General Phoenix Metro Discussion Thread

[combusean]

I would rather Toll Brothers land bank than build garbage projects with abundant surface parking. There is no shortage of lots for actual developers to build on.

[TJPHXskyscraperfan]

Originally Posted by Obadno

As Toll Brothers wastes everyone time landbanking two huge prime lots in Midtown (Thomas and Central & Indian School and Central) they have no problem building suburban houses along the 303.

Are they just land-banking downtown? Or do they ever intend to build anything?

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...-moves-forward-on-800-acre-surprise.html

Yeah, who are these guys. The Van Buren lot and Thomas lot are just sitting there with a fence around it. And now they bought one of the best open lots in midtown on Central and Indian School? Even though I don’t like the suburban design, I would like to see something go up there soon.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by TJPHXskyscraperfan

Yeah, who are these guys. The Van Buren lot and Thomas lot are just sitting there with a fence around it. And now they bought one of the best open lots in midtown on Central and Indian School? Even though I don’t like the suburban design, I would like to see something go up there soon.

The Indian School spot is too prime of a location for what is proposed there. I actually would rather wait 5 more years for something more fitting for that lot than be stuck with another Met style complex for the next 30 years.

[TakeFive]

Homelessness in Maricopa County is worse now than it's ever been, advocates say
Jul 23, 2019 By: Sonu Wasu - ABC15

PHOENIX — In 2015, Maricopa County leaders pledged to end homelessness. Four years later and in the middle of a booming Arizona economy, advocates working with the homeless say the situation is worse now than it's ever been.

A statistic I wasn't aware of:

Glow said as the crisis worsened, more and more people faced eviction from their homes. As a result, she says Arizona has the second-highest eviction rate in the country with more than 25,000 eviction orders processed by Phoenix justice courts last year.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Homelessness in Maricopa County is worse now than it's ever been, advocates say
Jul 23, 2019 By: Sonu Wasu - ABC15

A statistic I wasn't aware of:

As far as I am aware, and feel free to correct me, eviction rates cost of rent, etc has no impact on homelessness (or very little) Chronic homelessness is almost exclusively a product of mental illness and/or drug abuse.

[azsunsurfer]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Homelessness in Maricopa County is worse now than it's ever been, advocates say
Jul 23, 2019 By: Sonu Wasu - ABC15

A statistic I wasn't aware of:

Yes that is correct. Just look at California. Both LA and SF are not full of those who have not been evicted but people who struggle with drug abuse or mental illness. Living in Tempe it's been getting worse as well and again it's mental illness and drug addicts who I see on the street. This whole "it's a housing issue" is really a farce.

[combusean]

^ ... Literally none of this is based in the research. Where do you guys come up with this?

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-anderson-forecast-20180613-story.html

That's one article of many. Homelessness has a galaxy of causes.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by combusean

^ ... Literally none of this is based in the research. Where do you guys come up with this?

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-anderson-forecast-20180613-story.html

That's one article of many. Homelessness has a galaxy of causes.

Correct. There are many people that are still working and yet, live out of their car because they can't afford the housing in LA. There was a news story I watched not too long ago about a couple that has been living out of their car for months after being evicted because they couldn't afford their rent. They both had jobs...the jobs just didn't pay enough. This is an increasing trend.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by RonnieFoos

Correct. There are many people that are still working and yet, live out of their car because they can't afford the housing in LA. There was a news story I watched not too long ago about a couple that has been living out of their car for months after being evicted because they couldn't afford their rent. They both had jobs...the jobs just didn't pay enough. This is an increasing trend.

If you are working in a job that cant pay your rent you need to get a new job or leave LA.

No sympathy for such idiotic decisions of the people in your story

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by Obadno

If you are working in a job that cant pay your rent you need to get a new job or leave LA.

No sympathy for such idiotic decisions of the people in your story

So you think they should just quit a job they currently have and head off to another city or state where they are not even guaranteed they will find work which would put them in a worse position than they already are in? It's not free just to get up and move to another state. It's also very hard for people that may have no choice. Not everyone has a degree to get a better job or can't leave because of personal issues. They may have a low paying job, but they at least have a job and can feed themselves. Also, who said they were never trying to find a better job? Don't be judgmental about people you do not know or can't walk in their shoes.

[combusean]

Seriously. People who don't have money and are living in their car don't have the money to quit their job, drive off somewhere else, and just find work where they have no support structures in place. They might be living in their car but might be showering or eating with friends and family. Every landlord in California has strict rules on long-term overnight guests.

[Ballister]

Originally Posted by Obadno

If you are working in a job that cant pay your rent you need to get a new job or leave LA.

No sympathy for such idiotic decisions of the people in your story

What a classless statement full of ignorance. Privilege much?

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by Ballister

What a classless statement full of ignorance. Privilege much?

When the cheaper housing stock is being bought up by hedge funds, and being flipped and resold for $50,000k more, the reasonable rents are going up by double-digit %, and there aren't replacement complexes being built, there is a bit of a perfect storm. Yes, there are a lot of people on substances, and with mental issues, but we got rid of mental health care for the poor in the 1980s, and turned the asylum dwellers onto the street. We also have a LOT of vets who are grappling with both mental health and substance issues (and these are often intertwined). Finally, we had pharmaceutical companies putting tens of BILLIONS of opioids in the hands of patients who had injuries with the gospel of "being pain free is a human right." This is a perfect storm, not just random people making the usual stupid decisions. We shouldn't treat this like it's a video game, because it isn't. WE need to dig our way out of this very deep hole, and it's going to take time, money, and effort.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Obadno

If you are working in a job that cant pay your rent you need to get a new job or leave LA.

No sympathy for such idiotic decisions of the people in your story

Do agree...

So many people decide to go homeless by choice for varied reasons.
But can they play to a good media narrative? Ofc they can.

Originally Posted by combusean

That's one article of many. Homelessness has a galaxy of causes.

Do agree...

and with those who focus on drugs and mental issues but is this a cop out?

Correct me if I'm off base
but (generally) you don't find immigrants being homeless. Phoenix has lots of Latinos from most of the America's but also immigrants from eastern Europe, middle east, Asians, and Africans. I'm not aware that any of these groups are found among the homeless unless it's the exception.

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Correct me if I'm off base
but (generally) you don't find immigrants being homeless. Phoenix has lots of Latinos from most of the America's but also immigrants from eastern Europe, middle east, Asians, and Africans. I'm not aware that any of these groups are found among the homeless unless it's the exception.

I'm actually not aware of the percentages, but immigrants are typically less likely to commit crimes, and generally do better at social mobility.

There is an invisible homeless population. Homeless women (especially single mothers) and children (half of foster kids become homeless after they turn 18, and many do so before) are more likely to be invisible, partially because it's much more dangerous to be homeless as a woman or a child.

[TakeFive]

Easy Like Sunday Morning


Source

https://azbigmedia.com/real-estate/comme...of-positive-net-office-space-absorption/

Phoenix hits 24th straight quarter of positive net office space absorption

The Phoenix office market has achieved 24 straight quarters – or six straight years – of positive net office space absorption, according to the JLL Q2 Phoenix Office Insight report. At the same time, vacancy has decreased by 11 basis points, marking its lowest level in almost 12 years.

But how much is under construction?

There is currently 1.9 million square feet of active new office construction underway. This adds to 546,000 square feet of new space delivered during the second quarter ... According to projections, however, this still falls short of meeting the demands of prospective tenants who collectively are looking for 3.2 million square feet of space and already have signed 1 million square feet in leases that are expected to occupy by year end.

[TakeFive]

Higher and Higher

Help wanted: Labor shortages continue to crank up construction costs
July 23, 2019 Matt Baker - RE Journals

This dearth of workers, along with the country’s threatened or actual use of tariffs, means that the meteoric rise in construction costs is only expected to continue. According to the second quarter construction cost report from Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), between January 1, 2019 and April 1, 2019 the national average increase in construction cost was appropriately 1.12 percent (4.48 percent annualized).

What about Phoenix?

Chicago, Honolulu, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle all experienced increases above the national average during the second quarter.

[azsunsurfer]

Deleted

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by Ballister

What a classless statement full of ignorance. Privilege much?

lol couldnt give a shit less. Im sure you are a much better person than me with so much compassion

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Higher and Higher

Help wanted: Labor shortages continue to crank up construction costs
July 23, 2019 Matt Baker - RE Journals

What about Phoenix?

Labor shortage is good, it means rising wages which is desperately needed. When you see economists bemoaning labor shortages its because they advocate for cheap labor and wage suppression.