The Dealmaker: 10/11/2018

Former Arizona education leader Carolyn Warner dies at 88. “Carolyn was my mentor. It’s no exaggeration to say (and I told her this many times) that every single time I spoke to her she gave me advice I will always remember. I’ll miss her wisdom, her always optimistic attitude, her ability to command any room she entered, her raspy voice and her love of life. God bless her and her amazing family.” – Jordan Rose • AZCentral looks at the life and career of Carolyn Warner, with remembrances by those who knew and greatly admired this “icon,” “trailblazer” and “giant.” http://bit.ly/2pPfpGA

Q&A with Robyn Calihan, partner at LKY Development Company, Inc. Baseball, cycling and family sit-down dinners (but not where you might expect) all figure prominently in the life of Robyn Calihan. And, of course, there’s real estate too, including a crazy career highlight where she skillfully rescued a deal that was all but dead. Robyn discusses these and other topics in this latest installment of Rose Law Group Reporter’s continuing series. http://bit.ly/2OkwwPy

Richmond American Homes opens In Goodyear. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Richmond American Homes in other projects.) Located in The Links neighborhood at Estralla, Richmond American Homes is offering 29 home sites with the option to select from three, single-story floor plans. Get the full news-release rundown of Richmond American’s second neighborhood at Estrella, in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2pKw5zg 

Lennar begins pre-sales, 80 homes sold at Cadence in Mesa. Situated within the amenity-rich neighborhood of Cadence at Gateway, Lennar’s three series, Horizon, Discovery and Signature, will boast Everything’s Included® features and distinct floor plans including their Next Gen® design — and all for an unheard of bargain-basement, HOA-assessment fee of how much per month!? —> http://bit.ly/2PqgvEc

Rosewood Homes buys land for new north Scottsdale project. The luxury homebuilder “paid $5 million for nearly 20 acres” located “north of the northeast corner of Lone Mountain Parkway and Stagecoach Pass Road.” PBJ has details on the future Rosewood Summit Estates, plus info on other projects Rosewood has in the pipeline. (Subscriber Content) http://bit.ly/2pKw5zg  

Golf-course home Maricopa’s most expensive. This “home in the middle of Rancho El Dorado” went for “$69,000 more than its selling price four and a half months earlier.” InMaricopa has a rundown and pic of the “two-story, five-bedroom” house, along with info on the other four top sellers. http://bit.ly/2OmCIXe

Maricopa home sales. More Maricopa sales data! — for homes sold February 2016 through September 2018, from Acacia Crossings to Villages at Rancho El Dorado, in Rose Law Group Reporter (courtesy InMaricopa). http://bit.ly/2EcpYgX

Park Central owners buy additional 21 acres for $28M. To boot, Holualoa Companies and Plaza Companies “announced plans for an ambitious Phase II for the redevelopment.” AZRE reports that ‘Redevelopment: The Sequel’ will entail a “dramatic expansion” that promises to turn Park Central into “an economic engine for Phoenix’s urban core.” http://bit.ly/2pNGCcR

How can we maintain a positive commercial real estate outlook? When it comes to industrial, office and retail sectors around Phoenix, IT’S ALL GOOD! But AzBigMedia wants to know if and how the good times can “continue,” so it gathered nine industry insiders for an informative CRE roundtable discussion. http://bit.ly/2C8dWCW 

Arizona cities give tax breaks to developers. Here’s how you help pay for it. Government Property Lease Excise Tax agreements: Having both supporters and critics, these tax breaks have “become a flashpoint at community gatherings, city council meetings and the Arizona Legislature over the past decade.” Do GPLETs help or hinder? AZCentral examines. http://bit.ly/2OXTdso

The man behind LA’s most iconic shopping destination – The Grove. For Dealmakers who might enjoy a bit of real estate news from around the region—> “Rick Caruso won’t tell you that retail is dying because he doesn’t believe it. The father of The Grove, LA’s famous shopping and dining destination, discussed the state of retail in America and why he is one of few developers still betting big.” Watch in Forbes. http://bit.ly/2QJX21n

Pima and Pinal counties work together to entice employers, workers. “It not uncommon to find neighboring municipalities try to outbid each other to land a manufacturing plant, distribution center or a call center. But Pima and Pinal Counties are fighting against that perception by joining together to merge their strengths to balance out their weaknesses.” Pinal County News via SanTanValley.com. http://bit.ly/2A5dUuc

Power line to connect TEP’s biggest solar project closer to final approval. “In late September, TEP won approval from the Arizona Power Plant and Line Siting Committee to build a new substation and transmission lines along South Swan Road to bring a future 100-megawatt solar farm and linked 30MW battery storage project online.” Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2CbgIqL

University of Arizona will buy $1.7M property, beating out student housing developer. “The property… just south of Speedway, includes more than 13,300 square feet of land with a seven-unit, 3,633-square-foot building.” With the “developer’s plan to build private student housing” out of the picture, what now for the property? Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2ITrcNa

Paradise Valley consternation swirls as outgoing mayor seeks CIP advisory committee, role. Last week, PV Mayor Michael Collins floated an “idea to form a new town citizen-review committee focused on current, pending and down-the-road capital improvement projects.” PV Independent reporter Terrance Thornton takes a look at Mayor Collins’ citizen committee “idea” — and one Town Council member’s reaction to it. http://bit.ly/2P006tf

PV Town Manager finalists. The three candidates are: Matthew LeCerf, who served as Town Manager of Frederick, CO; Gary Neiss, who serves as Town Administrator of Carefree, AZ; and Mark Perkins, who serves as City Administrator of Creve Coeur, MO.  More on the finalists and how they got there in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2OQ7Ttw

Mesa investigating after voters hit with deceptive text messages aimed to confuse. The “Democrats for Mayor John Giles” texts seem to be “aimed at confusing voters about the city’s ‘home rule’ question on the Nov. 6 ballot.” As a result, the Mesa Clerk’s Office has set its sights on finding out if they “violated state election law.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2OmDCmD 

Seeking sustainability: Peoria council approves funds for recharge well at Butler facility. “City council approved a contract amendment with MGC Contractors for no more than about $1.94 million to build a recharge well at the Butler Water Reclamation Facility near 79th and Olive avenues, adjacent to Pioneer Park…” YourValley. http://bit.ly/2EcpPKA

Eighth Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships almost here! November 10th through 11th – http://bit.ly/2OgUoDK

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, including Meritage Homes Chairman & CEO Steven J. Hilton and Christopher Todd Communities CEO Todd Wood. Plus, Belfiore Real Estate Consulting President & Founder Jim Belfiore provides an Overview on Housing. For the full list of speakers & panelists, along with registration info for Arizona Housing: Growth, Its Costs, Challenges & Opportunities, tap on! http://bit.ly/2LAvclq 

As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!

How the enlightenment ends; ‘AI anxiety misplaced,’ says Logan Elia, Rose Law Group attorney practicing privacy law. “Philosophically, intellectually — in every way — human society is unprepared for the rise of artificial intelligence.” That’s the view put forth, and subsequently unpacked, by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in a piece for The Atlantic State that urges “national vision” on the matter of AI before it’s “too late.” Logan Elia shares his views on the matter in RLGR. Here’s a snippet: “First, technological development is inevitable, and, by its nature, increasingly rapid. People shouldn’t worry about the inevitable; it will come to pass regardless. But, more importantly, we have every reason to expect that the human condition will improve with access to greater intelligence.” http://bit.ly/2A5ELX3 

Trump poised to sign bipartisan water infrastructure bill. “America’s Water Infrastructure Act, the most comprehensive infrastructure legislation passed this Congress, will authorize over $6 billion in federal spending on ports, harbors and waterways. It will also de-authorize spending on water projects that have been deemed inefficient.” The Hill. http://bit.ly/2Eco0NP

Treasurer debate turns personal, testy. “You favor socialized banking!” • Hah! Well, you are somebody only a lobbyist could trust!” • “Hey, at least I’m not ashamed of what I do for a living!” • “I’m not. But YOU are anti- social justice!” • So what?! You lost your home in foreclosure, proving you’re a terrible manager of money!” Okay, so it’s not exactly McGregor vs. Khabib, but Yee vs. Manoil had its moments. And Cap Media Services’ Howard Fischer has the blow-by-blow in Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2IUZMqd

AAU coach testifies to paying Deandre Ayton’s family. “An AAU coach and Adidas consultant testified Wednesday in federal court over allegations about dirty money in college hoops to paying the family of Suns center Deandre Ayton during his high school recruitment.” Arizona Sports. http://bit.ly/2C7u6wh