A WEEKLEY PURCHASE – David Weekley Homes buys final 2 parcels in Blackstone at Vistancia. Parcel No. 1 totals 38 homesites — 60’x120’ — “located along both the 8th and 9th holes of the Blackstone Country Club golf course.” Parcel No. 2 has 27 homesites — 50’x80’ — “around the 10th hole.” AzBigMedia reports that the “transaction brings David Weekley Homes’ total lots inside the luxury community to 310 homesites of the projected 650 total lots.” http://bit.ly/2pOi4Aa
320-unit District at Chandler gets P&Z OK. Kaplan Management Company wants to build a 4-story multifamily project at “the NWC of Frye Road and 95th Street, east of Dobson Road.” To that end, the company was looking for a rezone from SFR to PAD for “Multifamily Residential with a Mid-Rise Overlay for building heights up to 50 feet…” So, in summing up what AZBEX reports: So far, so good! (But tap on, because there’s also info on the project’s design elements.) http://bit.ly/2Ggi8Uq
Canopy by Hilton will be built at Union Tempe. What to do with the remaining 25,000-sq. ft. parcel at the NE corner of University and Myrtle? How about a $60 million deal with Driftwood Acquisitions & Development for a 14-story “200-room hotel” that will “anchor a corner of OPUS’ mixed-use development, Union Tempe”! Details, rendering, and identities of those who “facilitated this complex transaction,” at AZRE. http://bit.ly/2Gi6Bje
Gladden Farm sees Phase II coming with Richmond and Lennar. “Richmond American Homes and Lennar Homes teamed up to buy Block 35 and 39, the first sales in Gladden Farms II [in Marana]. Richmond acquired 64-lots… and Lennar purchased 59-lots…” Respective price tags along with other transaction and development info at Real Estate Daily News. http://bit.ly/2E17uuL
Zillow: It costs $18,342 to sell a house. “Zillow and Thumbtack identified several common, but often overlooked, seller expenses [i.e., not just ‘Closing Costs,’ but also ‘Basic Home Prep Costs’] and calculated what they would cost around the country — including in Phoenix. Check out the tallies from these “massive pain points,” in Builder. http://bit.ly/2Ggxzfd
The Best Cities to Sell a House — 2018 edition. SmartAsset looks at where those places are based on “change in home values, average days on the market, percent of homes sold for a loss and the number of real estate offices per 1,000 residents.” One PHX East Valley town lands in the top five. Find out where, and get other key findings in Builder. http://bit.ly/2pLWywD
Home prices up 6.2% in January. “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index… registered a 6.2% annual gain in January, down from 6.3% in the previous month.” HOWEVER: “The 20-City Composite posted a 6.4% year-over-year gain, up from 6.3% in the previous month.” See how Phoenix shaped up, in Builder. http://bit.ly/2GAGIi5
Will ‘granny flats’ resolve housing shortages? “Some housing economists believe that [‘these accessory dwelling units’ — ‘separate, cottage-like structures’] could be the key to alleviating housing shortages across the country… Some city and state government have zoning laws that prevent these extra living quarters from being added into single-family homes. But that is changing.” REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2pKnT2i
Suburbs live, long live suburbs. “The numbers and the moving vans don’t lie, which is good news for single-family for-sale developers and builders investing in greenfield as well as infill communities.” By John McManus in Builder. http://bit.ly/2usjxld
UA launches campaign for facility upgrades. “As part of its Capital Campaign to raise funds for facility upgrades and a new sports center, The University of Arizona [has] released details and images for five planned projects: • Arizona Stadium Renovations and Upgrades • McKale Center Hillenbrand Aquatic Center • Hillenbrand Stadium • Indoor Sports Center.” For additional info and access to project details and images, tap to AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2GDzk5B
Project to widen I-10 in Casa Grande to start. Having three lanes in each direction, from Early Rd. to I-8, is gonna make for a SWEET ride! Having to wait 18 months for it to be completed, not so much. Casa Grande Dispatch. http://bit.ly/2pLlsMN
Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2GkHVa5
The Third Annual Stella Artois Derby Dayclub returns May 5th – http://bit.ly/2GCrFEq
County Attorney tells ACLU to stop its campaign against opioid bill. “Earlier this month, the civil rights group urged people to contact [Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall] and ask her to withdraw her support for House Bill 2241, which would increase penalties for people convicted of several crimes involving certain opiates…” In response, LaWall sent a letter to the ACLU, “asking that it ‘cease and desist from disseminating a misleading solicitation.’ ” Arizona Daily Star has the letter along with the ACLU’s “dumbfounded” reaction to it. http://bit.ly/2utbxAf
Accident gives Mesa lawmaker pause over automated delivery robots. “House Majority Whip Kelly Townsend told Capitol Media Services that her bill [HB 2422] to allow autonomous vehicles onto sidewalks to make deliveries, something not allowed under current Arizona law, likely needs a closer look after [last week’s] fatal crash.” By Howard Fischer in East Vally Tribune. http://bit.ly/2Gjchxm
[GUEST OPINION] It’s time to rename KGUN. Telling her fellow Tucsonans that “We can do better,” UA geography professor Elizabeth Oglesby argues that the time has come to change the call letters for city’s local TV station and ABC affiliate. But is this carrying gun issues too far? Read the op-ed plea in Tucson Sentinel. http://bit.ly/2IZoZ28
At least 12 states to sue Trump Administration over census citizenship question; Arizona not among them. Are you a United States citizen? “At least 12 states signaled Tuesday that they would sue to block the Trump administration from adding [that] question… to the 2020 census, arguing that the change would cause fewer Americans to be counted and violate the Constitution.” The New York Times. http://bit.ly/2GALnk5
Barkley for sheriff, Grumpy Cat for mayor, says ‘Phoenix New Times.’“Since it’s become popular for celebrities [to] consider running,” Phoenix’s local weekly “has come up with a list of Arizona celebrities and the position” it thinks “they should run for in the next viable election…” —> http://bit.ly/2E2PeB3
Sweat beads lead to bipartisanship in Congress. In the middle of last week’s spending clash over the omnibus, nine lawmakers participated in a workout called Solidcore, which “combines Pilates-like positions with a boot camp feel.” Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema on her recruitment strategy: “So here’s how I pitch it: ‘Solidcore’s the hardest workout you’ll ever do. It’s miserable. Come with me tomorrow.’ ” More on this bipartisan bootcamp where caloric-deficit meets national-deficit, in Roll Call. http://bit.ly/2GxRgyz
