The Dealmaker: 4/30/2018

The Great Recession: Builders look back. It was “one of the industry’s darkest periods… Ten years of BUILDER 100 data reveals top firms’… struggles, challenges, and triumphs during that time frame, in addition to the recession’s lingering effect on home builders and buyers today.” Builder. http://bit.ly/2HGfofL

10 years after housing crisis: A realtor, a renter, starting over, staying put. “Phoenix felt the housing collapse worse than almost anywhere else. On average, homes in the metro area lost 56 percent of their value — the third worst in the country.” NPR profiles four Phoenicians who were left bruised and battered by the housing-bubble burst and whose “scars” from that time have yet to fully heal. http://bit.ly/2HFa0NW

Most buyers don’t see improvement in housing availability. <—That is the overall finding from the “second in a series of posts highlighting results” from NAHB’s Housing Trends Report, which asked prospective buyers “if they thought finding the right home would get easier, harder, or stay about the same in the months ahead.” See how the data shakes out and get the link to the full HTR, in Eye On Housing. http://bit.ly/2HHVqBa

‘My generation Is never going to have that.’ “In Seattle’s red-hot housing market, a group of millennial techies is using data skills to alter the look, and affordability, of their adopted city.” But their efforts to “change the city’s zoning to allow more ‘density’ in single-family neighborhoods” has “provoked a fierce backlash from homeowners, many of them baby boomers.” POLITICO. http://bit.ly/2Kom8Rf

Grant program helps Maricopa County teachers buy homes. “Since late 2015, more than 430 Valley [K-12] teachers have been able to buy by tapping the [Home in Five Advantage] program… [and] more than 17,000 families have been able to buy homes via the program since it was launched.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2JGhfSh

Chandler considers writing self-driving cars and ride-sharing into its zoning code. “If these amendments are approved, it will make Chandler the first city in the country to write its zoning code for the benefit of those using ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles.” Mayor Jay Tibshraeny: “These zoning code amendments have many positive implications from increasing the amount of property available for revenue-generating activity, demonstrating to the AV industry that Chandler is ‘open for business’ and further reinforcing Chandler’s brand recognition as the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest…” Phoenix Business Journal. http://bit.ly/2JFDMhU  

Pederson Group developing ‘The Trailhead’ in Peoria. • At the NE corner of 83rd Ave. and Happy Valley • 15+ specialty retail & restaurant tenants • 62,000 sq.-ft. grocery store • A proposed new crossing to the city’s Sunrise Mountain Preserve • More on this “new neighborhood hub and welcoming all-day hangout” in the news release at AZRE. http://bit.ly/2I39LM0

Thunderbird school move to downtown Phoenix leaves questions for Glendale space. From university campus to commercial/residential area? “Thunderbird School of Global Management will soon move to downtown Phoenix after operating in Glendale for 72 years. But questions remain — along with a push to preserve portions of the site that once was a flying field to train World War II pilots — about redeveloping the 140-acre campus at 59th Avenue and Greenway Road.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2FvhuNo

SkySong’s four buildings accommodate tenant growth trends, expansion needs. “SkySong’s four office buildings, modern buildout and high-tech features provide more companies options for growth rather than traditional places if they need to expand.” Details on company expansions, plus info on the construction of SkySong 5, in Scottsdale Independent. http://bit.ly/2HHrPrq

Commercial Metals Company breaking ground for CMC Steel Arizona spooler expansion. “The company is investing in a spooler to produce hot-rolled, spooled rebar at its 260-acre campus located [in SE Mesa].”  More on CMC Steel and the company’s “63,000-square-foot expansion,” including remarks from Mesa Mayor John Giles and Councilmember Kevin Thompson on the growth, in Apache Junction Independent. http://bit.ly/2KomTtz

Freeway work picks up on mountain as blasting begins. “The reason for the blasting [is to] create a path for the freeway through two ridges at the southwestern edge of South Mountain Park.” Ahwatukee Foothills News reports that the “blasting will occur close to Foothills Reserve HOA, which is locked in a legal battle” over ADOT’s “efforts to take about 13 acres of common grounds.” http://bit.ly/2jkBolI

Supporters concede San Tan incorporation effort is over. “Following a 4-0 vote by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors to reject petitions for incorporation, no further action is planned by Vote San Tan Valley PAC.” The KEY ‘we quit’ QUOTE comes courtesy of steering committee member Julie Phillips: “The PAC is over… I am done with politics.” Casa Grande Dispatch. http://bit.ly/2rc1Yle

Avondale council to host reception with city manager finalists. “The vacancy for city manager was created when former city manager David Fitzhugh retired February 8 following 17 years of service to the city, with four years as city manager.” While West Valley View doesn’t identify the five finalists, it does provide where-and-when details for the “meet and greet receptions” at which “candidates will make brief presentations.” http://bit.ly/2HCthiZ

Avondale budget discussions continue. “Among the biggest expected costs in the operating budget line are $24.6 million for public works, $24.1 million for police and $12.5 million for fire and medical.” For a closer look at the costs along with a list of noteworthy “supplemental requests” tap to West Valley View. http://bit.ly/2rbhHB7

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2HEPPM0 

Third Annual Stella Artois Derby DayClub returns Saturday – http://bit.ly/2Fu0tmM