The Dealmaker is a daily note of the day’s top real estate stories served just in time for lunch. Bon Appetit! Subscribe here to receive the Dealmaker to your inbox
What did you do yesterday? Goodyear City Manager Julie Arendall. From economic development projects to getting briefings on police activity to helping her daughter with a lasagna recipe, Julie Arendall doesn’t have much down time as city manager. For proof, check out her day planner in this latest installment of RLGR’s regular feature showcasing the busy schedules of some of Arizona’s top real estate leaders and government officials. http://bit.ly/2JtTGjw
Big solar land deal closes in Pinal involving same power player who forged Lucid Motors, Nikola Motor plants. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Saint Holdings.) As one of the largest land owners in Arizona, Saint Holdings has been a driver of major economic development deals in Pinal County. In an RLGR report by Mike Sunnucks, CEO Jackob Andersen talks about the company’s latest close: 1,000 acres sold in Coolidge north of the Nikola plant for a new solar energy development — the biggest renewable energy deal in Pinal County. http://bit.ly/2VKs00u
Homebuilders bullish on Pinal County despite cost headwinds. Top homebuilders gathered this morning to talk Pinal County housing for Pinal Partnership. The panel included Dennis Webb, VP of operations, Fulton Homes; Jeff Gunderson, SR. VP of land acquisition and development for Lennar; Mike Kern, president of Communities Southwest; Greg Abrams, VP of Pulte Group Arizona division; Chris Grogan, partner with El Dorado Holdings; and Levi Shill, General Manager: Trilogy at Verde River & Encanterra, a Trilogy Resort Community. Rose Law Group Founder and President Jordan Rose moderated the event — and also tossed in this gem: “The biggest problem today is that you can’t build the homes fast enough. If there’s a thing called a ‘positive problem,’ this is it!” Full recap in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2VIsTGQ
Lucid, Nikola seen as key to creation of support businesses in Pinal. As JLL Managing Director Bill Honsaker teases in this CG Dispatch report: “There are a number of very significant projects that I know first hand that are actually looking in this region.” http://bit.ly/2Js9X8s
Is a tech corridor in Pinal County’s future? If the discussion that took place at Wednesday’s BOS meeting is any indication, the answer is a definite YES! And BOS backed up that talk by allocating resources “to Planning and Development to study the advantages that a tech corridor would have for Pinal County and the region.” SanTanValley.com. http://bit.ly/2EgUvI7
Incoming wave of millennial homebuyers is a major opportunity for U.S. housing market. <- That’s what Taylor Morrison CEO Sheryl Palmer “told CNBC’s Diana Olick at the network’s Capital Exchange forum in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.” Tap on for more. http://bit.ly/2Q9OgLd
Richmond American opens Gilbert community. Bella Verde in west Gilbert • Ranch and two-story • 1,810 to 3,100 sq. ft. • From the mid $300s • A bit more on Bella Verde • Plus info on another new Richmond American community opening in Florida • In Builder. http://bit.ly/2Q8Ypri
Here are the Arizona Multihousing Association Tribute Awards winners.Twenty-four winners in all — “16 individuals, four communities and four teams/communities” — honored “at the 27th Annual AMA/Cox Communications Tribute Awards.” See the list in AzBigMedia.http://bit.ly/2WNGbhL
Mesa Mayor bullish on light rail as system extends to Gilbert Road. Mayor John Giles credits Metro line with bringing in major development. Now, with the $184 million extension debuting Saturday, the mayor envisions the line sparking even more development activity. A Mike Sunnucks’ report in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2VvYnef
Location for new Costco in Surprise revealed in city documents. “The new location is called ‘Prasada Gateway Costco.’ The currently undeveloped farmland is just east of Loop 303.” But where, EXACTLY? AZCentral has the info, in bulk. http://bit.ly/2VHY70w
Tucson evolves into a hot spot for technology and innovation. It’s now “home more than 1 million people,” with a “dynamic,” growing downtown, and “160 new and expanding companies,” including Amazon, Caterpillar, Raytheon, Bombardier, GEICO, Homegoods and Hexagon Mining. How has the “former seemingly small college town” done it and where is it heading from here? AzBigMedia takes a look. http://bit.ly/2LS7UNh
Dusky Gopher Frog case lives on. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision “favorable to NAHB members in Weyerhaeuser Co. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, better known as the Dusky Gopher Frog case.” But the issue is far from endangered. Find out why and what action NAHB is taking to prevent FWS from croaking SCOTUS’ decision. http://bit.ly/2Hnn5JY
Lawmaker, farmers make pitch for $20M for water plan. Rep. David Cook and cotton farmer Tiffany Shedd spoke out on Thursday about efforts to “secure $20 million from the state to help Pinal County farmers drill new wells to replace Colorado River water.” A Cap Media Services/Howard Fischer report. http://bit.ly/2JnFAQR
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
Click here for 2019 Arizona Legislative News
Speaker preparing sexual abuse statute of limitations bill to break budget impasse. The bill “would extend the amount of time a person can file a civil lawsuit for up to 12 years after the alleged victim reaches 18 years of age.” GOP senators say the measure “is key if leaders want them to vote on the budget,” reports AZ Mirror. http://bit.ly/2LTm6p8
Rep. Stanton could be key player in House impeachment fight. “The freshman Arizona Democrat and former Phoenix mayor clinched a seat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee, where he’s been thrust into the heated debate over impeachment that’s playing out on Capitol Hill.” AZ Mirror. http://bit.ly/2JLzl8x
Teens say they’re ignored at the Legislature. “That’s been life for Democratic lawmakers for years, but students who went to the Capitol to push for school safety, gun reform and climate change action left feeling dismissed and disrespected.” But do the teens’ allegations lawmakers don’t sponsor progressive bills mean legislators disrespect them? Of course not, say Republicans. AZ Cap Times. http://bit.ly/2WJPC1z
