The Dealmaker: 8/1/2018

Arizona Builders Alliance members predict trends to watch. Robert F. Hart, Barry Chasse, Steve M. Grauer, Ken Kortman and Ron Harman also take a look back, at how the “industry has evolved in the last 10 years since the economic downturn.” They “share their thoughts and visions” for the “commercial construction industry” in AzBigMedia. http://bit.ly/2vuPwhO

Most buyers don’t expect housing availability to get better soon. Eye On Housing looks at the main findings from NAHB’s Q2 Housing Trends Report
which “tracks prospective home buyers’ perceptions about the availability and affordability of homes for-sale in their markets.” http://bit.ly/2OB6La4  

522-unit multifamily proposed in N. Scottsdale. “Mark-Taylor is requesting an amendment to approve four lots on a 10-acre site at Hayden Road and Princess Drive. Lots one, two and three would comprise the multifamily portion, while the fourth would be partnered with a separate homebuilder or homebuilders to create townhome residential.” AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2n1Kdmd

Homeowner stands between HOA and $6.5 million ADOT payout. “[ADOT] has agreed to pay the Foothills Reserve homeowners association $6.5 million — more than three times it initially offered — for 13 acres of land it desperately needs to continue construction of the South Mountain Freeway.” But one homeowner has refused to budge. As a result, the “HOA has ratcheted up what has become a nasty legal fight.” AFN. http://bit.ly/2v9iSmG

HonorHealth will open North Valley hospital in 2020. • Located at 1-17 and Dove Valley Road • Groundbreaking set for December • Rendering and features of what “will form the centerpiece of the HonorHealth Sonoran Medical Center campus” — at AZRE. http://bit.ly/2KhSJqv

Moog industrial building planned in Gilbert. If all goes as proposed for applicant Deutsch Architecture Group, three vacant parcels “totaling 3.6 acres” at the NEC of Guadalupe & Colorado could soon be home to “new office/industrial building.” Further project details — right down to the “selected color pallet” for the main building — at AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2KnuaZq

Agreement reached between Tucson councilman and developer on Benedictine Monastery. Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik initially had building-height concerns over developer Ross Rulney’s plan as originally proposed. Specifically, Kozachik had issues with an “86-foot, seven-story building.” Now, however, things have changed. RED News. http://bit.ly/2M99jL3

Twitter falls far behind on multifamily engagement. <— That accordingmultifamily digital marketing site Go To My Apartment (GTMA), which “will no longer recommend Twitter as a platform for multifamily storytelling.” The “social media metrics” that led GTMA to say toodle-oo to Twitter, and where it plans to put its focus instead, in Multifamily Executive. http://bit.ly/2LIAY9m

San Francisco officials to tech workers: Buy your lunch. “Two San Francisco supervisors introduced an ordinance last week that would forbid employee cafeterias in new corporate construction.” Here’s ordinance co-sponsor Aaron Peskin’s rationale for the proposed use of force: “We gave huge tax breaks to revitalize neighborhoods… But instead, they’re all walled into their tech palaces.” The full story in The New York Times. http://bit.ly/2v5orCm

How healthy is your office? With the “growing trend in real estate to create offices with measurable wellness benefits,” The New York Times takes a look at some of the certification programs and building designs leading the way. http://bit.ly/2Aw3ANY

Pursuit of happiness shapes Paradise Valley candidate quality of life perspectives. “What do you believe to be the No. 1 threat to the quality of life in the Town of Paradise Valley?” Mayoral and council candidates respond to this and other quality of life queries in PV Independent. http://bit.ly/2AHflBp

2018 Apache Junction candidate summary. Featuring two mayoral candidates (current mayor, Jeff Serdy and challenger David Waldron), and four council candidates (Gail Evans, Christa Rizzi, Robert Schroeder, and Walker Waldie). AJ News has bios on all and poses key questions to each, including: “How would you motivate economic development in Apache Junction?” http://bit.ly/2Ma8e5y

Coolidge council candidates share vision for city’s future at forum. Six council candidates — incumbent Tatiana Murrieta, Tina Kaufman, Juan Salas, incumbent Joseph Marsh, Kevin Todd and Benjamin Navarro — discussed their “qualifications, philosophies and goals,” with economic development as a main focus. Tap to Coolidge Examiner for the recap. http://bit.ly/2vsNmiP

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!

Lawmakers approve more than 300 new measures. “Come this Friday, women who want an abortion will be asked new questions, consumers can have their credit frozen for free, Grade A eggs can stay on the shelf longer, and 15-year-olds won’t be able to legally marry… Oh, and Arizona will have an official state dinosaur: the Sonorasaurus.” And only 295 more measures to go! Cap Media Services’ Howard Fischer has the rundown (but only on a few of the more notable measures) in Arizona Daily Sun. http://bit.ly/2n2PF8B

Valley Metro forms partnership with driverless car company Waymo. “For the first time in the U.S., a public transportation agency and a private company are teaming up. Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith says his agency and Waymo are working together to bring driverless transportation to more people — and more people to public transportation.” More on yesterday’s announcement at KTAR. http://bit.ly/2O1Td6f

Jumping from a plane to tackling election issues. An Arizona Capitol TimesQ&A with State Elections Director Eric Spencer — a person whose career has been defined “between” the “intersection” of “politics, public policy and law.” (Not to mention “jump wings.”) http://bit.ly/2LVQm1w

Website places Arizona in bottom 5 in US for education. The website? You guessed it — WalletHub. Again. The lead finding? “Arizona schools are near the bottom of the barrel nationally when academics, class size and even student bullying are considered…” Howard Fischer reports on this uplifter of a study at PinalCentral. http://bit.ly/2v5ihT6