Fulton Homes investing $300M in new home construction in southeast Valley. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Fulton Homes.) A PBJ paywall profile on Fulton that could have very easily been headlined “How velociraptor Fulton out-Jurassic-Parked T-Rex homebuilders” — as CEO Doug Fulton discusses the number of homes his company has in the pipeline and how, with “140 employees,” it is “nimble and can move quickly enough to compete with the big publicly traded homebuilders. ‘They’re the T-Rex with big checkbooks and we’re the velociraptor running in between their legs and nipping at their heels.” Great! http://bit.ly/2HViuft
Taylor Morrison opens new homes in Sky Crossing. • Near Deer Valley Road & Black Mountain Boulevard • Two collections of new homes — Passage & Discovery • 10 floor plans • Grand opening, April 14 • Rendering and further details in the news release at AZ Business Magazine. http://bit.ly/2G6M4y7
Sneak preview: New home sales in a new ‘era of relevance.’ “A forecast into what priorities should preoccupy builders amid macro turmoil, uncertainty, and opportunity.” By John McManus, in Builder. http://bit.ly/2Gj60kM
Most expensive home sales in Phoenix. Arizona Foothills Magazine reports that its top 10 home sales this past week (3.12.18 – 3.18.18) totaled “over $22 million,” which is a DIP of $3 million from the previous week. Among home features in this installment: A hand carved limestone fireplace, a 600 ft. bonus room, and a huge hill. (Which sort of sounds like a feature one might look for if living in the Smokey Mountains: “Hey, Skeeter, how’d ya make out on the sale of yer place?” “Made a killin’, Jethro, mainly cuz them place buyers only wanted a hut with ‘a huge hill’ next to it!”) http://bit.ly/2INakaq
This neighborhood has fastest rising rents, home values in Phoenix area. According to Zillow, Kleinman Park in Mesa had “the fastest rising rents and home values,” with increases of “18.6 percent in median home value” and “13.4 percent in median rent over the past year.” For a closer look at the Phoenix-area “acceleration” and what’s driving it, tap to KTAR. http://bit.ly/2GiqGsQ
Scottsdale City Council makes way for condo, timeshare ownership at La Via development. “A text amendment to a planned shared development overlay… was approved with the city’s La Via mixed-used development [and] it will affect three other planned shared developments.” Scottsdale Independent also reports that the “original overlay text” would have prevented “luxury hotels with luxury condominiums on top” from being built on the La Via property. “The governing body voted 6-1 in favor,” with the lone dissenting councilmember experiencing “real heartburn” over one aspect of the approval. http://bit.ly/2DPvbG0
Gilbert visionary Joe Johnston combines residential, commercial spaces with Agritopia. “A portemanteau of agriculture and utopia,” Agritopia and its “452 homes sit on a 166-acre plot of land that was once part of Joe Johnston’s family’s cotton and wheat farm.” Johnston says that it “represents the desire to preserve local agriculture and ‘to create the best community that we could.’ ” AZCentral looks at how Johnston’s “vision 20 years in the making”— of “European village life, with American style” — came together to create this “flourishing suburban community in Gilbert.” http://bit.ly/2pAWOh7
4 real estate provisions in spending bill. In REALTORMag, the National Association of REALTORS® comes out in strong support of the “2,232-page bill” (which is now on its way to President Trump after having passed the Senate in the wee hours of the morning), stating that it “contains important provisions” that “real estate professionals have been fighting for“ which are “critical to the continued health of the nation’s housing market.” http://bit.ly/2IK7wdQ
Tempe ranked No. 1 office market in U.S. Tops for “office absorption and rising rent rates, according to CBRE’s annual Tech-30 report… However, this isn’t slowing down interest from developers and site selectors who want to build in the area…” City of Tempe Economic Development Director Donna Kennedy lays out the reasons why in AzBigMedia. http://bit.ly/2DQwkx5
Speculative office development surges to meet Chandler’s needs. “The City of Chandler has been touted as having the fastest growing labor base in Metro Phoenix.” AzBigMedia’s David McGlothlin, engaging in a bit of speculation himself, says that this “should bode well for the several speculative office projects that recently broke ground in Chandler.” McGlothlin takes a look at a few of those developments. http://bit.ly/2ugZRAA
Glendale city manager showcases vision for downtown area. “I want merchants to know we are going to work towards getting a better return on our investment one way or another. We want to do that in partnership with the merchants and we need them to have some skin in the game…” — Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. What, specifically, does City Manager Phelps have in mind for a “vibrant downtown” and for “bringing business to the area”? Find out in The Glendale Star. http://bit.ly/2G3u0Vr
Scottsdale voters face possible tax requests to fund infrastructure needs.“An exact amount [$350 million? $667 million?] and method to raise the money remains up for debate. Most Scottsdale City Council members leaned toward bond requests…” However, AZCentral reports that bond requests have been “a tough sell” for Scottsdale voters. Tap through for the report, which includes a “sampling” of projects from city staff’s “wish list.” http://bit.ly/2G5bPip
Pinal County planning to move Hunt Hwy. “In some areas of San Tan Valley, the county is widening Hunt Hwy. In other areas, the county is planning to move it completely.” Find out what’s behind the move and check out a map of alternative routes in SanTanValley.com. (NOTE: In the comment section, the “red route” is folks’ runaway favorite! Okay, so only three people have commented thus far, but still…) http://bit.ly/2G4sIcT
‘Super wood’ could be the next steel. “University of Maryland researchers announced they’ve created a way to make wood stronger, lighter, and cheaper than steel. The researchers see the super wood [‘12 times stronger than natural wood and ten times tougher’] as having a major influence in the building industry one day… The research team’s findings are documented in the journal Nature” — but you can read an overview and catch a VIDEO rundown of the process in REALTORMag.(Fascinating stuff, but referring to Superman as the “Man of Wood” will definitely take some getting used to.) http://bit.ly/2pCizwZ
ASU experts say Uber accident will not stop self-driving development, but tech still needs to improve. “Following the fatal accident involving a self-driving Uber and a pedestrian on March 18, ASU experts said that autonomous technology is likely to continue developing but with an eye for more safety measures.” The State Press. http://bit.ly/2I0BjxE
Bill protecting utilities from possible energy mandates awaits governor’s pen. “Claiming they’re protecting Arizonans from a California millionaire, Republican lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to legislation to allow the state’s utilities to effectively ignore any new voter-mandated requirements for renewable energy.” What the measure, HB 2005, requires (and does not require) in this Capitol Media Services/Howard Fischer report at Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2pz5O6g
State regulators subpoena Johnson Utilities owner. “The Arizona Corporation Commission ordered George Johnson of Johnson Utilities in San Tan Valley to appear for questioning [March 29]. The testimony will concern Johnson’s continued ownership in the utility and his involvement in the operations and decision-making process as manager.” PinalCentral. http://bit.ly/2I1vAIf
School must protect students, rules California Supreme Court. The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the University of California can be held liable for failing to protect a student from an attack by a classmate. The decision comes as violence has become a more regular occurrence on campuses. The Wall Street Journal via Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2Gga9Wy
Just asking: Rose Law Group Top 10 Questions for the Week. Who wrote this piece? No, that is not one of 10 questions, but here’s the answer: Senior Reporter/Writer Phil Riske for Rose Law Group Reporter, with healthy doses of humor and inspired by some news tidbits readers will surely recognize. http://bit.ly/2G6DuiQ
