The Dealmaker: 2/14/2019

Phoenix mayoral candidates face off over light rail, Suns arena and homelessness. “Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela squared off Tuesday night at the Burton Barr Library, discussing such big-picture issues as public safety and the economy but clashing over light-rail expansion, homelessness and recently approved renovations to Talking Stick Resort Arena.” Highlights in Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2GJLmKs

Maricopa County selects Jack Sellers as new supervisor for East Valley.Yesterday it was a late-breaking headline as Dealmaker went out. Today, it’s the full AZCentral report on the appointment of former Chandler City Councilman Jack Sellers to the Maricopa Board of Supervisors. http://bit.ly/2E9V5aW

Bill would allow for more protests against zoning. Jordan Rose, Owner andFounder of Rose Law Group and a land use attorney, tells RLGR: “This bill …. gives unrelated property owners more control over what you can do on your own land.” Tap on for more about the Rep. John Kavanagh-sponsored bill. http://bit.ly/2N6M5GF

VR won’t replace model homes anytime soon. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Fulton Homes.) With the increasing use of “virtual tours, web-based photo galleries, and videos,” Builder wants to know: “Are model homes still relevant?” Fulton Homes Vice President Dennis Webb and four other industry pros give their views in this Q&A. http://bit.ly/2Icljh2

Scottsdale homebuilder shelled out $1B for land in 2018. But can Taylor Morrison “maintain that pace in 2019”? Chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer gives us her take on the “land seller environment” in this PBJ rundown of TM’s Q4 numbers. (Subscriber Content) http://bit.ly/2S3iSxc

Rising construction costs blew Tortosa Trails budget. The housing industry is no stranger to “higher costs and labor shortages,” and now those two home-building headwinds are messing with the timing of Communities Southwest’s “plat-planning phase” for Tortosa Trails, “a 287-acre, 1,052-SFH subdivision on “Maricopa’s eastern edge.” InMaricopa. http://bit.ly/2SDG3Dh

GEE WHIFF – Gee strikes out on offer to settle Lakes battle. “Stating that it could take as long as three years for the courts to resolve the legal fight over the future of the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course, owner Wilson Gee last week made a surprise offer to his opponents — offering to share potentially millions of dollars in profits if they allow him to sell the land to a homebuilder. The offer was promptly rejected.” AFN. http://bit.ly/2DEBKNK

Do tiny homes live up to the hype? Has ‘little living’ turned into a big “trend for buyers and renters”? Or is it “more of a niche concept”? The spotlight is on Phoenix in this PropertyShark analysis of major metros and the dent smaller homes have made in their respective residential markets. http://bit.ly/2Ea3dZ7

Phoenix retail real estate market levels off to close 2018. Vacancy flattened out, net absorption weakened, and Investment slowed. Still, “Greater Phoenix experienced a very healthy 2018 in the retail real estate sector.” Get all the numbers in this retail real estate rundown from AZRE. http://bit.ly/2EamRV2

Mesa needs 3-4 years to build slew of amenities. “Mesa voters approved virtually every sort of municipal amenity in last fall’s $196-million bond issue… But making these facilities actually available to the public is expected to take about three to four years for land acquisition, design and construction — and some will arrive sooner rather than later. EVTribune. http://bit.ly/2IdcweX

Queen Creek’s General Plan update receives 2 awards. Let’s hear it for the QC! “The town’s General Plan update received two awards from the American Planning Association’s Arizona Chapter, the Best General Plan and the Best Public Outreach.” Check out the update, in full, via QC Independent. http://bit.ly/2GJ0pUu

Gilbert receives ‘Deal Of The Year Honorable Mention.’ Congratulations to Gilbert and its Office of Economic Development which received an “Honorable Mention Award” in Business Facilities magazine’s “2018 Deal of the Year” competition. The project? Deloitte’s new U.S. Delivery Center. http://bit.ly/2N4ZTkQ

RENTAL HOUSE BILL – Legislature takes aim at short-term rentals. “House Bill 2672, sponsored by Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, adds restrictions on the number of people allowed in a short-term or vacation rental property and would require the installation of security equipment, among other additional regulatory measures.” Arizona Mirror. http://bit.ly/2DJw2ue

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

Click here for 2019 Arizona Legislative News