The Dealmaker: 8/2/2018

EXCLUSIVE… BREAKING: Court rules Pinal County Transportation Tax can’t just tax retailers. Appeal likely to follow. In an opinion unlikely to satisfy either party, the Arizona Tax Court ruled Wednesday the voter-approved sales tax for Pinal County roadways is invalid because it doesn’t apply to non-retail businesses. “This is a very narrow decision that, if upheld, would overturn the vote of the people of Pinal County—surely it will be appealed,” said Jordan Rose, president and founder of Rose Law Group, who represents property owners in favor of the transportation tax. http://bit.ly/2O2h0TJ

Phoenix City Council selects Vania Guevara as interim council member. “Vania Guevara, a former District 5 city staffer, was selected as the interim council member for that district during a special meeting Wednesday. The council voted 4-3 to appoint Guevara, 31, to the council seat left open when Daniel Valenzuela resigned last month to run for mayor.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2O1RbDl

Two recession warning signs are here; real estate consultant Jim Belfiore upbeat about AZ. Declining home sales, rising prices, stagnant paychecks, debt-laden homeowners — all “echoes” of “what happened right before the Great Recession.” Signs of another downturn? While this CNNMoney report fires off a couple of warning shots in that direction, Jim Belfiore says not here in AZ — at least not in the foreseeable future: “While a recession may be in the cards in ’19 or ‘20, Arizona housing markets have a healthy, positive momentum…” More “positives” from Jim here: http://bit.ly/2LRCOEj

Four parcels in Tucson, Scottsdale, Phoenix, appraised at a combined $101 million, to be auctioned. Four parcels totaling about 377 acres of State Trust Land will be auctioned by the Arizona State Land Department in August and September. Parcel and auction details via the news release in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2KmVbfz

Wood Partners opens luxury property in Phoenix. • Alta Central • 223-units • 4001 N. Central • WP’s fifth Valley development under Alta brand • Rendering, amenity info and more in Multi-Housing News. http://bit.ly/2vcK6sJ

A year later, still no construction in Gilbert on Agritopia’s ‘Epicenter.’[N]o building permits have been pulled,” and Epicenter’s social media pages “haven’t been updated since 2017.” All the non-activity on what was supposed to be a “nearly 20-acre urban core bursting with restaurants, five-story luxury apartments and other businesses” has AZCentral wondering: “So, what gives?” http://bit.ly/2v9873S

Southeast Valley real estate market update for YTD 2018. At a recent Cromford Report update, housing analyst Tina Tamboer zeroed in on the Southeast Valley. The Arizona Report was there and has bullet-pointed highlights from Tamboer’s presentation. http://bit.ly/2vqoybc

National company in Tucson to expand, add high-paying jobs. “[T]he company is preparing to invest more than $29 million to build a 110,000- to 125,000-square- foot, three- or four-story development at the Williams Centre.” “Project Treasure” is what it’s being called, but at this stage, the name of the company involved remains a mystery. Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2AARx1P

Mark Minter reflects on years at Arizona Builders Alliance. “Mark Minter retired on June 30 from his role as President of the Arizona Builders Alliance.” In his AzBigMedia farewell piece, Minter looks back on the position he held for 40 years, sending out a “thank you” to “friends and colleagues with whom he’s worked, and delivering words of praise for his successor, Tom Dunn. http://bit.ly/2LINZQl

Take a tour inside the renovated Sun Devils Stadium. Phoenix Business Journal photo editor Jim Poulin recently toured the facility as work was being completed on the renovation’s third phase…” Poulin’s snaps have resulted in a 40-image SLIDESHOW. Check it out! http://bit.ly/2MeldmJ

Activism transforms Scottsdale Desert EDGE debate into November ballot question. “Community activists… provided… more than 37,000 signatures forcing Proposition 420 onto the upcoming November ballot.” Scottsdale Independent reports, however, that even with voters now having a voice on what occurs within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, “many close to the matter say” the Desert EDGE “project is likely at a standstill.” http://bit.ly/2vtZOyJ

[OPINION] Paradise Valley: Why there is so much support for one mayoral candidate. To say PV Town Council members Julie Pace and Scott Moore are enthusiastic in their support of mayoral candidate Jerry Bien-Wilner, well, it just might qualify as Dealmaker’s “Understatement of the Year.” In PV Independent, both rave about the man currently serving as vice mayor, explaining why he’s “simply the right person” and why they are “so excited to work with [Jerry Bien-Wilner] as the Mayor moving forward.” http://bit.ly/2KkAoJv 

Cave Creek candidates walk out of debate. And here’s what sparked the mini-exodus: During the mayoral debate, a video was played. In it, Councilwoman/candidate Eileen Wright “made a statement saying she wasn’t a lawyer,” to which incumbent/candidate “Ernie Bunch quipped, ‘No, but you stayed with one last night.’ ” Hiyoooo! The rest of the story in Sonoran News. http://bit.ly/2Me2hVg

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