More Sprawl > More people moving to Maricopa County than anywhere in the U.S.

According to a new big heap of Hype in mainstream media, and this new report  from the chief cheerleader for expansion-at-any-price, Mike Sunnucks in The Phoenix Business Journal published a couple of days ago even bigger piles of more propaganda to promote more fast growth. That's in spite of new warning signs from more respectable sources that he uses and cherry-picks to promote more people moving to Maricopa County where we are having a crisis in affordable housing. Other recent reports urge more precaution as another boom-and-bust cycle in residential real estate development  starts to pause.  

More people moving to Maricopa County than anywhere in the U.S.

Mike Sunnucks | Phoenix Business Journal | 2018-10-15T16:30:00-04:00

Maricopa County saw more people move to the area than any other county in the U.S. during the past five years.

The county saw 221,000 immigrants between 2012 and 2017, according to a new report from RentCafe.

That volume was by far the highest in the country, the report shows. . .

Among the appealing attributes for migrants looking for a new city to live in was Maricopa County's relatively low cost of living, especially home prices.

Out of the top 10 counties for net internal migration, Maricopa had the fourth-lowest average home price.

It's overly simple to say people are leaving California and coming to Arizona, but people are attracted to Maricopa County, said Mark Stapp, director of the center for real estate theory and practice at Arizona State University.

The key  reasons Stapp said that  people typically give for moving to Phoenix metro area are:

• climate
• amenities
• cost of living
• employment opportunities

 "But Phoenix does have important advantages that in the long run should help resolve, or at least keep in check, affordability issues. These advantages include:

> a regulatory environment that is less onerous

> few constraints to future growth,

> relatively new transportation infrastructure,

> sufficient domestic water supply and

> available land that is easy to develop

Housing affordability remains Maricopa County's biggest strength, the report said.

Source: Phx Biz Journal

 

 

 

US Arms Exports Over The Last Six Decades (TIMELAPSE)

(the ones we know about)

Published on Jul 18, 2018

Views: 20,719

Courtesy: Data Scientist Will Gearyhttps://vimeo.com/279923192
A stunning time-lapse video demonstrates the massive flow of US weapons exports across the globe over the last 67 years, revealing some surprising recipients in a video that’s going viral.
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Sunbelt Holdings: A Puzzling Predominant Portfolio from a 90's-Era Controversy

After all these years it's the biggest entire 10-acre city block open-space eyesore here in 'The Old Donut-Hole' in downtown Mesa. The former site of the high-grossing source of sales tax revenues for the City of Mesa -  a car dealership, Brown & Brown Chevrolet Auto Nation that got way too many sweetheart-deals from City Hall and provoked public anger when 40 people in mobile home parked got displaced by the city  to build a three-storage garage . . . Sounds familiar with Mesa Royale somehow .... So now what?

There's some background history from three years ago to get updated on that follows farther down. Demolition of the site started in June 2017 (last year), continuing for months removing metal buildings scattered all over until the original showroom building at the NEC Main/Hibbert Streets  finally got torn down using bulldozers, with a hazmat removal crew from Alwyn in protective gear and containers of contaminated materials removed and transported from the site. That was that . . . resolving years of controversy?

Here's some of that story from two years before that some people wanted told their way: 

Mesa recoups $2 million from '90s-era controversy

Maria Polletta, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 5:00 a.m. MT June 8, 2015

"As Mesa's last downtown auto dealer works to tie up the loose ends surrounding its exit, the city has received a $2 million payout nearly 20 years in the making.

The payment is essentially a delayed reimbursement for money spent in 1996 to buy, clear and remediate two-plus acres on the north side of Main Street near Hibbert. Brown & Brown Chevrolet for decades had been selling a steady spate of cars across the street — making it one of the city's sales-tax darlings — and Mesa wanted to help the enterprise stay in town and expand.

The city's approach at the time prompted heavy backlash, first because it forced about 40 people out of their homes, and again when Mesa sold the parcel to Brown & Brown for a token $1. . . The dealership initially promised to build offices, display space and a parking garage on the property to boost business. Ultimately, it followed through only on the garage. . . [In 2014] AutoNation Chevrolet Mesa announced plans to move and sell its Main Street property.

"Once we knew the property was on the market, we did make some inquiries and ask questions about the cost, but we felt the price they were asking was too high," City Manager Chris Brady said.
"I do believe that they're actively working with a group interested in the property, but I can't say who it is."

". . . State Sen. Bob Worsley and his wife, Christi, who are seeking to build a musical performance and education campus, had said last year the dealership site and parking garage would be a perfect fit for their project. But they were not the only party interested in the site, according to Mesa officials. . . "
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< A perfect fit that The Worsleys can't get financed. No consolation prize.

". . . City e-mails, which also avoid naming the prospective buyer, indicate the individual or group is "interested in working with City to develop all of the property including the lower level of the parking garage. . . ."  >

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Blogger Note: This is the top property in the map above, it's over 3 acres on the north side of Main Street. Space for 1,4000 cars.

Hold that thought ...

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Two years and nine months ago this post was published here

12 January 2016

Transit-Oriented Development in New Urban DTMesa > Sunbelt Holdings Mixed-Use Urban In-Fill Project Gains Ground  

Hey! This is probably the biggest news for the regeneration of the New Urban DTMesa in a long time.
Didn't see anything at all from the news room for The City of Mesa.
The purchase of the whole city-block on Main Street-First Avenue and Sirrine-Hibbert was rumored for a couple of months, but now has been confirmed by Business Real Estate Weekly per an email sent one day ago . . . pardon me for getting excited about this somewhat low-key BREW headline.
SUNBELT PLANS MIXED-USE PROJECT 
ON FORMER CHEVY DEALERSHIP SITE IN MESA
It is hot news . . . Here's a link to the news from BREW
http://brewaz.com/hot-news/sunbelt-plans-mixed-use-project-on-former-chevy-dealership-site-in-mesa/ 

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The year before - 2014 - and a year later 2016 - mainstream media reporter, Gary Nelson was writing about the Worlsleys' plans that didn't turn out to be "the perfect fit" after all.

By that time Christi Worsley was getting a little bitter saying that, "It's a myth that if you would built it, they will come."  

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So what other trick does conservative Republican Mesa Mormon Mega-Millionaire AZ Senator Bob Worsley have up-his-sleeve here in downtown Mesa for 2018?
He's now getting hotter gambling  some-of-his-own money in rampant real estate speculation for personal private gains while holding public office. A luxury hotel!

< Here's the latest of his pet projects that he took some heat from the public at a  City Council meeting when it was revealed he was the wizard-behind-the-scenes for a group grabbing-up 10 commercial properties on Main Street. This one again involves a city-owned parking lot. Price tag: $130M
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For that matter, so does another one more proposal from another developer somehow involve another city-owned parking lot used by the Mesa Municipal Court Building on 1st Avenue. It's adjacent to The Pomeroy Parking Lot @ 300 Main Street.
Developer Tony Wall, who says he's already earned a billion-buck$ in school construction projects, has his eyes set on building THE GRID: two 4-story apartment-towers atop the existing three-story existing garage, wrapped with row-homes +  a mixed-used commercial building on Main Street. He can't find financing for that either, even after two rounds trying to lure anyone who's got $20,000,000 or even 20% for his $60M project.
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As it turns out, the "we can't say who it is" was John Graham's Sunbelt Holdings that scooped-up 100-200 East Main Street, the entire 10-acre city block between Centennial and Main Street (west to east) and Main Street/1st Avenue (north to south). John Graham also owns State Farm Insurance that reaped a whopping of $983-million windfall from a triple-net lease- back of their holdings around Tempe Town Lake.

He's currently got four big real estate deals and projects going on around Tucson*, as well as developing Mesa Elliot Technology Center**  in suburban east Mesa along the Elliot Road Tech Corridor. 

* Sunbelt Holdings expands to fourth major project in So Arizona - Rose ...

https://www.roselawgroup.com/sunbelt-holdings-expands-to-fourth-major-project-in-s...
Sunbelt Holdings, a privately-held Scottsdale developer involved in some of metro Phoenix and Tucson's largest master-planned communities, purchased
 

** Mesa Elliot

Technology Park

For more information on this and other areas, please see >

www.sihiproperties.com

 

 

Just outside "The Inner Loops" near The Hawes Road Exchange

Please note its close proximity to a number of new master-planned communities and the new Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant.

There's millions in taxpayer-money invested in the infrastructure for both industrial/commercial and residential economic development. Plans for the site-location of State Route 24 have recently been given the go-ahead - this all creates a network of new "boomburgs" in the expanding rapid growth of east Mesa as you can see >

SIHI Properties

Sunbelt Investment Holdings Inc. (SIHI) offers a range of high-quality properties in the most exclusive markets in the Southwest. SIHI’s portfolio consists of 20 well positioned neighborhood and power shopping centers and over 1,700 acres of prime development sites zoned for retail, office, residential, industrial, and mixed use in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

At SIHI, we have an eye for detail and are committed to maintaining the highest operating standards.

Retail Properties ^

 

Under Development ^

 

Land Sites ^

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Side Note:

How Arizona Businesses Are Becoming More Inclusive

By Christina Estes    Published: Thursday, July 12, 2018 - 2:18pm Updated: Friday, July 13, 2018 - 10:13am

"Some Phoenix area business leaders are vowing to push the next governor and legislators to amend Arizona’s anti-discrimination laws. While several cities have ordinances that protect people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender from discrimination, there is no state law.

That distinction, along with our state’s history and national reputation, were the focus of a panel discussion held late last month. The panel was part of the 2nd Annual LGBTQ Business Summit, organized by ONE Community — that’s a business coalition that supports diversity, inclusion and equality.

The panel included representatives from a variety of sectors. They were pretty candid. One of the most open panelists was John Graham. He’s president and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings, a real estate developer . . .

_______________________________________________________________

He has turned over the former Brown & Brown/Auto Nation site (one of two acquisitions owned here in downtown) to his son, Justin Graham. 
As of July 28, 2018 this is about all we know that - at least what's been said in public: 
Mesa Morning Live
Featured Guests David Short, Tony Wall, and Justin Graham
Developer Tony Wall says 'he's feeling the body heat coming to downtown Mesa. . . "

Blogger Note: Please take the time to watch and see what these two developers, and David Short from The Downtown Merchants Association have to say. 
There's been no ground-breaking on the Sunbelt Holdings site after the 45 days mentioned - or 90 days later.

Could what Justin Graham has in mind look anything like this?

Portland on the Park Welcomes New Residents

Downtown Phoenix Journal-May 3, 2017

“For more than 30 years, Sunbelt Holdings has been dedicated to adding ... with pride to see it come to life,” said John Graham, CEO, Sunbelt Holdings LLC.

. . . or maybe anything like this??

Construction begins on massive State Farm development in Tempe

Phoenix Business Journal-Jul 31, 2013

“When complete, the project will feature approximately 2 million square feet of Class A office space,” Sunbelt Holdings President and CEO John Graham said, ...

_________________________________________________________________________

It was a surprise the other day to see this AVAILABLE FOR SALE sign posted by Sunbelt Holdings on the bottom 0.42-acre 18,000 Square-Feet storage lot located at the south side of First Avenue.

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Some related content outside of The Old Donut Hole:

German investor buys Mesa land near new Apple plant

By Kristena Hansen –  Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal Nov 26, 2013, 3:05pm

A German investment firm recently closed escrow on 203 acres in east Mesa, located directly north of DMB Associates’ Eastmark community and near Apple Inc.’s newly-purchased manufacturing plant.

Sunbelt Land Holdings L.P. — not to be confused with John Graham’s Sunbelt Holdings Inc. in Scottsdale — paid roughly $18.8 million, or $92,783 per acre, for the site situated at the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Elliot roads, according to the Business Real Estate Weekly of Arizona, which first reported the news.

Brent Moser, a broker with Cassidy Turley in Phoenix who helped broker the deal, confirmed the deal, which closed escrow on Friday. He said there’s already about $12 to $14 million-worth of existing roads and infrastructure there.

The seller was a joint venture between Chicago-based First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: FR) and California State Teacher’s Retirement System.

READ MORE > Phx Biz Journal  

 

 

 

2035 Sustainability Goals

All the feel-good buzz 4U

Published on Oct 19, 2018

SRP is working toward a sustainable future for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve. Our 2035 framework, approved by the SRP Board of Directors in October 2017, balances costs and impacts while providing reliable, affordable water and power – for today and tomorrow.

What to Expect From FAANG Earnings

Netflix. . . unpacking upcoming earnings reports

Published on Oct 19, 2018

Oct.19 -- Michael Pachter, analyst at Wedbush Securities, and Bloomberg's Luke Kawa discuss Netflix Inc.'s performance and preview tech stock earnings on "Bloomberg Technology."

Afghanistan: a major blow for the US and for Afghan authorities in Kandahar

A 17-year American war costing 1,500 BILLION$$$$$$$$$ of dollars. . . thousands killed. Looking for a way out now?
This all started way back in 2001 and we're talking about "Draining the swamp" and MAGA - Making America Great Again!

Published on Oct 19, 2018

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Mesa Really Needs To Re-Do Celebrations for "Dias De Los Muertos"

It's more than just one day, folks!
Not only the one-day Pop-Up event here at the Mesa Arts Center to commemorate a centuries-old tradition from Mexico.
There's something in my history-buff bones that can make me "a bad calaca" - some one of you, dear readers, may get the message in this medium.
There's much more Mucho Mas for all of us  to celebrate and honor The Day of The Dead than what we have seen for years staged at MAC, when the spirits of those who were here before are welcome back.

There's something definitely here something  'in the water'  so let's dive into it not too deep with a push-and-a-shove if you need it.
Where we live now was once the home of peaceful settlements of thousands of people here in The Rio Salado Valley - That's the Spanish place-name for what we call The Salt River. After Spain colonized the area it was part of Mexico when that country claimed its independence until 1854 ushering in the Era of Manifest Destiny.
After the Homestead Act, a  few hundred missionaries were sent here to lay claim to what they thought was their New Zion to register claims on  all the territories where these indigenous people who came before us settled lived on the lands. The Pioneers buried history under the cities they built over both earlier Mexican and Hohokam cultures.
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It took yours truly far too long to realize this not too long ago in a trip to not-so-far away Mexico and Mexico City where the days come alive all over again for more than a week. One day just doesn't do it, especially here in a city like Mesa where there is an historical dis-connect with our shared histories - it's just not  only the history and short-sighted stories after the arrival of The Pioneers from Utah who call settlements of earlier and First Peoples "Pre-History".

There are some friendly reminders of those who came before, expressed using iconic images, masks and costumes from the traditional Dias de Los Muertos celebrations in Mexico on a street corner here in downtown Mesa
Here to the right there is just one >
Street performance-art from The Cultural Coalition, a local group that updates, re-vitalizes and brings cultures together that remind us who we are today.


Later this month there are a number of events all intended to keep this centuries-old tradition alive. You can visit more information by hitting-up this link on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/zarcoguerrero 

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Zarco Guerrero: The Origin Of Dia De Los Muertos on Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/110700448 
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5th Annual Luncheon Honorees - Carmen & Zarco Guerrero Vignette

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Our Mission is to provide community engagement through unique cultural programs dedicated to the education, promotion and development of Indigenous artists in Arizona.

Join us for free cultural events in   South Phoenix and Litchfield Park!