The Dealmaker: 8/15/2018

EPCOR: Johnson Utilities drinking water ‘on knife’s edge,’ buildings could explode. Buildings “so corroded” they’re “on the verge of collapsing and ‘exploding.’ ” Drinking water nitrate levels on the “ ‘edge’ of what is legally acceptable.” Disturbing — and part of an EPCOR update on Johnson Utilities yesterday that “shocked” ACC “commissioners into taking more aggressive legal action against the utility.” Casa Grande Dispatch. http://bit.ly/2OHAuNZ

Yes, there is a way to ensure Sierra Vista and the San Pedro River have enough water. “If water were treated more like a market commodity, there would be enough to go around.” By Robert Robb in AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2Be0RZP

Major Biltmore office redevelopment proposed. “JDM and Best Western, Inc. have submitted a joint proposal… to redevelop their properties at the NEC of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle…” Plans include an “office development,” “retail component,” and “hotel” or “320-unit multifamily development.” More in AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2nHCNFa

New Home Co. to open at Gilbert MP. • Belmont • 53 single-family, single-story homes • Within the MPC of Somerset • Featuring “ ‘pop-up’ options for a partial second story” • More on NEW HOME’s debut in the Southeast Valley via Builder. http://bit.ly/2waa1kf

Surprise planners advance Original Town Site revitalization. If the “two-year plan” is ultimately approved, RFPs will be issued in the fall for the purposes of rehabbing the area’s “existing structures” or building “new single-family homes and multifamily projects for qualified low-income residents.” YourValley. http://bit.ly/2MurVIC 

EPA bestows 20 2018 ENERGY STAR awards on KB Home. “KB Home  has again scored big in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2018 ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader Awards, netting a total of an industry-leading 20 across all its markets.” KB’s ENERGY STAR homeowners have “scored big’ as well. Find out much they’ve saved on utility bills since 2000, in Builder. http://bit.ly/2nFb4F2

‘Stay away’: Arizona families share horror stories of one of Arizona’s largest landlords. “Long-delayed repairs, annual rent increases and nearly-impossible-to-reach staff” are just some of the complaints leveled against “Wall Street-backed landlord” Invitation Homes, “America’s largest owner of single-family rental homes, with nearly 7,500 properties in Arizona alone.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2ODm0OY

The cost to maintain a home in America. Porch breaks down “average home maintenance costs” across the country, examining “ZIP codes in each state with the highest home maintenance costs, lowest costs, and where you can expect that money will go every year.” http://bit.ly/2MnIW7t

2018’s best & worst places to retire. “WalletHub compared the retiree-friendliness of more than 180 U.S. cities across 46 key metrics.” Eight  Arizona cities and one town make the cut! —> http://bit.ly/2Pdpg4P

Trulia dives deeper into neighborhood intelligence. Trulia has unveiled Trulia Neighborhoods, “a database of crowd-sourced local knowledge, original photography, and drone footage” that allows buyers and renters to gauge neighborhood “street noise, vibes and even friendliness,” giving them “a genuine feel for what it’s like to actually live” there. Builder. http://bit.ly/2ODEpLp 

On the right track: $55M SR 347 expansion over UPRR. Construction Equipment Guide takes a look at this “two-year project” that “aims to free Maricopa commuters from long waits as trains cross busy SR 347…” http://bit.ly/2P9ie0G

Grand Canyon University to build more parking. The “five-story” structure to be built on the NEC of 31st Avenue and Camelback” is “meant to alleviate anticipated parking needs in the area for GCU students [and] will also provide additional parking to support student housing…” AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2Pc74IA

Native American farmers plan moves to global market, greater sustainability. “Today, Native Americans are the primary operators of more than half of all farm or ranches in the state,” with “crops as diverse as tepary beans, olives and squash, some for community use and some sent around the world.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2nFt8yL

Pima County deal with World View didn’t break bidding law, judge rules.“A judge has ruled in Pima County’s favor in a lawsuit brought by the Goldwater Institute that alleged the county broke the law when it signed an economic-development incentive agreement with high-altitude balloon operator World View Enterprises.” Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2MeXtmB

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