A microburst of new retail – mainly national and local chain food stores – rained down on Laveen during the second half of 2016 with developers and planners predicting a steady outpouring of new development proposals coming in 2017.

Multiple new eateries joined LA Fitness at the corner of 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road in the Estrella Mountain Center including Smashburger, Zoya, Firehouse Subs and Dunkin’ Donuts. KFC, Peter Piper Pizza and Dairy Queen are scheduled to open in the center by January.

“I think we’re going to see the existing centers fill up, and there’s not very much left,” said Phil Hertel, a member of Laveen Citizens for Responsible Development, a nonprofit group founded in 1999 to work with developers and residents to guide the type of projects planned for Laveen, a Phoenix suburb with about 60,000 people.

“The Walmart center (southwest corner of Southern and 35^th avenues) and CAL Ranch center (northwest corner of 35^th and Southern) both have opportunities for construction,” Hertel said. “There’s an open pad south of Jack in the Box in the Walmart Center. There’s a lot of open space in the CAL Ranch for construction.”

Last month, Planet Fitness opened in the CAL Ranch shopping area next to Goodwill, but Hertel said there is room for additional new construction. He also noted that the large empty field behind Fry’s Shopping Center on the northwest corner of 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road is attracting attention.

“Once they start moving dirt on the freeway, everything is going to change,” he said. “Then we will have an explosion. That’s when the Target would build – there’s so much commercial opportunity along the freeway I don’t even know how we’re going to use it.”

Developer Michael Moreines with DPR Realty agrees with Hertel’s prediction regarding the South Mountain Freeway. Preliminary work on the 22-mile highway began in September. The roadway will link Interstate 10 at about 59^th Avenue with the Loop 202 near Pecos Road near Ahwatukee. Completion is expected by 2019, although opponents still are seeking legal steps to stop the project due to cultural and environmental concerns.

“There’s not going to be any more major soft retail until the (Loop) 202 is built, and that’s when you’re going to see a Super Target,” Moreines said. “You’ve got to have a lot of infrastructure in place. They’re not going to build until the off-ramps are there.”

Laveen residents must bide their time a bit longer before a large-scale destination shopping center such as a Westgate opens in the area, but commercial plans along the freeway call for that scale of development. That also means additional people will need to live here to support the businesses.

“As an area grows in number of residential homes, retail and professional services see the expansion in housing as an opportunity to reach new markets in areas where retail and other businesses were previously limited,” noted Sam Lawmaster, a Laveen realtor with Realty One Group.  “As seen by the growing number of new businesses along the Baseline corridor and other parts of Laveen, corporations, small business, and public services see a promising future for Laveen and have invested in our community.”

Marc Thornton II, a long-range planner for the City of Phoenix, predicts that by fall of 2017 – with the freeway only a year or so away at that point – there will be many development applications in the pipeline.

“I think the climate is ripe for development in Laveen. You have the nexus of the freeway construction and that will help spark development along the corridor,” Thornton said. “Most of the projects are along the freeway. The time is definitely ripe for developments. It’s the same message we’ve been conveying, development will be coming.”

Some business owners have been eyeing Laveen for quite a while. Hertel said the local Harkins Theatres group expressed interested in locating north of Baseline Road near 61^st Avenue on more than one occasion and a Target has long been sought for that same area to anchor a shopping center.

“I think they’re waiting for the highway to come in before they build anything big,” observes Jennifer Rouse, a member of the Laveen Village Planning Committee, which makes zoning and development recommendations to the City of Phoenix. “Everyone wants something nearby. A lot of what we want here in Laveen we are going to have wait for them to build when the freeway comes. But having Firehouse Subs and Smashburger shows that we are a place to take a chance on.”

Moreines said the managers at Firehouse Sub, Smashburger and Papa Murphy’s Pizza all report their relatively new Laveen stores are doing well, an incentive for other businesses to follow suit. “It’s his No. 1 Papa Murphy’s store, and the barbershop, Moe’s, is also doing great.”

That center is in the final stages of completion, according to Moreines. He has about 4,400 square feet of available space left shared between two spaces, one next to Smashburger and the other next to Zoya. Other businesses in the center include LA Fitness, Walgreens and Discount Tire.

In October, the Phoenix City Council approved the rezoning of the former driving range near the Cottonfields neighborhood to C-1, the least intense commercial zoning the city offers. Plans call for an 8-acre church campus for CrossWalk Church a restaurant, bank and some small-scale retail. Though a small development, the site is planned to include a handful of small boutique-size retail spaces, according to its developers, Jaguar Premium Properties.

DPR Realty, Moreines company, is either developing or working with land owners on several other projects in and near Laveen.

Southwest Corner of 19^th Avenue and Baseline Road

“We’ve done our research and that’s going to be the next corner to be really developed out. That’s going to be a pretty major intersection for South Phoenix. There is a lot of housing development already going on nearby,” Moreines said.

Construction is getting started on the site, which is across from the center that houses Lowe’s, CVS and Goodwill. According to city site plans, a McDonald’s is being built on the northeast corner of the intersection, though that is not part a DPR project.

Tenants for the 9-acre DPR project include Dunkin’ Donuts, a child care facility, a mini storage facility and several leads for a restaurant. He describes the project as infill development, a growing trend in which tenants are secured before the structures are built. When Laveen first began expanding in the early 2000s several developers built shopping centers, notably at 35^th Avenue and at 27^th Avenue along Baseline Road. Many sat empty for years because of the housing market and the subsequent economic recession.

“This is the new age of infill development. It’s a very hot area,” he said. “We are taking that eyesore and we wanted to clean up the crap but not get ahead of ourselves like we did back in 2005 and 2007, building before we had users. I don’t spec builds – that’s crazy.”

He said the vacancies across the street – notably Staples and Fresh & Easy – are not likely to last long as his project and the one on the northeast get going. “This intersection is going to be very strategic and important in 2017.”

51^st Avenue and Baseline Road (behind the Fry’s)

“2017 will see us developing out a large commercial project just behind the Fry’s at 51st Ave & Baseline,” Moreines said. “There will be a combination of commercial projects landing at this site. It’s going to be a combo of retail and restaurant pads and possibly office space. I am working on end-users right now.”

The site is across the street from Dignity Health’s Arizona General Hospital.

Northwest corner of 51^st Avenue and Dobbins Road

DPR is collaborating on the development of the 7.2-acre lot that is across the street from the Laveen Baptist Church and diagonal from the Laveen Education Center, the under-construction Islamic Center of Laveen, the Laveen Post Office and Laveen Elementary School District’s Transportation Department.

Northeast corner of 43^rd Avenue and Baseline Road

This 1.5-acre site is under consideration for development and Moreines said he plans to sell to whoever ultimately chooses the site for construction.

To keep up to date and become involved in Laveen development, residents can attend meetings of the LCRD and the planning committee: The Laveen Village Planning Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Mondays at the Laveen Elementary School District No. 59, 5001 West Dobbins Road. The LCRD meets first Mondays at 7 p.m. in Building A at the same address.

This article first appeared in the December issue of the South Mountain District News.

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The following news briefs appear in today’s print edition of the South Mountain District News

Broadway Road opens between 43^rd and 51^st in Laveen

With road projects tying up traffic along Dobbins Road and Southern Avenue, the opening late last month of this extension may relieve a little of the east/west morning commute.
Named “Segment 5” in the city of Phoenix’s $84 million Avendia Rio Salado / Broadway Road project, the extension officially opened on Oct. 26.  The north half of the new roadway section is open with one lane of traffic in each direction, bike lanes and a center-turn lane.
As a result of the opening, there are two traffic signal changes and there are flashing boards to alert drivers to be aware of the changes.
There is now a four-way instead of a three-way intersection at 51^st and Broadway with a four-way traffic light. Northbound traffic on 51^st must stop as well as southbound. At 43^rd Avenue, north and southbound traffic must stop while Broadway Road motorists now have the right-of-way.
“Great cities make it easy, and safe, for residents to connect to neighbors and other areas of the city. That’s why I’m so excited about the opening of the new roadway section of Broadway Road,” Councilman Michael Nowakowski said in a statement issued by the city. “I encourage residents to come check out the improvements and celebrate another great investment in our city.”
Improvements to the south side of Broadway Road between 51st to 43rd avenues will be completed as part of final phase for the project. The project is primarily federally funded and eventually will take Broadway from 51^st Avenue all the way to Seventh Street. Visit www.avenidariosalado.com for more information.

Laveen CrossFit to start new 6-week classes
Laveen CrossFit Co-owner Kristi Oquist said the gym’s 6 Week Transformation is a great way for a group of 10 women to jumpstart their fitness journey.
Oquist said CrossFit will be offering both a morning and evening class with classes at 8 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday for the morning group, and at 6:30 p.m. for the evening participants. Both groups also will meet at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings for their third workout.
Prices for the classes vary depending on the nutritional component members choose to use.
The first option is the basic 6 Week Transformation for $250, which includes three workouts a week, some meal planning and shopping guidance. For an additional $100, participants also will receive Advocare nutritional supplements.
A kick-off event is set for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 5 at the gym, 3648 W. Southern Ave., No. 148, where everyone can learn about the products. The CrossFit team will take initial measurements, discuss nutrition, and talk about which Advocare products are part of the upgrade.
For more information or to sign up, email Oquist at kristi@laveencrossfit.com or call 602-243-4225.

Comfy Pets schedules 3 equine health clinics
Laveen-based Comfy Pets of AZ is offering three different Equine Health & First Aid Training Clinics this month:

• Saturday, Nov. 5: Equine First Aid Fundamentals. This 4-hour fast-paced clinic covers the fundamentals of Equine First Aid.  Working hands-on with the horses, participants will learn to take vital signs, recognize pain in a horse, detect colic, and get to place lots of bandaging in realistic scenarios.
• Sunday, Nov. 20: Safety First — The Barn & Beyond.  Looking to buy your first horse? Your first acreage? New to the world of ranching or just want to get close to a horse and learn more about them? This 3-hour comprehensive safety clinic focuses on farm and livestock safety, and of course horse safety.
• Sunday, Nov. 20: I Can Help! Horse First Aid for Kids (ages 5-10).  Have a horse crazy youngster? Sign them up for the 3-hour kids program. They’ll learn horse safety and basic first aid in a fun, hands-on environment. There’s even a recipe for horse cookies.

All training clinics are taught by Teri Ann Tate, who is certified and trained in equine and pet First Aid. Participants will get a Three-Year Certificate of Training and a manual. Visit  www.comfypetsofaz.com to register.

Three-way vendor fair set for Nov. 4
Get some holiday shopping done early with a multi-vendor event starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4.
Laveen representatives for Gold Canyon Candles, Usborne Books and Origami Owl have planned a joint holiday event at Sweet Bites, 3552 W. Baseline Road, Phoenix.
Email marvinfam5@yahoo.com for more information or to place orders.

1623 Illegal Ink sponsoring free Tuesday meals
Noreen Ayonayon, owner at Illegal Ink at 1010 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, continues an annual tradition of offering free meals to families and children who need them.
The free meals start Nov. 15 and will continue every Tuesday at 4 p.m. until February at the southwest corner of Central and Southern avenues.
Ayonayon welcomes community donations of food, water, blankets and jackets to support the effort as well as volunteers to help serve the meals and distribute items. Also, bring in a donation of a Thanksgiving turkey or canned and boxed foods and receive discounts on a tattoo. All the food collected will go to needy families.
For more information, visit Illegal Ink on Facebook or email Ayonayon at noreyon@yahoo.com to volunteer or donate.

Local woman leads Alzheimer financial workshop
Julie Gunn, a financial advisor at Edward Jones, 2030 W. Baseline Road, No. 178, Phoenix, is helping lead a workshop to educate about Alzheimer’s disease as well as make healthy financial strategies. The workshop takes place beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Edward Jones Training Center, 8333 S. River Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85284.
Gunn said the workshop, titled Health and Wealth: Making Sense of Alzheimer’s, is in two segments:

• Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research
• Health Care and Your Retirement**

Gunn’s co-host is Martha B. Burruel, education coordinator with the Alzheimer’s Association. For more information, call Gunn at 602-268-7622.

Planet Fitness opens Laveen-area center
The New Hampshire-based fitness chain has been pre-selling memberships for several weeks now and announced plans to open by the first week of November.
Laveen’s center is at 3630 W. Southern Ave., Phoenix, 85041. Planet Fitness is open 24 hours a day and is known for supporting athletes of all levels. It offers unlimited fitness training, cardio and strength machines and more. Currently, there are early-bird incentives to sign up before Nov. 8 at the local location.
Visit www.planetfitness.com for more information or call (602) 354-3887.

Black Bear Dinner to open in Laveen next year
Black Bear Diner, a California-based restaurant chain that has multiple Arizona locations, has announced plans to open in Laveen by summer 2017.
The company was founded in 1995 in Mount Shasta and has about 75 restaurants throughout Pacific Northwest and Southwest.
Visit www.blackbeardiner.com for more information.
 Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send news to smdnews@cox.net.

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 This press release was sent out by ADOT on Thursday, Oct. 27.

South Mountain Freeway remains on track with latest court ruling

Direct link between East Valley and West Valley scheduled to open in 2019

 PHOENIX – Work on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway remains on track with the U.S. District Court in Phoenix denying a third bid by opponents to halt construction.

 An order released Wednesday, Oct. 26, denied the plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction, saying, in part, that they are unlikely to prevail on appeal.

 “I believe that the completed South Mountain Freeway will provide a great overall economic benefit to the growing Maricopa County region, and relief to users of the system, particularly where Interstate 10 passes through downtown Phoenix,” Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski said. “We are moving forward with a project supported by Maricopa County voters and our partners – the city of Phoenix and the Maricopa Association of Governments – that will make the Phoenix metro area a better place to live and do business.”

 In August, the court granted the Federal Highway Administration’s and ADOT’s motions for summary judgment, concluding that the agencies complied with federal law in moving forward with the project.  In July 2015, the court rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have halted all work leading up to the start of construction.

 Opponents have appealed the August ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

 The 22-mile freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

 Construction of the South Mountain Freeway began in September with improvements to the I-10/Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) interchange. Work includes extending Loop 202 HOV lanes and widening the shoulders to Pecos Road near 48th Street. Also underway is plant salvage work along the Pecos Road segment.

 Construction of the mainline freeway is scheduled to begin in early 2017.

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Free kids program on dog safety set for July 18

Teri Ann Tate, owner of Laveen-based Comfy Pets of AZ, and Amy Williams, a  dog and equine trainer with Mesa-based All 4 Paws Training, are teaming up to offer a free children’s program on dog safety at Cesar Chavez Library in Laveen.

The first Children’s Doggie Education and Care Program will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Monday July 18^th.

Tate says the fun and interactive clinic will teach children the proper way to approach a strange dog, how to do basic pet first aid, feeding and safety tips for caring for their dogs, how to read a dog’s body language and what to do when encountering a service dog.

“This has been a dream of mine for several years,” Tate said. “ I knew when I met Amy at the recent Pet Expo and her service dog, Nomi, that we would make a great team.”

The program is free to all children and their parents. Materials include a coloring book for the children to bring home.

For more information, visit  www.comfypetsofaz.com, www.all4pawstraining.com, or call Tate at 602-579-1437.

Cobblestone Auto Spa Express opens

The Phoenix-area car wash company opened on June 30, in between O’Reilly Auto Parts and Dollar Self Storage.

Cobblestone Auto Spa operates 11 convenient locations in the Phoenix Metro area, featuring full service car washes with detail shops, express drive-thru washes, oil & lube services, windshield repair and replacement, as well as 24-hr convenience stores and gasoline. Their mission is to pamper their customer’s car with a spa-like experience.

Cobblestone Auto Spa also supports local First Responders and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Memorial Fund and remind its customers to support fallen officers. In May, the company did a benefit to support the family of Office David Glasser, who died after being shot responding to a call in Laveen.

Visit www.cobblestoneautospa.com for more information.

Big prizes added to Rider’s Ranch raffle

A grand prize of $1,000 cash joins other prizes including Disneyland tickets, a custom cake from Kathy Does Kakes, Double Tree hotel stays, Phoenix Zoo tickets, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium children’s tickets and gift cards from a variety of businesses including Whole Foods, Discount Tire and The Meat Shop.

The fund-raiser started May 1 and runs all summer ending on Labor Day weekend with the drawing for prizes on Sept. 5.

In addition, Rider’s Ranch is offering summer riding classes with some openings remaining in July.  Riding is on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

For more information about raffle tickets or riding classes, call Melissa Rider at 602-320-6016, email ridersranchprograms@gmail.com or visit www.ridersranch.org

Fun day and backpack drive set for July

Several Laveen businesses, in partnership with the Laveen Lions Club, are sponsoring a month-long backpack driving ending with a family fun day on July 31.

Residents can drop off new backpacks at three locations: Smoothie Run Internet Café, 6115 S. 51^st Ave., Laveen; Cesar Graphics, 2610 W. Baseline Road, Phoenix; and Dollar Self Storage, 5445 W. Baseline Road, Laveen.

The Family Fun Day will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 31, with a bounce house other kid-friendly activities in the parking lot near Smoothie Run (51^st and southern avenues).

A free Goody Bag with coupons for a free smoothie, discounts on AC services and carpet cleaning, treats and more will be given to each person who drops off a new backpack at the event.

The Laveen Lions Club will be working with the Laveen Elementary School District to distribute the backpacks the week before school starts to those in need to ensure all children are ready to learn when school resumes on Aug. 8.

Additional local businesses helping sponsor the event include: A Child’s Joy, AZ Media Maven, Beauty and Business Events, Comfy Pets of AZ, Ellaments Salon, Enlightened Horse, Guaranteed Clean Carpet Cleaning, Kathy Does Kake, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Total Refrigeration & Home Services and Turf Realty. For more information or to join the sponsors, contact info@finditinlaveen.com or call 602-373-8371.

Inked Auto Glass offers discounts

Travis Kolasinksi, owner of the glass repair company, said his business is offering the following summer specials:

• 10 percent off for cash-paying customners
• $10 off chip repairs ($25 instead of $35)

The local company provides mobile service as well in repairing windshields and other broken auto glass, as well as home and business glass needs, showers and tables.

Reach the business at inkedautoglass@gmail.com or call 602-460-3838.

Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send news to smdnews@cox.net.

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It’s been six years since Laveen residents Nindi and Carissa Wadhwa decided to take a chance as small business owners and launched Scooptacular, their now popular local ice cream shop and known for its award-winning homemade flavors.

While plans are still evolving for next month’s celebration, the Wadhwas and Scooptacular intend to offer 60 cent cones, schedule a visit with members of the Phoenix Fire Department among other activities that are still being finalized.

Six years ago in 2010, the couple noticed that Laveen was lacking in family-friendly destinations. The economy was being battered, foreclosures were through the roof and businesses were closing – including the Cold Stone Creamery location in Laveen, which they transformed into Scooptacular.

The Wadhwa family wanted to create a destination for families but to also help put Laveen on the Valley maps. “Our original vision statement was ‘to be a beacon of hope to the community of Laveen’.”

“Our friends thought we were crazy to leave a stable job and open a business in this negative environment,” Nindi said. “We just knew Laveen needed something positive.”

Scooptacular makes all its own ice cream in Laveen. The company sources ingredients from all over the world with vanilla beans coming from Madagascar and Indonesia. Chocolate powder is imported from Belgium.

Nindi said he has customers drive from all over the valley to visit the Laveen location, one of the reasons that Scooptacular expanded last fall. In October 2015, they opened a location in Gilbert. Ice cream for both locations is all still made in Laveen. In addition, Nindi said several valley restaurants now serve ice cream made by Scooptacular under a private label.

Their secret ingredients also include their employees, or Scoopies. “They are like an extension of our family,” Nindi said.

All Scoopies are required to read one to two  books per year and year one always includes  “The Total Money Makeover,” by Dave Ramsey. “We want our Scoopies to have a solid foundation as they grow with us and move on,” he said.

“Jocelyn, one of our Scoopervisors, has been with us since the very beginning. Watching her grow has been rewarding. She is our lead cake decorator, and is integral in our training of new Scoopies. And, our manager, Kalani, joined us one month after we opened. He has been a key player in Scooptacular’s success. His ability to connect with customers can be seen by his warmth when you walk in.”

In addition to their dedication to a quality service and product, the Wadhwas are committed to improving the quality of their community, where they live, attend church and their children attend school and take part in local activities. Scooptacular is a frequent sponsor of local youth groups and school events.

“We love being part of the Laveen community and putting Laveen on the map. This is such a great place to live and we want others to know about our little community out here,” he said. “We look forward to the next six years here with you in Laveen and watching the Scooptacular brand grow throughout the Valley.”

Over the past six years, Scooptacular has been seen on CNN, CBS and locally on nearly every Valley news station. The ice cream shop also been nominated as a “Best Of” by the New Times. Scooptacular received Blue Ribbons on their vanilla and strawberry flavors in 2015 at the National Ice Cream Convention, the highest award possible in ice cream quality.

Visit www.scooptacular.net for more information.

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(This article first appeared in the April 2016 print edition of the South Mountain District News)

The average sales price of existing homes continued to rise throughout Laveen and the South Mountain areas of Phoenix during the first quarter of 2016, which ended March 31.

Compared with the same time period in 2015, prices for existing homes sold during the first quarter were up nearly 9 percent in Laveen’s 85339 ZIP Code, while prices in 85040 were up nearly 16 percent. Home prices in 85041 were up just over 14 percent and ZIP code 85042 saw the largest increase in sales price with a 20 percent bump over 2015.

Realtor Jeffrey Hale with Turf Realty said multiple factors are influencing the local housing market.

“Laveen and South Mountain have very affordable houses.  These areas attract many first-time home buyers and with all of the down-payment assistance programs available, it becomes easy to purchase a home,” he said. “As long as these programs continue and expand, there will be more demand for the houses in our community.”

In general, the number of homes listed in each area was up over a year ago and the number of days it took to sell was down. The exceptions were in 85041, which showed a nearly 8 percent decrease in the number of active listings when compared with first-quarter 2015, and 85042, which had a nearly 9 percent reduction in listings for the time period.

The figures, compiled by Laveen Realtor Sam Lawmaster with Realty One, are based on information from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. ARMLS tracks active listings, homes sold, sales prices, length of time on market and other variables that are input by local Realtors.

“Home prices have been rising fairly consistently throughout the Valley over the past year,” Lawmaster said. “The available inventory of homes for sale is low, leading to shorter days on the market for homes that are priced well. Interest rates are still near historic lows, providing some good opportunities for buyers.”

Hale agrees that the market is in a good place for buyers, but sellers are seeing some nice increases in their home prices which might prompt them to sell and purchase a larger home.  “Many people who purchased homes within the last few years are seeing the value of their home rise quite a bit,” he said. “If the economy continues to improve, it will allow them to sell their homes and use the equity to upgrade their situation. “

Hale concludes with two other factors that are influencing the local market specifically: a high demand for rental houses and the construction of the South Mountain Freeway.

“We receive many calls a day from people asking if we have houses available for rent.  This demand has attracted some of the large investors back to the area.  They won’t be buying the more expensive houses, but they will push up the values of the homes in price ranges under $180,000 which will in turn push the entire market up,” Hale said.

With the freeway, Hale said that now people can actually see the dirt being moved, they will understand that it’s right around the corner and will want to move to an area that suddenly has quick access to all parts of the Valley.

Here is a breakout for local ZIP codes:

85339

From January 1 to March 31 of this year, 181 homes were sold in the 85339 area, a slight decrease of 3.2 percent compared with the 187 homes sold during the same three months in 2015. Homes selling for $160,000-$179,999 showed the highest number of closed purchases with 44 homes sold.

Listings for 85339 were up during the quarter this year with 500 active listings during the period compared with 469 a year ago, a 6.6 percent increase with 31 additional listings in 2016. More than 140 properties were listed at between $200,000 and $249,999, making it one of the largest price categories. Homes were on the market 25 percent fewer days in 2016, with an average listing time of 66 days.

85040

There were 80 homes sold in this ZIP code during the first quarter of 2016, up 11 percent over the 72 homes sold during the same time in 2015. The $140,000-$159,999 price range had one of the largest numbers of sales this year with 19 closed transactions in the quarter.

There were 168 actively listed homes for sale so far in 2016 compared with 154 year-to-date in 2015, a 9.1 percent increase. The $140,000-$159,999 price category had 27 listings, making it one of the largest overall listing categories. The number of days on the market dropped slightly by 1.8 percent reflecting a 54 listing time compared with 2015.

85041

The number of homes sold for first-quarter 2016 totaled 189, up .5 percent over 2015 which had 188 homes sold during the same time period. The $160,000-$179,999 price category had one of the largest numbers of homes sales this year with 46 completed transactions.

Listings were down 7.7 percent in 85041 with 417 active properties for sale in 2016 through the end of March compared with 452 properties during first-quarter 2015. With 87 homes for sale, the $160,000-$179,999 price bracket saw one of the greatest numbers of properties listed.  In comparison to this period a year ago, the number of days on the market was 70 days, down 2.8 percent.

85042

There were 138 homes sold in first-quarter 2016 compared with 119 a year ago, an increase of 16 percent over the 119 sold in first-quarter 2015. The $200,000-$249,999 price bracket reported one of the highest numbers of completed sales this year at 32 completed purchases.

Active listings dropped from 325 in the first-quarter of 2015 to 297 in the first-quarter of this year, an 8.6 percent decrease. With 65 houses for sale, the $200,000-$249,999 price category showed one of the highest numbers of properties listed. Compared to the same period last year, the cumulative days on market for active residential listings in 85042 was 66 days, a drop of 12 percent.

The post First-quarter home prices up in Laveen, South Phoenix appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

This article appears in the April edition of the South Mountain District News

Multiple economic factors are driving renewed interested along the Baseline Corridor in South Phoenix and Laveen, including plans to extend the city’s light rail system into the area by 2023 and the long-anticipated South Mountain Freeway to open in 2019.
Development along the rural foothills will be guided by the Baseline Area Master Plan adopted in 1997 and part of the city’s General Plan. City planners noted in the document that: “After extensive discussions with area property owners and residents, the overriding theme of the Plan became promotion of development which respects and preserves the lifestyle in the area.”
Lori Quan, a deputy director of community and economic development for the city, said that whenever transportation corridors grant greater access to an area, “it opens up a lot more opportunities for commercial development.”
As investors eye the potential value of the estimated 2,700 acres of under-developed land along Baseline, pressure to change zoning to accommodate denser housing development, as well as retail and commercial growth, is intensifying.
In November, a Scottsdale investment company, BLC Realty Advisors, purchased the 19.3 acres that once housed Gardener’s World, 3401 E. Baseline Road in Phoenix. The nursery, run by the Petterson family, closed in late 2013 after co-founder Gary Petterson died in February of that year.
His wife and business partner, Sharon, said she and their children retained the landscaping portion of the business until December of last year when that was sold to Gilbert-based TerraVerde Landscape Solutions. Her daughter, Kari, became marketing director at TerraVerde.
“I am still at the office and closing down things – getting the bookkeeping done,” Petterson said. “There are still so many things to finish, but I am kind of ready to go.”
Gardener’s World was the go-to place for decades for landscaping companies, as well as many of the new homeowners flooding into Awhatukee, South Mountain and Laveen villages during the housing boom. But closing and selling the business hasn’t been an easy process.
“It’s been a real challenge in that it’s a mixed-used agricultural designation and that kept us from being able to sell,” she said. “For developers to get something going, the zoning will have to be changed.”
John Bullington, owner at BLC Realty Advisors, says his hope is to sell part of the property for low-density housing (two structures per acre) while keeping the front portion of the property for agricultural and or commercial use. One possible lead for the property was a farm-to-table restaurant, but unfortunately Bullington said that particular deal didn’t work out.
“We would love someone to come in and use the existing structure and the tree out front for a similar purpose,” he said. “We want to keep our neighbors happy.”
He also agreed with the premise that the improved transportation to the Baseline Corridor will spark renewed interest in development in the South Phoenix area, noting that improved infrastructure is a plus for the community.
Andrew Crosson, senior vice president of acquisitions at Arcis Equity Partners, the nation’s second-largest owner of daily fee golf courses and country clubs, including The Raven, said emphatically in an interview that “We are not selling Raven for development.” The Raven is one of the cornerstones of our portfolio,” Crosson said.
Arcis owns and or operates 73 properties nationwide. Crosson said that The Raven and other properties in their portfolio are being evaluated for redevelopment potential with Arcis’ partner, Ridgewood Real Estate Partners. Ridgewood is a New Jersey-based residential real estate developer, investor and advisory company specializing in land. Ridgewood has two Arizona projects, Bridges at Gilbert and Parkside Village Avondale.
Crosson said Ridgewood and Arcis are jointly reviewing several properties to determine future development opportunities. “At this point, it’s very early in the process.” If redevelopment were to happen at The Raven, zoning would have to be changed, the city’s general plan amended and it would have to make “economic and political sense” to move forward, he said.
For The Raven, preliminary plans would be for a housing development, he said, along with open space buffers being part of the project. But again, Crosson emphasized everything is in the study phase only. “This is just a concept. We are looking at several properties in our portfolio. It’s a time-consuming and unpredictable process and it would have to be economically and politically feasible.”
Samantha Keating, village planner for Laveen and East Camelback, said the process to change zoning or to amend the General Plan requires numerous steps, including public input from nearby property owners, review by the appropriate village planning committee and public hearings. The process can take four to six months and outcomes depend on factors specific to each request. “It really depends on the specifics of the proposal. We look at each case individually,” she said.
Quan’s department works hand-in-hand with planners such as Keating to ensure the city recruits businesses that will bring jobs and retail to the area while following the vision set by planners.
“We follow the guiding documents and the vision set down by planners to ensure a balance between the commercial development and the needs of residents,” Quan said.
For the Petterson family, selling the last of the Gardner’s World assets signals an end to an era. For the Baseline Corridor, this might signal the beginning of a new era of development.

The post Baseline Corridor drawing renewed interest appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

(This article appears in the February 2016 print  issue of the South Mountain District News)

Home prices for existing homes rose throughout the South Mountain and Laveen village areas during 2015, a steady trend that local realtors predict will continue throughout 2016.

“I like this kind of steady increase. It’s not only good for the buyers, but it’s good for sellers,” said Sam Lawmaster, a Laveen resident and a  Realtor with Realty One. “The economy has improved and interests are staying low, so there are still people buying. When you have historically low interest rates and inventory as low as it, it’s typical supply and demand and house prices start to rise.”

For the Laveen area with ZIP code 85339, the average sales price for an existing home increased from $188,894 in 2014 to $198,535 in 2015, an increase of 5.1 percent. In neighboring South Mountain Village, prices were up nearly 22 percent at $118,990 in ZIP 85040 and up 8.1 percent to $164,857 in 85041. In the 85042 area, prices increased 7.25 percent to $189,025.

According to Victor Vidales, owner at ReMax New Heights Realty in south Phoenix, prices for January appear to be continuing the trend.

The Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service’s Pending Price Index projected a median sales price for January 2016 of $212,000 and it ended at $210,000 compared to $194,700 in 2015.

Vidales said that January started off with 7,486 Pending or listings Under Contract compared to 6,731 last year. In January of 2015, ARMLS reported 4,784 sales, this year we had 5,433 sales for January 2016.

“This is a great sign and a great way to start the year,” Vidales said. “I believe our local real estate market will continue to be strong throughout 2016 but there are national concerns with the overall economy that could impact our local market and the type of year we have.”

For example, he cited recent volatility in the financial markets and some nervousness on the part of the Federal Reserve Bank about the health of the U.S. economy, and slow Gross Domestic Product growth in the fourth quarter of last year.

“These factors have reminded us all that economic and real estate market cycles are alive and well. As for now, values are strong and inventory levels are still at record lows with high demand for the affordability offered in our south Phoenix and Laveen communities. We are still the best bang for the buck when you compare our housing stock to the rest of the Valley.”

Doyle Perry, a Realtor and owner of Black Realty in Laveen, said he expects prices to continue climbing as the year progresses with more sales during the spring and summer months. “I see a lot more people looking now,” Perry noted.

He also believes that when the South Mountain Freeway – currently under legal review — is formally under way, the housing market in Laveen will gain more ground. “Once the freeway becomes certain, within a year that will crank up the market.”

The number of days a house stayed on the market in 2015 vs. 2014 decreased in 85339 and 85040, but remained flat in 85041 and 85042. Total number of homes sold rose in 85339, 85041 and 85042, but were one less in 85040 when compared with 2014.

Lawmaster said new homes being built by Beazer and Richmond American, as well as other builders, also will help prices for existing homes. He noted that several residential developments that have been largely dormant since the real estate market crash in 2008, are now adding homes to the once vacant lots. In addition, new retail and other construction is exploding along Baseline Road.

“All the new builds and the new businesses, the new commercial and residential along the Baseline corridor are really adding value to this area,” Lawmaster said.

Here’s a breakdown of the four ZIP code areas:

85339 – Average Sales Price rose 5.10 percent between 2014 and 2015, from $188,894 in 2014 to $198,535 in 2015.  Total number of sales also rose year-over-year by 18.4 percent with 875 homes sold in 85339 in 2015, an increase of 136 sales over 2014.  The number of days to sell a home in Laveen decreased 11.84 percent; in 2014 it took 76 days on average to sell a home versus 67 days in 2015.

85040 – The average sales price of homes in 2015 was $118,990, up 21.83 percent over 2014.  Total number of sales in the ZIP code remained flat at 324 residential sales in 2015 versus 325 in 2014.  The average number of days to sell a home decreased from 59 in 2014 to 45 in 2015.

85041 – 2015 saw an increase of 8.12 percent in the sales price of homes in the ZIP code over 2014, with homes selling for an average price of $164,857 during 2015.  There was a 10.1 percent increase in the number of completed sales in 2015 over 2014, rising to 796 homes sold in 2015, an increase of 73 completed home sales year-over-year.  Number of days to sell a home remained relatively flat in 85041, with 66 average days in 2015 and 67 days in 2014.

85042 – The average sales price of homes in 2015 was $189,025, up 7.25 percent over 2014. Total number of sales in the ZIP code increased 6.2 percent at 534 residential sales in 2015 versus 503 in 2014.  The average number of days to sell a home remained the same year- over-year at 63 days.

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Liberty Mutual app makes claims easier to process

Gabriel Felix, a Laveen resident since 2007 and an insurance agent for Liberty Mutual, recommends reviewing homeowners and renters insurance policies before a burglary to make sure they are covered in the case of theft.  “Knowing your coverage limits and deductible is very important information to have when any loss occurs,” Felix said.

Many insurance companies give discounts for homes with burglar alarms and monitored home security systems, discounting annual premiums for such deterrents. Felix says that Liberty Mutual also offers the Home Gallery App, a free and easy to use app that allows homeowners to create an organized inventory of the items in their homes, making navigating the claims process easier in case of a theft or burglary. The app also can help homeowners and their insurance agent determine the right amount of coverage needed to help protect themselves and their belongings.

Most insurers offer different discounts and it is best to check with your insurance company to see what specifics your policy offers. Knowing and understanding that information will make navigating a loss much easier, Felix added.

For more information about homeowners or other insurance, visit https://www.libertymutual.com/gabriel-felix or contact Felix at 602-818-9182.

Local dairy donating to Phoenix Children’s Hospital

During the month of February, Danzeisen Dairy will be donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of all Danzeisen Dairy products to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Danzeisen Dairy is a local, family-owned and operated dairy in Phoenix for more than 50 years. It is the only Arizona dairy to bottle milk in glass, recyclable bottles and its products can be found in Bashas, Safeway, AJ’s Fine Foods, Sprouts and Whole Foods.

This is the first year that Danzeisen has partnered with Phoenix Children’s.

Visit www.danzeisendairy.com for more information.

Local horse expert gains animal reiki certification

Tami Blake, owner of The Enlightened Horse equine care business, recently earned her animal Reiki certification. Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes.

The Enlightened Horse provides photopuncture and light therapy to improve horses’ performance and wellbeing by bringing their body back to balance by eliminating pain. The business also sells both human and equine In Light units.

Blake is a certified photopuncture technician and has completed courses in equine anatomy and physiology and the Masterson.  Blake is offering human clients their first photopuncture visit for free. Her credentials include: Certified Equine Technician, Certified Animal Aromatherapy I,

Masterson Method – equine bodywork and Reiki I & II.

Visit theenlightenedhorse.com for more information or call 602-790-9404.

Dunkin’ Donuts plans mid-February opening
At print time, the local franchise of Dunkin’ Donuts was expected to open on Feb. 22, according to a spokeswoman.  She said the store is planning to hold a grand opening event on Feb. 27. The company also is finalizing plans for a coffee deal/offer for local residents.

February class offered on starting pet-sitting business

Teri Ann Tate, owner of Comfy Pets of AZ, will be teaching would-be entrepreneurs how to turn pet-sitting efforts into a full-time business. The two three-day seminars also will include professional training on medical care for both small pets and horses, determining what services your business might offer, how to deal with difficult clients, marketing and social media.

The first New Professional Pet Care Provider Boot Camp is set for Feb. 19-21 in Laveen and the second is scheduled for June 24-26. Tuition is $400. Classes take place on three consecutive days, Friday-Sunday, starting at 8:30 each morning.

Tate started pet-sitting part-time 16 years ago, and has since grown Comfy Pets of AZ into a well-established business that provides a variety of pet-related services in Laveen and Fountain Hills, ranging from pet-sitting to dog walking to teaching pet CPR and First Aid to other professionals.

During the Boot Camp, Tate also will discuss the legal forms necessary to become a full-service business. As part of the intensive training, participants will earn certificates in Pet First Aid and Advanced Pet First Aid, as well as Equine First Aid.  Tate is certified in the following: Certified quine First Aid Instructor (EFAI), Pet Tech Instructor (PTI), Emergency Animal Medical Technician I, EMT, Wilderness EMT and Large Animal Rescue Tech II.

Visit www.comfypetsofaz.com for more information.

Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send to smdnews@cox.net

The post Business Briefs: Liberty Mutual app eases claim process appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

About a dozen local businesses donated time and services to Laveen’s first Back to School Backpack Drive and Family Fun Night on July 26 at the Laveen Education Center.

Participants at the event received certificates for free haircuts for children ages 5-12 with the donation of a new backpack.  There was a free bounce house, live music, free water and free snacks.

About 50 backpacks were donated and will be distributed by the Laveen Elementary School District to needy children. Families came with blankets and chairs and stayed for while, enjoying free water and snacks while the children got temporary tattoos, danced and bounced.

About 50 backpacks were donated and will be distributed by the Laveen Elementary School District officials to needy children during the first weeks of school.

Sponsoring businesses included: A Child’s Joy, Cesar’s Graphics, Comfy Pets of AZ, DJ Ant with Big Boiz Entertainment, Dollar Storage, Ellaments Salon, Kathy Does Kake, Scooptacular and Turf Realty.

The post Laveen Village Voice: Backpack drive gets 50 donations appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.