The Dealmaker: 6/20/2018

Queen Creek OKs agreement to bring 1,702 Fulton Homes to fruition. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Fulton Homes.) QC Town Council has approved an agreement with Fulton “for the long-awaited Barney Farms home development planned for the [NE] corner of Queen Creek and Signal Butte.” Property owner Jason Barney calls it “the Gold Standard for housing development,” with “architecture” and “amenities” that “will be hard to match.” Fulton Homes president Norm Nichols also comments on the 532-acre project and what it means for Queen Creek. In QC Independent. http://bit.ly/2tp75in

Major redevelopment proposal springs back. “Four years ago, Smithfield Properties won the opportunity to develop on the space at Central… and Van Buren with an idea to build a $72M, 475-unit apartment high rise… The death of Bill Smith and the conundrum of his company put that plan into the ether… Now Phoenix, taking into account the major downtown shifts of the last few years, is repurposing the project.” AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2ysOaZJ

Technology, transit and a solid vision brings Mesa’s rebirth. The Grid. Mesa Arts Center. Valley Metro. Benedictine University. Waypoint and Cadence. Skybridge Arizona. AzBigMedia takes a look at these projects and talks with their driving forces — Arizona Strategies’ Karrin Taylor Robson, Mesa Mayor John Giles, and Harvard Investments’ Craig Krumwiede — each of whom continues to help kick Mesa’s “momentum” into high gear. http://bit.ly/2tt6wEq

Shea’s Trilogy unveils virtual experience marketing program. “Join the Movement™ previews not only the lifestyle residents experience when they move to a Trilogy community but provides a key component home shoppers contemplate — how will they know if a community is truly right for them if they cannot find out for themselves until they move into a new home.” Builder. http://bit.ly/2tfsyuR

PulteGroup homes get smarter. —> Giving homeowners in “newly-built Pulte, Centex, Del Webb, DiVosta and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods” the ability to “control their lights, thermostat, security systems, appliances and more with just the touch of their cell phone or sound of their voice.” Builder. http://bit.ly/2K4vh0L

The best states for homeowners in 2018. This SmartAsset study looked at “average price per square foot, the one-year percent change in value per square foot, foreclosures per 10,000 homes, average effective property tax rate, median annual property taxes, average closing costs, average homeowners insurance and the burglary rate.” Key finding: The top 10 states “are either in the West or the Midwest.” Did Arizona make the cut? http://bit.ly/2MaIvJZ

What’s in store for the apartment industry. “While demand for multifamily housing remains strong, the sector faces a number of challenges,” including the “changing shape” of households, affordability, and rising development costs. Multifamily “experts at the National Association of Real Estate Editors annual real estate journalism conference” discuss these and other challenges via recap of the event at MHN. http://bit.ly/2tlRAYx

Park Central makeover hits halfway mark. This Park Central progress report from AZRE features an ‘under construction’ pic along with an update on how the “dramatic” redo is coming along. It also includes a link to the Park Central project website, plus a decent amount of background on Plaza Companies and Holualoa Companies, the redevelopers of Park Central. http://bit.ly/2K9zkfs

Can golf be saved? Glendale residents rally to save ailing Glen Lakes course.“Some say the city should invest in upgrades and maintenance to bring the rundown course up to par. Others say it’s time the city cut its losses and sell the land to a private developer.” However, to eyes here at Dealmaker HQ, the place looks like Augusta National compared to a certain other troubled course across town! Check out the snaps and the report atAZCentral. http://bit.ly/2K0taek

Pending change would retain Pinal farm water credits. “Pinal County farmers will now be able to retain their water rights for future development thanks to a change at the state level.” County Supervisor Steve Miller, “who long has championed the change,” says “the change should help stabilize the agricultural real estate market.” PinalCentral. http://bit.ly/2Ibao1U

New York man admits to rigging local elections in effort to develop real estate. “Last year, two New York real estate developers, Kenneth Nakdimen and Shalom Lamm, pleaded guilty to interfering with a mayoral election in Bloomingburg, New York, including using fake voters, to try to advance stalled construction projects. Now, a third member of the conspiracy has also admitted to taking part in the scheme.” HousingWIre. http://bit.ly/2tfvsQh 

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

Don’t miss anything… follow multiple winner of the Arizona Republic’s tweet of the week contest, and Senior Partner at Rose Law Group and Director of RLG Renewable Energy Department, Court Rich. http://bit.ly/Court_RichTwitter 

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

Ducey calls separation of kids from parents ‘unnecessary.’ “I think everyone knows that I’m very supportive of border security. But it seems that this separation of families is unnecessary…” Gov. Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona Morning News. (RELATED, also from KTAR: “Arizona Rep. Schweikert would rather see families at border stay together.”) LISTEN to both interview segments, in full, here: http://bit.ly/2lo3yxe

Zinke has ‘no intention’ of revisiting Grand Canyon uranium mining ban, spokesman says. “Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has ‘no intention to revisit uranium mining’ in and around the Grand Canyon, his spokeswoman said, after outdoorsmen’s groups launched a campaign urging him to keep a 20-year mining moratorium in place… Mining opponents welcomed the news, but said Tuesday they still plan to be on their guard.” Cronkite News.  http://bit.ly/2JUNG3V

Lobbyist rebuts former wife’s testimony in bribery trial. “Jim Norton said on the witness stand Tuesday he did not force his now ex-wife, Kelly Norton, to hire Sherry Pierce at her firm, but that he urged her to do so because he had a stake in their success.” This and other late-breaking trial developments in coverage at Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2K6vLU9