In the News!

The first article, South Mountain Freeway is called vital to W. Valley, from the Arizona Republic, reports that West Valley leaders are concerned that a delay in the Loop 202 freeway could increase freeway gridlock in the W. Valley. They see the Loop 202 as critical to their transportation needs to relieve pressure on Interstate 10 and link to several roadway projects slated for the area. Some are concerned it will get scrapped altogether. "If it doesn't get done, it will be a serious distraction from our plans to develop a regional transportation plan for the Valley," said Goodyear Mayor Jim Cavanaugh. The South Mountain Freeway is being touted as a bypass around downtown Phoenix. It will also give the West Valley a more direct link to the East Valley. But it faces stiff opposition from Ahwatukee residents and environmentalists concerned about damage to South Mountain Park.

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The second article, Rising land costs prompt builders to wedge homes into smaller lots, from the Arizona Republic, reports that as land costs continue to rise, builders are looking at smaller lots to build affordable homes for the housing consumer. The average size of a residential lot for a new production home in Maricopa and Pinal counties shrank 1,000 square feet in the past six years, to about 7,400 square feet, according to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence. The closer you get to the Phoenix core, the more likely lots are to be 3,000 or 4,000 square feet. "A lot of new products (lots) are 32 by 100 feet deep," said John Fioamonti, managing director of Hanley Wood. "You can go to Coolidge and Florence and still see the 6,000 to 7,000 square-foot standard lots we are used to. As you get closer into town, you find these vertical podium builds, very narrow two-to three-story almost town homes. They have been doing this in California for years." Some homebuyers don't mind the smaller lots, as they mean less maintenance. Most cities and towns have been approving these small-lot developments to give residents more affordable homes and also to encourage more of a community feel. Look for this trend to continue.


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The third article, 55-plus housing big in SW Valley, from the Arizona Republic, reports that major master-planned communities aimed at "active adults" are expected to bring thousands of new homes and several golf courses to the Southwest Valley over the next decade. At least three communities have opened or are planned in Buckeye alone: Sun Valley South, Sundance and Sun City Festival. In Goodyear, Robson Communities has seen success in the past two decades with its PebbleCreek community. Nearly a quarter of Goodyear's residents are 55 or older, and about a fifth of Buckeye's residents are over 55. "With the baby boomers coming, the numbers are so large that we can't satisfy the needs of people who want to live in age-restricted communities," said Gary Sorrels, sales manager for Sundance. "It is a great part of the market to be in."

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