DAILY TOP 5

State business and political leaders have been trading salvos this week over the possibility of a statewide moratorium on data center construction to address community concerns. Gov. Katie Hobbs shared her thoughts on the idea at a press conference on Thursday. “I don’t think a statewide moratorium is the answer. I think there are places where data centers make sense, and they’re an important part of the high-tech economy that we’re growing here. We need to make sure that

U.S. construction cost pressures are shifting from labor to materials, with construction-related commodity prices rising 13.3% year-over-year as tariffs, metals supply constraints and demand from data centers and infrastructure projects push input costs higher, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Construction Insights for Global Occupiers report. The increase in commodity prices is more than 4.7 times the rate recorded a year earlier, led by aluminum at 40.9%, copper base scrap at

One of Phoenix’s oldest shopping centers is gearing up for a potentially major transformation. Developers are in the process of setting up a portion of Camelback Colonnade for a new 216-unit multifamily project. The owners of the complex, Federal Realty Investment Trust and RED Development, are targeting a 2.5-acre portion on the southwest side of the shopping center, which is located at Highland Avenue and SR 51. It includes an underutilized parking lot and a Phoenix Public

Arizona’s housing market continues to make a strong showing on the national stage, with five Valley cities ranking among the 50 best real estate markets in the country, according to a new WalletHub analysis. Gilbert leads the Arizona contingent at No. 13 nationally, followed by Surprise at No. 27, Peoria at No. 42, Tempe at No. 46 and Chandler at No. 50. WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across 17 indicators measuring housing-market attractiveness and economic

A prominent local real estate investor has unveiled a plan for a development an hour west of Phoenix that could include a movie production studio, amusement park, hotels, retail and a sprawling data center campus. Anita Verma-Lallian, CEO of Arizona Land Consulting, is setting up a swath of land off Interstate 10 and 411th Avenue in Tonopah for the project. A rendering produced by Gensler depicts both an amusement park and an indoor theme park alongside a host of other

A high-end hotel will be the next phase of Cannon Beach, a development in Mesa that includes a surfing beach, swimming, dining and other family entertainment. Cole Cannon, the developer of Cannon Beach, said the hotel, a Tapestry by Hilton, will “really round out the Cannon Beach experience.” Cannon said adding the 130-room hotel makes the project an easy vacation or staycation spot for families, because there are many activities for various ages

Clark Pacific announced it has broken ground on a new manufacturing plant in Coolidge, Arizona. The plant, which will span 110 acres when complete, will be constructed in phases, with the final phase scheduled for completion by spring 2027. Clark Pacific will begin manufacturing prefabricated building systems immediately in a temporary facility while construction moves forward. Once complete, the new facility will triple Clark Pacific’s production capacity. As the industry faces labor

Owner Zinke Investments LLC, led by Craig and Chris Zinke, is planning a 1,517-acre data center, energy and industrial campus southeast of Porter and Barnes roads near Standfield. The owner has requested a major Comprehensive Plan amendment for 956 acres of the site, which would redesignate the land from Moderate Low-Density Residential to Employment. The remainder of the planned Arizona Independent Technology Campus site already carries an Employment designation. Once

Knowing the Top 10 homebuilders in Arizona, based on public opinion, gives prospective buyers valuable insight into the companies earning trust and recommendations from consumers. These rankings go beyond size and sales, highlighting builders that have developed strong reputations for quality, customer service, craftsmanship and overall homebuying experiences in Arizona’s competitive housing market. Here are the Top 10 homebuilders in Arizona for 2026, based on

The Arizona economy remains resilient as it navigates evolving conditions, but it is increasingly characterized by mixed labor market conditions and slower growth. The labor market improved from dismal job growth in late-2025, but job gains were concentrated in a few sectors as employers stayed cautious about hiring. Elevated gasoline prices due to conflict in the Middle East caught highly automobile-dependent Arizonans off guard. However, retail sales have continued to grow

Mesa, Ariz. — Evergreen Development has acquired 11.7 acres of land in Mesa, with plans to build a mixed-use project that features multifamily housing and a new retail center. The retail portion of the site is planned to comprise an approximately 8,500-square-foot multi-tenant retail building for restaurant and retail uses, as well as a 2,360-square-foot free-standing Chipotle with a drive thru. The multifamily portion will include 261 apartments across nine three-story buildings. Evergreen plans

Office momentum is, at long last, beginning to build. Absorption has moved into positive territory, the national vacancy rate is declining and investment activity remains near pre-pandemic norms. But the recovery isn’t uniform. According to a recent Marcus & Millichap analysis, performance varies sharply by asset quality. Older buildings continue to struggle with vacancy, while newer, premier properties are achieving full occupancy and robust rent growth. In short, office attendance

A new Phoenix-based data center company has begun acquiring data center facilities across the nation and repurposing them in preparation of what its leaders call a “fundamental shift” in digital infrastructure.  Saragon, established by Miami-based private equity firm I Squared Capital after an acquisition of 10 data center facilities from Cogent Fiber LLC, is planning on using these older facilities for “edge capacity” and “AI inference.” This means the focus will be on the real-world

Nearly 2,400 new homes could be coming to one of the Valley’s major growth corridors in Surprise. Why it matters: The Phoenix metro area is suffering from a housing shortage, which has driven up home prices and contributed to increasing homelessness. State of play: The Surprise City Council on Tuesday approved rezoning requests for two plots of land in the Sun Valley Parkway corridor for a housing development called Buena Vista Ranch. One is on 422 acres at 227th

Arizona has no shortage of places to fill your grocery cart. From Whole Foods, Walmart, Fry’s, Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Aldi, WinCo, Albertsons, Food City, Ranch Market and plenty more, shoppers have options galore. And the grocery scene is still growing, with chains like Seafood City and Vallarta Supermarkets expanding their presence and giving Arizonans even more choices. But when it comes to saving money, one famous grocery store takes the

Phoenix continues to rank among the top industrial markets in the nation as industrial vacancy tightens, rent rates increase, net absorption maintains momentum and construction projects increase. The market is “attracting record levels of investor interest and economic development activity,” according to Colliers’ Q2 2026 industrial report, which highlighted Phoenix adding 33,200 new jobs in June and TSMC announcing its $100 billion additional investment into its north Phoenix

Dive Brief: 7 Brew bid over $143 million during a bulk auction on Monday for 73 former Salad and Go locations, according to a court filing. The salad chain declared bankruptcy in early August, closing all of its remaining locations.  7 Brew was designated as a lead bidder. Dutch Bros, which previously entered an agreement to buy up to 65 units for $105 million, has become a backup bidder. The auction occurred over a week after 7 Brew lawyers shared concerns over Dutch Bros

Mesa City Council will likely approve a rezone of 196 acres later this month in Southeast Mesa that should clear the way for the mix-used Legacy Park development. The Planning and Zoning Board last week voted 7-0 to recommend that Council on Sept. 14 reclassify the property at Ellsworth and Williams Field roads to Planned Community District from Light Industrial. The project, a joint venture between Vestar and Pacific Proving LLC, includes 2,400 multifamily units, offices

A six-story apartment building could be the latest addition to a central Phoenix shopping center. RED Development, the Phoenix-based developer of PV, the redeveloped Paradise Valley Mall, submitted an application to Phoenix requesting to redevelop a surface parking lot at the Camelback Colonnade into an apartment building. According to the application, the apartments would be built on 2.44 acres of the parking lot, located on the southwestern side of the shopping center. The building would include 216 units, ranging in size from studios to two bedrooms. The project is east of State Route 51, south of Camelback

JPI Companies is planning a 397-unit multifamily complex within the CityNorth master plan in Phoenix. JPI at CityNorth is being developed by JPI Companies, while DAVIS is the design firm. Crown Realty and Development is the master developer behind CityNorth. The preliminary site plan features a five-story apartment building with an attached five-story parking garage. The building is 474.2KSF and consists of 380.2KSF of rentable space and 94KSF of lease/amenity space. Amenities include a pool, outdoor/indoor dog park, coworking space and fitness center. This marks the fourth phase of CityNorth. Construction is estimated to

Coffee chain 7 Brew won a bankruptcy auction for a host of defunct Salad and Go locations, including many in the Valley, edging out rival coffee giant Dutch Bros. Why it matters: Many of the salad restaurant’s vacant locations will still become drive-thru coffee spots, but they’ll now bear the name of 7 Brew, which is trying to make inroads in Arizona. Representatives from 7 Brew did not respond to a request for comment. State of play: In bankruptcy court Tuesday, 7 Brew was announced as the winner of an auction the day before, having bid more than $143 million for 73 Salad and Go locations, per Nation’s Restaurant News. That includes

Construction has begun on a $10 million amenities project at the 5,300-acre Saddleback master-planned community in Peoria. Called Basecamp, the 16-acre site will feature an expansive collection of amenities and gathering spaces within the $1 billion master-planned development. A resort-style pool anchors the outdoor recreation zone, surrounded by shaded lounging areas, lush courtyards and a splash pad. It also will include a 10,000-square-foot event lawn for community events, outdoor lounges, games, grilling areas and a dedicated space for food trucks. Basecamp also will feature a quarter-mile bike pump track, a dedicated bike barn

Arizona’s housing market continues to make a strong showing on the national stage, with five Valley cities ranking among the 50 best real estate markets in the country, according to a new WalletHub analysis. Gilbert leads the Arizona contingent at No. 13 nationally, followed by Surprise at No. 27, Peoria at No. 42, Tempe at No. 46 and Chandler at No. 50. WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across 17 indicators measuring housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. The analysis considered factors ranging from median home-price appreciation and housing affordability to job growth. For Arizona, Gilbert delivered the standout

Saddleback, the $1 billion, 5,300-acre master-planned community under development in Peoria, announced construction is officially underway on Basecamp, its $10 million signature destination designed to serve as the social and recreational hub of the community. Slated to open in summer 2027, the approximately 16-acre site will feature an expansive collection of amenities and gathering spaces. Created to foster a sense of community, Basecamp will bring residents together through