By Recker McDowell — The town of Gilbert has issued a new request for qualifications (RFQ) for a potential new development to anchor the south end of its Heritage District. The East Valley town is looking for development proposals for a mixed-use project on 2.18 acres at Gilbert and Elliot roads. Gilbert is looking for retail and office uses on … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Development, density, height and growth are center stage in Scottsdale as 2020 campaigns for Mayor and City Council ramp up. There are legitimate questions about the growth trajectory and vision for the city including in Old Town Scottsdale. Those discussions and debates can be a positive for the future of the city. What voters need to … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Arizona added 84,400 jobs over the past 12 months, according to year-end employment numbers. More than 80,000 of those new jobs were in the private sector. Arizona’s private sector job growth for the year was 2.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only Utah (3.1 percent and Idaho (2.9 percent) posted better job … Read More

By Recker McDowell — There is never a shortage of the nasty, negative and disparaging these days in politics, the 24/7 news cycle and on social media. So, it was refreshing to see the warm wishes for U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Arizona) when she recently announced her health battles with alcohol dependency. Those included some positive vibes from the other … Read More

Real estate developers are often cast with the black hats. But aren’t they the people who build the homes we live in? Their bulldozers, political maneuvering and redevelopment plans are often contrasted with concerned neighbors, small business owners and the preverbal local townsfolk. It’s the stuff of old ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Scooby-Doo’ episodes. But developers are not actually the … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Arizona State University and the city of Mesa recently broke ground on a new $73.5 million technology center aimed at sparking more development in the Main Street area. ASU will house artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality and 3-D printing and technology program at the new ASU @ Mesa City Center development. Mesa leaders hope the … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Phoenix and the state of Arizona have worked hard to craft images of being pro-business, pro-innovation and pro-entrepreneur especially compared to higher cost and higher tax competitors such as California, Seattle and Chicago. So, it is disconcerting to see the city of Phoenix’s fight with Uber and Lyft over higher rideshare fees at Phoenix Sky Harbor … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The Arizona Legislature is back in session. That means the annual ritual of media coverage of conservative bills cast as detrimental to Arizona’s image. You probably have already seen stories on bills from Republican lawmakers related to limiting sex education curriculums, guns and the posting police officers at polling places on election days. These types of … Read More