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
Arizona Supreme Court rules to keep light rail initiative on ballot. The Associated General Contractors of America sued back in January to “keep the initiative off the ballot,” citing issues with signature gathering and initiative language. The Arizona Supreme Court responded yesterday, with a ruling that keeps the initiative in place. Read the decision, in full, via PBJ. http://bit.ly/30W67Ju
Phoenix’s August election could end light rail expansion. Here’s what to know [PODCAST]. The Gaggle talks with “Republic reporter Jessica Boehm to break down how [Props. 105 and 106] could affect the future of Phoenix and the Valley.” http://bit.ly/2y9JgOl
Scottsdale approves two residential, one commercial final plats. A 40-lot SF subdivision at 94th and Cactus; another with 17 lots at 91st and Happy Valley; and a commercial subdivision at Hayden and SR 101. Details on Wolf Springs Ranch, HV91 and Cavasson in Scottsdale Independent. http://bit.ly/2SCl4xo
Fountain Hills P&Z: Developments, medical marijuana big topics. Two development projects would “bring nearly 500 new rental units,” while action on an MMJ dispensary item would open the door for “longer hours of operation.” P&Z considers all three items today, and Fountain Hills Times has a preview. http://bit.ly/2Y2PnU1
Lennar Homes is first builder to move Valencia Crossing forward.“Located in the Tucson southeast submarket, Lennar’s 162-lots are bordered by Julian Wash to the east and I-10 to the west.” Development details, including aerial sitemaps, in RED News. http://bit.ly/2YmoYzT
Want to own a tiny home in Tempe? Then you’ll want to read this AZCentralreport on Tempe Micro Estates, a Newtown Community Development project comprised of a dozen 600-ft. homes “on city-owned land near the Jen Tilly Terrace neighborhood.” http://bit.ly/2Oj1QhY
Changing home building from the ground up. “Sekisui House, the world’s No. 1 company in home building with $20 billion in annual revenue, is working this year with its Woodside Homes U.S. operation on a transformational new-home project, Chōwa.” John McManus in Builder calls it “a milestone in builders’ path to transforming how we live.” http://bit.ly/2LHNqFQ
Carson: Regulations are “huge barriers” to affordable housing. That was the main message from HUD Secretary Ben Carson at an affordable housing conference in Atlanta earlier this week. DSNews has the recap. http://bit.ly/2Ze4s1s
Gilbert looks at parking in development code changes. Town officials are looking at parking as they update the East Valley suburb’s Land Development Code. What would those updated design rules and standards include? Reporter Mike Sunnucks has the info in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2LJofmq
Region is a growing powerhouse even before census. Example? Mesa is on track to topple Tucson for the title of “Arizona’s second-largest city.” And Mesa isn’t alone among East Valley cities when it comes to such “growing clout.” EVT. http://bit.ly/310cewD
Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2GtVwOi
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
Rose Law Group litigator Evan Bolick talks website privacy policies in wake of FTC’s record fine against Facebook. As multiple news outlets have reported, the FTC hit Facebook with a record $5 billion fine on Wednesday for its unauthorized sharing of user data with third parties. Evan Bolick, who has drafted privacy policies as well as terms and conditions for business websites, calls the fine “massive, but likely appropriate.” Evan comments on the matter, at length, inRLGR. http://bit.ly/2Yo0Flg
Why an NBA exec says the deal between the Phoenix Suns and PayPal is a game changer. It’s a partnership that goes way beyond just putting the sponsor’s logo on player jerseys, as the “Suns allowed PayPal’s technology to be integrated into nearly all the ways the team and fans interact financially.” And it’s paying off. Big time. PBJ (Subscriber Content). http://bit.ly/2Oj2H2a
Tucson mayoral candidates agree ‘sanctuary city’ initiative would be bad for city. “At the debate organized by the Rotary Club of Tucson, all the candidates were reluctant to talk about the ‘sanctuary city’ ballot initiative — which they all oppose.” Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2ydxGBI
Mueller fields partisan questions from Arizona representatives. Reps. Biggs, Lesko and Stanton “were among the House Judiciary Committee members who questioned special counsel Robert Mueller” during a hearing that was, by most media accounts, a disaster for Dems. KTAR. http://bit.ly/2LGZSWG
