The Dealmaker: 8/20/2018

Metro Phoenix is big market for data centers; Rose Law Group founder and president Jordan Rose concurs. Site Selection Group looks at why Phoenix “has such a competitive edge and why it will continue to attract more data center capacity.” Jordan Rose: “Arizona has some favorable laws but the pricing of the power is still an open negotiable question” http://bit.ly/2PoILY0

TROUBLED WATERS – Johnson Utilities defies regulators, court order to prevent takeover. “Johnson Utilities was ordered to allow EPCOR USA to run the operation and take over the finances, but the [‘troubled water company’] is balking, particularly over giving another business control of its bank accounts. A refusal to comply with an Arizona Corporation Commission order is virtually unprecedented.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2PmxuYi

Stealthy negotiations used to bring Amazon to Tucson. At 800,000 sq. ft., the “warehouse and distribution center to fulfill online retail orders will be the second-largest in the Tucson area.” And as Arizona Daily Star reports: “Anonymity was critical to sealing the deal…” http://bit.ly/2nSPMEb

Gehan Homes begins pre-sales in Cadence at Gateway. “This is the second builder to begin pre-sales at Cadence, following Pulte’s June launch.” Tap to AZ Business Magazine for a rundown of Gehan’s Villagio Series homes, plus remarks from Craig Krumwiede, president of Harvard Investments, the developer of Cadence, on Gehan’s “well-established reputation.” http://bit.ly/2vVMPqS

Few changes made to proposed Jenny Lin development, community still opposed. Developers are seeking to rezone a parcel near Jenny Lin and I-17 frontage for “300 new homes.” However, some residents remain opposed to the proposed housing development, citing “concerns about safety, roads, schools and water issues.” The Foothills Focus. http://bit.ly/2nSkQDK

9 new hotels coming to Scottsdale, with six in Old Town. It’s a “development burst” that “will add approximately 1,300 rooms for the city.” Get details and view a SLIDESHOW of what’s coming — at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2LcClIh

RAZING CONCERNS – Students’ older apartments in Tempe give way to luxury option. “Apartments in downtown Tempe with a mid-century garden style and cheaper rents will be razed and replaced by a seven-story luxury apartment complex aimed at students.” The project has some “raising concerns about the city’s lack of affordable housing.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2nSwHBP

Why the metro Phoenix apartment market is so hot right now.“Apartments are a hot commodity in metro Phoenix, and not just with renters. Investors are snatching up Valley apartment complexes almost daily for hefty prices.” What’s driving this apartment popularity surge? AZCentral real estate reporter Catherine Reagor has the answers. —> http://bit.ly/2PpqbPp

Former mining hotel in Jerome is listed as $6.2M home. “The 3.45-acre, eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom hotel was built in 1919 and Walter Acker and his wife, Lisa, bought it in 1995 for $190,000.” “The Little Daisy” Hotel — what was “a mere shell of a building”— is now being touted by the Russ Lyon/Sotheby’s listing agent a “true historic masterpiece.” Get revamp details and check out a 14-image SLIDESHOW at KTAR. http://bit.ly/2nPq970 

Eternal Springs. “After four decades of disuse and a parade of frustrated owners, Arizona’s first resort is finally reborn.” PHOENIX Magazine on the history and “resurrection” of Castle Hot Springs. http://bit.ly/2N2hARo

South Peoria holds prime investment opportunities. This is the third in a Peoria Times series “outlining what Peoria Economic Development Department calls the city’s premier development sites.” The focus of this installment is on two prime locations: Sixteen acres adjacent to Park West; and a 328-acre, two-phase opportunity at Grand Ave. & Olive. http://bit.ly/2N5LXGq

Gilbert builds on vision with Heritage District Redevelopment Plan update. “The plan identifies three key redevelopment areas within the District and identifies essential public amenities that will improve the livability and tourism in each area.” Mayor Jenn Daniels: “The 2018 Heritage District Redevelopment Plan update opens the door for growth and vibrancy to continue for years to come.” AZ Business Magazine. http://bit.ly/2PmBfwS

83rd and Olive development gains Peoria approval. Peoria Times reports on the city’s recent approval of Evergreen Devco’s “request to rezone the existing (PAD) to the Trellis at Roundtree Ranch” located at 83rd Ave. and Olive. http://bit.ly/2OS2KNX

CAP-dependent Pinal farmers look for drought alternatives. “While there is support for preventing a drought contingency plan from devastating Pinal County agriculture, nobody is quite sure how to do it.” And just how “devastating” would it be to lose “surface water from the Colorado River”? PinalCentral reports that it “would result in more than half of Pinal County farmland going out of production.” http://bit.ly/2OQ4SFA

Arizona’s plan to withdraw years worth of ‘banked’ CAP water lagging. “Since the late 1990s, when the Southwest’s 19-year drought first kicked in, authorities here have quietly poured huge amounts of Colorado River water into dozens of large sand and gravel-filled basins until the state is ready to use it…. But all that work has left a key detail unsettled: How to withdraw the bank’s water when needed.” (RELATED, also from Arizona Daily Star: “Arizona Water Bank started as a safeguard against California.”) http://bit.ly/2N0RAWl

Glendale council candidates face off at forum. Bart Turner and Ray Strahl “vying for the Barrel District seat.” Jamie Aldama and Emmanuel Allen “competing for the Ocotillo District seat.” Lauren Tolmachoff “running unopposed in the Cholla District.” Full coverage of the “two-hour event” — including VIDEO — available in The Glendale Star.  http://bit.ly/2w06K7V

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2MspB5S

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!

[OPINION] Outlaw Dirty Money amendment would improve state. “The column by Jon Gabriel (Aug. 12) in The Republic extolling anonymous political spending, or ‘dirty money,’ in our state contains so many misstatements about our Outlaw Dirty Money constitutional amendment proposal that, as the co-chairs, we felt we had to respond.” By guest columnists Jason Rose, Grant Woods, Terry Goddard, Paul Johnson, Nan Walden and Dick Walden. http://bit.ly/2N2X6Yu

How a D.C. internship transformed this future state supreme court justice’s life. “In an interview, Clint Bolick reflects on his career before and after joining the Arizona Supreme Court.” The Daily Signal. http://bit.ly/2OSiekR   

How to be happier. In THE WEEK, culture reporter Adam Sternbergh explores happiness — why “everything you think will make you happier won’t,” what science has to say about it, and how finding happiness “takes practice.” http://bit.ly/2BsWZV1

Why kids are obsessed with the Fortnite video game. “Fortnite, the most recent gaming phenomenon, has taken the world by storm and has parents asking whether the shooter game is okay for kids.The short answer is yes…” For the longer answer, tap on to THE WEEK. http://bit.ly/2MB02Pi

Mobile urgi-care unit makes house calls in Ahwatukee. “DispatchHealth is bringing back house calls to Ahwatukee. The new business makes it possible to avoid the emergency room or urgent care in some instances.” Ahwatukee Foothills News. http://bit.ly/2nRKVCX