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? Larry Rains, Casa Grande City Manager. If Larry Rains kicked off his days any earlier, you’d have to say he was working the graveyard shift! The early rising muni-manager and big-time Cowboys fan outlines one of his typically busy days in this latest look at the schedules of some of Arizona’s top leaders in real estate and government. RLGR. http://bit.ly/2lOthlS
Belfiore: West Valley submarkets poised for more growth, new homes. Avondale, Tolleson, Goodyear and west Phoenix — all “hot in terms of demand,” says real estate consultant Jim Belfiore. And with how many new subdivisions in the works? Get Jim’s full housing-market take in this new RLGR report from Mike Sunnucks. http://bit.ly/2kLUJk7
Old Town Scottsdale rezoning makes way for 3-story townhomes. City Council’s action sets the stage for “six, three-story townhome complexes” called Fleetwood 6, at the NE corner of 69th and E 1st. Aerial, rendering and project details (sans the developer’s identity) in SI. http://bit.ly/2lLxIxP
Mesa to Greenlight new apartments? The answer won’t come until later this month when City Council considers a rezone for the new multifamily project from Greenlight Communities. Reporter Mike Sunnucks has a quick preview in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2lNvfTG
Lego-like house west of Phoenix now finished. The hollow foam ‘Legos’ that Castle Rock Custom Homes used in building the 3,600 sq. ft. house are now walls, concealed by stucco. But you can still catch a glimpse of the colorful bricks, along with pics of the finished home, at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2lO6gzw
Tucson master-plans continue to be the “go-to” choice for home builders. Here’s a RED News roundup of recent lot purchases by KB Homes and Meritage Homes in the greater Tucson market. http://bit.ly/2lNvk9W
Metro Phoenix apartment industry contributes $53.8B to economy. “The new report, available at WeAreApartments.org, provides a detailed breakdown of the economic impact nationally, by state, and in 50 metro areas.” But why go all the way there when report highlights for Phoenix are right here in AzBigMedia! -> http://bit.ly/2kfLYyn
Falcon Field plans new hangars, airfield improvements to meet growing demand. More runway connections. Upgraded parking ramps. 400,000 sq. ft. of new hangars. Improvement details, plus info on how Falcon Field’s Opportunity Zone status is playing a big role in the makeover of Mesa’s “little hub of economic activity,” in Chamber Business News. http://bit.ly/2kJsm64
THE WOLF THAT CRIED ‘YES, WE’RE OPEN!’-Great Wolf Lodge delays opening. The indoor waterpark was set to welcome its first guests next Wednesday but, in what sounds like an attempt at yet more silly humor, the opening of Great Wolf has been pushed back because: It was short on electricians. No joke. PBJ. http://bit.ly/2kLVzNN
Major redesign proposed for Florence park. “After developing in a mostly haphazard fashion for almost 30 years, there’s now a proposal for master planning Heritage Park for a more rewarding experience.” Check out the site plan and new features in Flo Reminder. http://bit.ly/2kLVNo7
City of Phoenix partners with Cisco and Microsoft for iCount 2020. The likelihood of “achieving a successful census count” received a big boost on Thursday, as Mayor Kate Gallego announced a “public-private partnership” intended to increase awareness, via census vehicles equipped with Cisco and Microsoft state-of-the-art technology. AzBigMedia. http://bit.ly/2mdPdXL
Final Details and Event Line-Up Announced for World’s Greatest Polo Party –http://bit.ly/2kgT1ae
RLG HIRING: Rose Law Group is seeking a receptionist for our front desk to provide administrative and clerical support for our office. Contact us: http://bit.ly/2UgnCCk
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
[OP-ED] How do we sustain the Colorado River past 2026? Here’s how Arizona intends to find out. “The Drought Contingency Plan is working, but it’s just the beginning. Here’s how we move forward.” By: ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and CAP General Manager Ted Cooke. AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2mhAdbx
Allegation of academic fraud hits Arizona basketball program, Yahoo report. Another bombshell allegation dropped on UA bball Wednesday, with a report that “former assistant coach Book Richardson discussed paying $40,000” to “add a course” to Rawle Alkins “academic record” so that the former play would be “eligible to play.” Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2m8yIw2
Las Vegas apparently talked with Arizona Diamondbacks about relocation. We knew about the D-Backs previous talks with the city of Henderson — the news was widely reported. But talks with Vegas? This latest development in the relocation drama threw us a bit of a curve. Review-Journal. http://bit.ly/2kLpPrV
Survey finds Phoenix work-life balance better than Tucson. “Whether it’s disconnecting from your phone after clocking out or taking off early to get to a recital, everybody has their own ways to maintain work-life balance.” A company called Kisi did the study. PBJ has the findings. http://bit.ly/2kgvnKS
Veterinarians face unique issues that make suicide one of the profession’s big worries. “Dr. Will McCauley had just finished his shift at a small Dallas animal clinic when he went home, fed his pet pot-bellied pig and then held a loaded handgun to his head…” TIME. http://bit.ly/2kLe1WF
Republican legislator says Secretary of State slow in informing candidates of new requirement. Majority Leader Warren Petersen “blasted” Sec. of State Katie Hobbs “for failing to inform candidates of a new requirement that could invalidate the signatures they collect.” Arizona Mirror (ALSO: Arizona voters who don’t sign early ballots will get a second chance under settlement. AZCentral). http://bit.ly/2mfKMvI