The Dealmaker: 4/16/2018

Tempe won’t reconsider its rejection of proposed Quick Quack car wash.(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Michael Pollack, who, along with 600+ residents in one-mile radius, opposed this car wash.) City council has once again quashed a request for a Quick Quack Car Wash. Back in February, the “council had revoked permits for the car wash after nearly three hours of debate in a packed council chambers.” More on the tongue-twisting, two-time Tempe turndown at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2EQmX12

Richmond American opens Mesa community. • Estates at Eastmark • Three to four bedrooms • 3,370 to 4,010 sq. ft. • Starting in the upper $400,000s • A (very) brief overview of community amenities, plus link to more info, at Builder. http://bit.ly/2JSfMsT

New metro Phoenix condo sales soar, will prices keep climbing? “Developers built thousands of metro Phoenix condominiums over the past few years. No one was sure how quickly they would sell.” But buyers came “not only for new condos but older ones” as well. Tap through for findings from The Arizona Republic/azcentral Street Scout Home Values report. http://bit.ly/2J0Z09P 

1st-time buyers, investors help propel home prices in Valley’s most affordable areas. AZCentral real estate reporter Catherine Reagor takes a look at the “10 most affordable neighborhoods to buy a house in the metro Phoenix area.” Featuring a 10-image affordable-home ZIP-code slideshow. http://bit.ly/2qEkz8v

Homebuilding isn’t keeping up with growth, development group says. The housing-shortage pinch is being felt across the country and in “more surprising places,” including Arizona, according to new research findings in The Wall Street Journal.  Check out the capsule summary of the WSJ report in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2JPYEEj

BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND REFURBISHING… San Francisco Giants’ spring home in Scottsdale may get its biggest makeover yet. —> To the tune of around $60 million clams. “Plans for Scottsdale Stadium include improved seating, shade, additional viewing areas and expansions to the clubhouse, player training areas and special event spaces.” Details, including an illustrated layout of the upgrades along with pretty cool throwback shot of the stadium circa 1955, at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2H4XMKd

THE BUZZ ABOUT THE EAST VALLEY – Chandler tech company hums along — and the noise is annoying residents. “Ear plugs, noise-canceling headphones, fans and pillows over the head are no match for the tone… emanating from…  industrial air-conditioning units at a nearby data center owned by Cyrus One.” But after working with neighbors and the city “to address the issue,” Cyrus One may be on verge of a solution. As for residents? AZCentral reports that they are “cautiously optimistic.” http://bit.ly/2ER4TDU

Buckeye to get Aldi grocery store, the first known location in Arizona. “The Buckeye store is expected to open [early next year] along with other businesses in an upcoming commercial corner [Sundance Marketplace] off Interstate 10, at the intersection of Yuma and Watson…” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2HFhMUK

Layoffs, withdrawals and closures belie the strength of the Phoenix construction market. “Market sectors from highways and transit to multifamily and industrial are seeing high levels of activity. Then why are companies like CSW Contractors, McGough, Turner Construction and Johnson Carlier seeing staff reductions? It’s complicated.” AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2H2uziY

Ironwood Drive section may be rezoned to attract development. “The city-initiated case would rezone the properties… along Ironwood Drive between Apache Trail and Broadway Avenue to make future development easier…” Apache Junction Independent has a map of the properties to be rezoned along with more info on the matter, which is set to be discussed at an upcoming city council meeting. http://bit.ly/2JNu7Hf

Kingman Planning and Zoning moves forward with tiny homes. “[P&Z asked staff to draft text amendments to the City’s zoning ordinances regarding the allowance of tiny homes… Recommendations made by staff took into account public concerns… regarding devaluation of property stemming from potentially unappealing tiny homes.” How tiny are we talking about? Small, but robably not as diminutive as one commissioner seems to be indicating with her hands in the pic for this Daily Miner report. http://bit.ly/2vj0RoB

AG opens an SB 1487 investigation into City of Sedona. “The complaint was filed with the AG’s office on April 4 by Arizona State Rep. Darin Mitchell [R-District 13]… In his complaint, Mitchell reiterated a concern of the Goldwater Institute… that [Sedona’s] business license requirement for short-term rentals was discriminatory because no license is required for residential rentals.” Red Rock News reports that if the city is found guilty, “it could result in the loss of millions of dollars.” http://bit.ly/2H76iYT

Flagstaff to receive federal funding for veterans home. “Flagstaff learned Friday that it will receive federal funding to construct an 80-bed nursing home for veterans on McMillan Mesa [at the SE corner of Gemini and Cedar]. The project involves the city of Flagstaff donating land while the federal government and state of Arizona donate cash for construction and operation of the facility.” Arizona Daily Sun. http://bit.ly/2H6R5qZ

HAVING YOUR INSULANT AND EATING IT TOO? – These bricks could be a game-changer for insulation. “The bricks are filled with aerogel, a lightweight, manufactured material made from gel in which gas replaces the gel’s otherwise liquid component.” The bricks, which look like cakes, “would enable walls to conduct heat up to eight times better compared to a wall constructed from standard clay and shale bricks.” More info and along with a pic of the brick (looks delicious!) in ConstructionDIVE. http://bit.ly/2JS3gtg

Arizona’s booming sober-home industry gets new oversight. “The bill [SB 1465] aims to thread the needle between neighborhood groups that want tighter oversight of residential homes and sober-home operators that provide housing for people in recovery.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2EOiz2t

Buckeye appoints assistant city manager. Filling the post is “former El Mirage Interim City Manager James Shano,” who ”has worked in Peoria, Surprise andParadise Valley” where “he amassed experience with strategic planning, intergovernmental agreements for development and infrastructure, civil engineering, construction management and capital improvement project management.” West Valley View. http://bit.ly/2qBCv3D

Valley’s Best Kentucky Derby Party getting here as fast as the horses – http://bit.ly/2HqEShJ

As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!

Arizona teachers will hold vote on walkout. “Teachers across the state will vote this week on whether to walk out for more education funding, according to Arizona Educators United…” AZCentral reports, however, that “[e]ducators had mixed feelings about the group’s announcement…” Sentiments apparently also shared by Republic opinion columnist Philip Boas, whose RELATED piece carries this headline: “3 reasons why Arizona teachers would be foolish to strike now.” http://bit.ly/2vkj8l5

Suicide prevention now part of state’s school safety debate. “An area legislator’s proposal to require that teachers get mandatory training in suicide prevention has been revived as part of Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to improve school safety in Arizona schools. But Ducey’s proposal has divided Democrats and Republicans over whether its proposed limitations on gun access and possession go too far or not far enough.” A Capitol Media Services/Howard Fischer report in East Valley Tribune. http://bit.ly/2H2yAry

APS’ parent leads nation in SuperPAC political contributions. “Pinnacle West’s activity put it at the pinnacle of publicly-owned corporations* contributing to federal SuperPACs in this campaign cycle, according to research by the Washington Post.” Arizona’s Politics explores the “the stepped-up APS/PinnWest activity,” and  “APS’ Media Relations Manager Jenna Powell” responds with a “company statement…” (RELATED: “Secret money in Arizona is a monster, says a retiring lobbyist.”) http://bit.ly/2ERwAfV

[OPINION] States accuse Central Arizona Project managers of threatening health of the Colorado River system. It’s an issue that “has been simmering for more than a year.” Now, “Upper Colorado River Basin state leaders” say that the “approach being taken by the managers of the Central Arizona Project ‘threaten the water supply for nearly 40 million people in the United States and Mexico…’ ” By J. Fleck in Inkstain. http://bit.ly/2ER8y4J

Gender identity emerges as a new front in custody battles; courts need expertise of mental health professionals in such cases, says Audra Petrolle, Rose Law Group family law attorney. AZCentral looks at a case that “highlights the challenges of mediating custody battles between parents who differ on how to handle kids who may be transgender — a matter that LGBT experts say most U.S. family courts are poorly equipped to handle.” Audra Petrolle: “Because knowledge and understanding around gender identity is still evolving, courts may be better served by relying upon the expertise of mental health professionals when making determinations that impact a child’s ability to express gender identity.” http://bit.ly/2H3v5gz

N.F.L. says fraud plagues the concussion settlement. “To fix the problem, the league asked the federal judge overseeing the settlement to appoint a special investigator to stop ‘widespread fraud infecting’ the settlement program… The league’s request followed filings last month by lawyers representing hundreds of players who accused the N.F.L. of deliberately using intimidation and manipulation to deny and delay payments.” The New York Times. http://bit.ly/2EQZgFV

Judge reverses himself, dismisses restraining orders against sports journalist’s tweets. “Despite courtroom allegations of ‘fake news’ and defamation, a judge has dismissed a restraining order against a sports journalist who was accused of harassment based on a series of tweets about the founder of a defunct Tucson athletic program. Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2JR2YTt

Saturday Night Live double whammy: Ben Stiller as Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen; Laura Ingraham’s ‘new’ advertisers. “Reuniting 18 years after they first starred together in Meet the Parents, Ben Stiller as Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen came face to face with none other than Robert De Niro as Special Counsel Robert Mueller.” ALSO: Laura Ingraham (Kate McKinnon) drops in on “Weekend Update”  to tout her show’s “new” advertisers. WATCH here: http://bit.ly/2H2o2Vr