The Dealmaker: 8/29/2018

At water-starved Lake Mead and Lake Powell, ‘the crisis is already real,’ scientists say. “With Lake Mead dropping to levels that could trigger water cutbacks in less than two years, there’s been a lot of talk lately about negotiating a deal to keep the reservoir from falling even further. But in a new report, scientists say the situation is just as worrisome upstream at Lake Powell.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2LC4n09

Judge to Johnson Utilities: Comply or go to jail. “Pinal County Superior Court Judge Stephen McCarville on Tuesday ordered Johnson Utilities officials to give EPCOR USA financial control of the company by 2 p.m. Thursday, and warned that anyone interfering with the new boss would be arrested.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2wsqSjf

Evergreen Devco breaks ground on Parc at South Mountain. The “258-unit luxury apartment community” will be situated at Southern and 34th Street. Rendering along with some details on the Todd & Associates’ design, at AZRE. http://bit.ly/2wkOUg7

State auctioning swaths of trust land in response to Tucson’s booming housing market. Examples? KB Home’s recent $10.6 million purchase of 210 acres of state trust land, and another auction coming up in October for “close to 47 acres.” Both are cited in this Arizona Daily Star report as “solid evidence of Tucson’s strong market for new housing.” http://bit.ly/2wrFxuY

Realty: A comprehensive guide to Maricopa subdivisions. “Which is the best subdivision?” What should buyers look for in a subdivision? At inMaricopa, Realtor Brian Petersheim gives us a ‘subdivision shopping’” rundown for Acacia Crossings, Rancho El Dorado, Tortosa, Alterra and FIFTEEN other Maricopa communities. http://bit.ly/2PkDvnF

Yavapai among counties with worst home affordability. This finding comes from an ATTOM Data Solutions’ analysis of 432 U.S. counties. How far up the list Yavapai landed, plus other counties across the country with the “lowest home affordability indexes,” in Arizona Business Daily. http://bit.ly/2MCtbKI

The Trump tax cuts were supposed to depress housing prices. They haven’t. “It wasn’t supposed to take long for the Trump tax cuts to hobble housing prices, particularly in the high-tax, high-cost metro areas where the new law was poised to rip federal incentives to buy new homes. The New York Times reports, however, that the “predicted carnage hasn’t materialized.” http://bit.ly/2wuWbcj

Zillow: No buyers market until at least 2020. “Three out of four economists surveyed said the national housing market would not shift to a buyers market until 2020 or later.” More results from Zillow’s 2018 Q3 Home Price Expectations Surveyin Builder. http://bit.ly/2PhRhXU

AMEX expanding in North Phoenix.“American Express is creating a fourth building on its 90-acre Desert Ridge campus…” Check out the design details at AZBEX. The strata of the building’s upper floors as shown in the rendering looks like giant stacks of humungous credit cards. Or maybe it’s because we’re all just a bit bleary-eyed here at Dealmaker HQ from having done an all-nighter watching election returns. (See “Special Election Coverage” below.) http://bit.ly/2MWds8N

As Sears withers, its former stores fuel a new fortune. Creative offices in Santa Monica. A new 600-unit apartment complex on Long Island. A ‘luxurious” shopping center in Florida. “These developments are rising from the ashes of former Sears department stores. And they represent an audacious feat of financial engineering by a group of wealthy investors who bet that one of the retailer’s greatest assets was its real estate.” The New York Times. http://bit.ly/2wrzHtv

Valley city names new economic development director. “Former Surprise Assistant City Manager Rick Buss was chosen as the new economic development director for the city of Peoria… Before working in Surprise, he was the founding city manager for the city of Maricopa.” PBJ. http://bit.ly/2C0bzn2

10th Annual AZ DealMakers – January 11, 2019. Don’t miss out on the BIGGEST homebuilding industry event for real estate forecasting and analysis, featuring the best speakers in the industry and a mixer with the finest in AZ Real Estate! Includes an Overview on Housing provided by Jim Belfiore, President of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting. For the full list of ten keynote speakers & panelists plus registration info for the event titled Arizona Housing: Growth, Its Costs, Challenges & Opportunities, tap on! http://bit.ly/2LAvclq 

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!

Special Election Coverage 

Suprise/Glendale/Peoria Early results show winners, runoffs in West Valley local races. Here’s who’s ahead/won seats on: Surprise City Council: Jim Cunningham, Nancy Hayden, Patrick Duffy, Skip Hall, Chris Judd. Peoria: Mayor Cathy Carlat (unopposed), Michael Finn (unopposed), Vicki Hunt, Carlo “Rocky” Leone. Glendale: Lauren Tolmachoff (unopposed), Bart Turner, Jamie Aldama. Get tallies in YourValley. http://bit.ly/2MF5uBp

Glendale City Council incumbents hold leads in early election results. As mentioned above, Jamie Aldama and Bart Turner are ahead and Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff “is poised to keep her seat.” Here’s a closer look at those races, courtesy AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2C0iNra

Incumbents lead in Peoria City Council election as early results roll in. Another AZCentral election-night recap, featuring info on a possible Peoria “runoff in November,” at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2Ph0pw4

Surprise City Council could see shake-up if early election returns hold. “A few close races have emerged and a few challengers are leading incumbents in early returns in Tuesday’s election.” Yep, in AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2MWU1g0

Election Day: Incumbents lead in Litchfield Park and Tolleson races. Three open seats in Litchfield Park and Vice Mayor Paul Faith and Tom Rosztoczy had an early lead, with Lisa Brainard Watson and Kerry Marie Giangobbe trailing. MEANWHILE, in a tight Tolleson race, incumbent Juan Rodriguez was ahead, “followed by incumbents Linda Laborin and Clorinda Contreras Erives, then Adolfo Gámez and Tida Garcia.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2wxivSL 

No contest in Avondale or Buckeye. “Avondale City Council incumbents Bryan Kilgore and Tina Conde, along with Curtis Nielson, are running for three seats. Incumbents Patrick HagEstad, Craig Heustis and Eric Orsborn are uncontested in their re-election campaigns for Buckeye City Council.” Info from AZCentral.

Luna, Heredia hold leads in Mesa City Council election. Mesa Vice Mayor David Luna and Francisco Heredia lead in their districts. “Heredia, on a crowded ballot, may still have to face a runoff election in November against challenger Mark Yarbrough, who was in second place.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2NxLvkr

Lopez, Roe, Orlando take early leads in Chandler City Council race.“Chandler Vice Mayor Rene Lopez, Councilman Terry Roe and former Chandler Council member Matt Orlando were leading…” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2LBRcw1

Aimee Rigler, incumbents lead early in Gilbert council race. “So far, the results show Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson, Jordan Ray and Eddie Cook, in addition to Rigler, leading in the seven-way race.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2N1O419 

Update: Early ballots give Vitiello lead in Maricopa City Council race.“Rich Vitiello and incumbents Henry Wade and Vincent Manfredi lead the eight-person field of Maricopa City Council candidates.” InMaricopa. http://bit.ly/2PMkGux

Paradise Valley unofficial results: Andeen, Dembow and Thomasson are council front runners. Ellen Andeen, Paul Dembow and Anna Thomasson are town council front runners. “Vice Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner [unopposed] was also elected to serve as mayor.” PV Independent. http://bit.ly/2BYhU2v

Cave Creek. Mayor Bunch leading Eileen Wright. Top 6 for Council: Royer, Morris, McGuire (incumbent), Smith (incumbent) Clancy (incumbent), Diefenderfer. Candidates Currently Trailing: Augherton (losing by 1 vote to Diefenderfer), Sova (incumbent), Monachino.

Fountain Hills Unofficial election results show mayoral lead for Dickey.Ginny Dicky leads Cecil Yates to become the new mayor. “Those receiving the most votes for the three council seats up for grabs were Mike Scharnow, David Spelich and Alan Magazine.” The Fountain Hills Times. http://bit.ly/2N1OnsP

Sandra Kennedy takes lead in Corp Comm Democratic primary. Sandra Kennedy has snagged one of two Democratic nominations for two open ACC seats. Bill Mundell is neck-and-neck with Kiana Maria Sears. The vote breakdowns — including for the Republican race — in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2wxsF5F

Governor’s race: Ducey wins Republican primary; Garcia nabs Democratic nomination. “Gov. Doug Ducey soundly defeated challenger Ken Bennett in the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, as longtime educator David Garcia beat out state Sen. Steve Farley and YWCA leader Kelly Fryer for the Democratic nomination.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2NufV7o

McSally, Sinema to face off for Senate seat in November. “Republican Martha McSally claimed victory Tuesday night and immediately called out general election opponent Democrat Kyrsten Sinema as a fake centrist.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2okC3WJ

Gaynor holds healthy lead over incumbent Reagan for secretary of state.Republican Steve Gaynor currently leads incumbent Michele Reagan. “If the early returns hold, Gaynor will face Katie Hobbs, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the general election Nov. 6.” Cronkite News.http://bit.ly/2BYGPTu

Diane Douglas behind in state superintendent race; Dems in dead heat. Republican candidates Bob Branch and Frank Riggs are ahead of Douglas, and Kathy Hoffman is ahead of David Schapira for the Democratic nomination, AZCentralreports. http://bit.ly/2N1OZi7

Arizona treasurer’s office primary: Kimberly Yee defeats Jo Ann Sabbagh. “Sen. Kimberly Yee defeated Tucson accountant Jo Ann Sabbagh in the Republican primary race for state treasurer on Tuesday night.” http://bit.ly/2Ns7JEp 

Scandal candidates: Shooter shot down in comeback try, while Gowan appears to have won another chance at serving. Republican Don Shooter, who was expelled from the Legislature for improper sexual conduct, nevertheless thought he could return to the Capitol. Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. MEANWHILE, David Gowan, whose tenure as House Speaker ended under a cloud of investigation, had better luck. A special election report by Senior Reporter/Writer Phil Riske in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2PiUJl1

Arizona primary election races that are too close to call. Lots of notable races going down to the wire. Check out the list in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2wrO2Gm

5 key takeaways from Arizona’s primary election. “Primary voters served up a mixed bag of results in Tuesday’s primaries, while voting problems fueled a sense of exasperation that Arizona just can’t seem to pull off a trouble-free election.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2MD7Bpz

Find full election results at the secretary of state’s website.