The Dealmaker: 7/2/2018

200-room hotel, office high-rise will replace downtown Phoenix parking lot. Berger Holdings, in partnership with Sunbelt Holdings, “plans to build a 20-story ‘lifestyle hotel’ with a ‘creative office component’ ” on the Central and Adams site. Why did the city go with the Berger project and its offer of $2.8M for the property rather than a project from M.A. Mortenson and its offer of approximately $3.5M? AZCentral reports: http://bit.ly/2KqSb6G

Cullum Home plans new lock-and-leave community. A quick rundown fromBuilder, of Cullum’s collection of “ ‘Village’ luxury lock-and-leave lifestyle residences” — The Village at Seven Desert Mountain, The Village at Mountain Shadows, The Village at Silverleaf, along with Cholla Heights, Paradise Reserve, and Ironwood Golf Villas. http://bit.ly/2KsFzf4

Trez Capital closes construction financing for Tolleson hotel. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Virtua Partners.) The $10 million+ loan to Virtua Parners “will finance a 116-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott” located near I-10 & 91st Ave. AZRE has a brief overview along with a fresh rendering of the project, so tap to it! http://bit.ly/2KEZW84

Peoria approves mixed-use Sunrise Plaza. City council has given the green light to Sunrise Plaza, a mixed-use from Thompson Thrift and TruVista. The project will bring Aldi grocers, a 140-unit “residential component” — as well as commercial and “other retail uses” — to the “18.6-acre property” at the SE corner of Lake Pleasant Pkwy and Happy Valley.” Details, rendering, and illustrated sitemap in YourValley. http://bit.ly/2lMbk49

Tucson residents pack public hearing to ask questions about monastery development. “It was the first public hearing in a rezoning request for the site.” Arizona Daily Star reports that the architect and developer for the proposed project want to “build three structures around the monastery with heights taller than currently allowed but stay within the 222 units now allowable.” Among neighbors’ concerns: A development “unable to move forward, leaving a boarded-up monastery sitting in ruins.” http://bit.ly/2NfG0qW

The big picture: A flood of new urban apartments is crashing prices. “Rental growth… has reached its lowest level… since 2010 as some of America’s biggest cities have been hit by a flood of newly-built luxury apartments…” Axiospithily answers “Why it matters” and namechecks Phoenix among the “winners” and “losers” when it comes to “above average rent spikes.” http://bit.ly/2KoE9Ct

A FALL ON ‘HARDER’ TIMES? – Another company files claim against PhoenixMart for unpaid bill. A few months back it was Hardrock Concrete Placement with its complaint “seeking to claim over $900,000.” Now, Harder Mechanical Contractors has done the same, “seeking $118,516 in unpaid labor and materials it provided for the large-scale project…” Casa Grande Dispatch. http://bit.ly/2Kt7kEv

Museum of Northern Arizona presents $3 million sale and conservation income options for 89 acres. “The land [off Fort Valley Rd.] was purchased by the museum in 1977 as an investment and since then its sale has been put on and taken off the table several times… Now, the board of trustees is again taking a serious look at monetizing the acreage…” Arizona Daily Sun. http://bit.ly/2KDEDkk

Glendale approves $689M fiscal year 2019 budget. “Though the June vote was unanimous, three members of Council explained their vote to say that while the budget was overall good, they found issues with parts of it.” Mayor Jerry Weiers: “There are some things that obviously, I think all of us including the city management, would have liked to have done different, but the fact is, you’ve only got so much money.” See what’s in it, at YourValley. http://bit.ly/2tSslgG

Buckeye council adopts fiscal year 18/19 budget. And what sort of budget does the “fifth fastest-growing city in the country, with a planning area of 642 miles” focus on? How about one that’s “$257.2 million,” “balanced,” and “meets the demands of growth and smart planning for future needs.” West Valley View. http://bit.ly/2IKVYFW

Avondale adopts 2018-2019 budget. Interim city manager Cynthia Seelhammer: “Avondale takes a conservative approach to the [$243.8 million] budget and our planned expenditures…” What’s being funded under the new budget? Find out in West Valley View. http://bit.ly/2Ni4eAQ

Queen Creek Mayor Barney elected Maricopa Association of Governments chair. “Regional collaboration and transportation were the themes shared by Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney as he accepted the role as chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments.” Mayor Barney: “The importance of our transportation network cannot be overstated — it affects just about every aspect of our daily lives…” See the other city leaders that were also elected/selected for MAG positions, in QC Independent. http://bit.ly/2KzLjTN

Chandler City Council appoints Jeremy McClymonds, names new vice mayor. Councilman René Lopez was chosen as the new vice mayor, replacing Nora Ellen who “vacated her seat to run for state Legislature.” As for the vacant council spot, “36 Chandler residents applied,” “nine were interviewed,” and one, Jeremy McClymonds, emerged. Learn a bit about Vice Mayor Lopez and Councilman McClymonds at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2IJ2Bc4

Sedona City Council looks at cuts if Home Rule fails. Departments at risk of elimination include “Economic Development, Citizen Engagement, Sustainability, Communications, Arts & Culture, as well as several programs and amenities within Parks and Recreation and Community Development.” One councilman calls it “a very grim scenario.” Red Rock News.. http://bit.ly/2KGIixR

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!

Laura Bianchi, partner and director of Rose Law Group Medical Cannabis Department quoted in CNN Money regarding Arizona cannabis extracts case. The recent Arizona Court of Appeals ruling that hashish “isn’t protected by the 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act,” has the “potential to impact patients’ use and possession of certain extracted cannabis products…” Laura Bianchi adds that, in ruling this way, the court has “fashioned a new definition of hashish that created a direct conflict between our criminal code and Arizona’s medical marijuana law.” Laura’s complete comment available by accessing the CNNreport via Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2KCLpXl 

Key Arizona lawmakers consider taxing online sales, cutting taxes elsewhere. On the heels of the recent SCOTUS ruling that allows “states to collect online taxes,” lawmakers are discussing various ideas ranging from “lowering the state’s 5.6 percent sales tax rate, to trimming income taxes for corporations or individuals.” A Cap Media Services/Howard Fischer report in Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2KEMvSm

Bribery trial involving Johnson Utilities, Corporation Commission in jurors’ hands. Friday, Rose Law Group Reporter recapped closing arguments in the bribery trial of former corporation commissioner Gary Pierce, Sherry Pierce, and lobbyist Jim Norton. Here’s another look at the trial, coverage courtesy of AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2MESure

TOM COLLINS WITH A TWIST – Clean Elections ballot measure’s description may be flawed, mislead. Citizens Clean Elections Commission exec director Tom Collins says the Legislative Council’s failure to “include relevant information” in the description for an “upcoming ballot measure” means that voters “are being given an inaccurate picture of what the measure would do.” In a legal twist, the commission filed suit, seeking to block use of that description. More on the matter in this report from Howard Fischer in The Daily Courier. http://bit.ly/2NiUPZZ

Arizona ranks high as state to start a business, but last in accessiblefinancing. “WalletHub compared the 50 states across 25 key indicators of startup success to determine the most fertile grounds in which to launch and grow an enterprise.” —> http://bit.ly/2KD9ujX 

The death of a once great city. “As New York enters the third decade of the twenty-first century, it is in imminent danger of becoming something it has never been before: unremarkable.” By Kevin Baker, Harper’s Magazine columnist — and New York City resident of “more than forty years.” http://bit.ly/2tKQtmm