of judges hears oral arguments…” Meanwhile, ADOT and the FHA say ‘no damage to nearby structures will occur’ from blasting…” More in AFN. http://bit.ly/2w4ZdFr
[VIDEO] 20 Cities in 20 Days: Casa Grande. This installment features a chat with Casa Grande economic development manager Richard Wilkie on the city’s “booming business,” and a stop at “the Grande Sports World… to discuss the Barca Soccer Academy.” azfamily. http://bit.ly/2gdIL09
Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day- http://bit.ly/2wN4NwG
Flake says shutting down government to get border wall a bad idea. “We don’t need a government shutdown. That never ends well.” That was Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Thursday in response to President Trump’s “threat to shut down the government to get funding for a border wall…” More from Sen. Flake at KTAR. (As for all the talk from President Trump about getting Mexico to pay for the wall, maybe he really meant New Mexico.) http://bit.ly/2wbpq3n
MONUMENTAL SHRINKAGE? – Zinke recommends keeping all national monuments, downsizing some. “Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Thursday he will not call for the removal of any national monuments but will recommend downsizing an unnamed ‘handful’ of monuments in a report to the White House… Environmental groups had feared that the review could lead to rescinding the designation of some monuments, including four in Arizona.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2xzH6Fk
Poll shows more than half of Arizonans don’t want confederate monument removed. “A new statewide survey [‘done for HighGround’] shows more than half of Arizonans don’t want to remove a monument to Confederate soldiers now located across from the Capitol.” Howard Fischer reports that “what makes the numbers surprising is that monument supporters can’t simply be written off as Trump supporters.” Check out the “surprising” poll numbers in Arizona Caption Times. http://bit.ly/2vo0Hrf
Medical pot dispensaries to start paying personal property tax, assessor announces. “Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen announced that… dispensaries, growth operations and medical marijuana card certification offices were notified… that they owe taxes on business personal property… Of the 109 medical marijuana-related businesses that were sent forms in January to file… only 11 responded by an April 1 deadline.” But Arizona Capitol Times reports that there was “no conspiracy by dispensaries to avoid paying taxes, only confusion [accompanied by uncontrollable fits of laughter?] amidst a new industry in Arizona.” http://bit.ly/2gcB36h
[COLUMN] Arizona’s water war is escalating. “Arizona is working with Nevada and California [on a] drought contingency plan, and it’s a big deal because according to current agreements, Arizona is first in line for cuts while California takes none. That’s hardly fair.” Republic columnist Joanna Allhands looks at how the “fight over how to conserve water in Lake Mead is growing and involving more people — many of whom just want the whole thing to end.” http://bit.ly/2wboTyi
[INVESTIGATION] Straight Shooters? It’s hard to discern the truth about the day Arizona seized the DES arsenal. “[S]tate troopers rolled up in their vehicles to the Arizona Department of Economic Security administration building after lunch on the day before Thanksgiving… ready to face the possibility of gunfire from the multiple armed men they were seeking… The troopers’ mission: Help Governor Doug Ducey get rid of [Tim Jeffries], the unusual man he had appointed the year before to lead the DES, and who had turned the large state agency into a media sideshow.” The story in Phoenix New Times. http://bit.ly/2w58v4k
Goose and gander: Firm charges lawmakers hourly rate to gather signatures. “HB 2404 [is] a measure… that ended the practice of paying circulators per signature for statewide ballot initiatives and referendums. The law, approved on party line votes by Republicans… does not apply to lawmakers, some of whom pay to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot every two years. That didn’t sit well with [Andrew Chaves, owner of Petition Partners], who’s now using his prerogative as a business owner to deny legislators the option to pay per signature.” Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2vvGU8Q
Phoenix City Council best represents gender balance. A New York City Council study that “compares the city council’s representation of women to other major cities in the nation” finds that “Phoenix and San Diego lead the pack.” –> http://bit.ly/2vvUM2N
Newsmaker BONUS: Alec Baldwin returned for a ‘Weekend Update’ special from ‘Saturday Night Live,’ with the cold open from the Phoenix rally. A sampling: “‘Folks, it’s never too early to campaign for 2020,’ Trump” said, wearing dark glasses because of eclipse damage. ‘Mike Pence is already doing it.’” WATCH here: http://bit.ly/2gckfw5
