City News

AMERICAN AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF NEW LONDON SERVICE AMERICA’S FRIENDLIEST AIRPORT® IS “New international air service helps Phoenix will be served by a Boeing 777-200ER. It will offer MAKING IT EVEN MORE CONVENIENT FOR grow our economy and global presence,” said 273 seats with three classes of service: Business TRAVELERS TO FLY NONSTOP to Europe from Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams. “I am excited Class; Premium Economy; and Main Cabin service. Phoenix. American Airlines previously announced that American Airlines will be offering year-round, American is the only domestic carrier with nonstop last August that it will be offering nonstop service direct service from Phoenix to London. We look service to Europe from Sky Harbor. from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport forward to continuing to grow our partnership with For travelers, this provides another valuable to London Heathrow Airport beginning March 31 American Airlines.” connection between Phoenix and Europe for and running through October 26. Now, American both business and leisure as well as a boost to the Airlines has announced this service will be offered The service, which is American’s first-ever overseas economy. International flights to and from Phoenix year-round. intercontinental flight from Phoenix to London, bring in approximately $3 billion each year.

In addition to American’s service, British Airways continues to offer its daily nonstop service, departing from Phoenix at 7:45 p.m. The airlines’ flights to London provide travelers with 14 flights per week, and an easy connection to those wishing to travel beyond London.

Extended service on Condor Airlines to Frankfurt from Phoenix also begins again in May and runs through October. From Phoenix Sky Harbor, travelers will find access to more than 100 domestic destinations and 22 international destinations.

Learn more at skyharbor.com/flyphx.

DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE FOR ARIZONA MOTORISTS TECHNOLOGY BUFFS HAVE A Arizona Department of Public Safety to by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division NEW ARIZONA LICENSE PLATE ensure that the look of the plate and its and the Arizona Department of Public OPTION AVAILABLE TO THEM messaging capabilities conform to legal Safety, it’s not available at MVD or AuWITH THE INTRODUCTION OF requirements and law enforcement best thorized Third Party offices. Motorists ELECTRONIC DIGITAL PLATES. practices. who wish to buy the plate must do so through participating resellers, includFor over a year, the Arizona Depart- The plates, called Rplate Digital ing vehicle dealerships and professional ment of Transportation has tested this License Plates, are LTE wireless con- auto service providers or the plate technology on a limited number of its nected devices similar to a tablet. The manufacturer, Reviver Auto. The plate’s fleet vehicles throughout the state to license plate number is constantly dis- cost is determined by the manufacturer, determine operational capabilities and played, and the technology allows for and MVD does not receive any proendurance under weather conditions. added messages such as “invalid,” “sto- ceeds from sales. len” and other notifications if needed. ADOT also collaborated with the While use of the Rplate is authorized For more information: reviverauto.com.

COCKTAIL SOCIETY THEMED PARTY, “SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED,” WITH SPIES, SPIRITS AND STYLE LAUNCHES SCOTTSDALE CULINARY FESTIVAL SCOTTSDALE LEAGUE FOR THE Following the Cocktail Society is ARTS PRESENTS THE COCKTAIL the iconic weekend-long Scottsdale SOCIETY KICK-OFF PARTY WITH Culinary Festival presented by the THE THEME “SHAKEN, NOT City of Scottsdale at the Scottsdale STIRRED” on Friday, April 12, Civic Center Plaza, featuring local launching three days of food, fun and restaurants, culinary demos, live music fundraising as part of the Scottsdale and more on April 13 and 14. Culinary Festival weekend. The event showcases top-shelf spirits, 007-worthy The City of Scottsdale is a premier cocktails from Phoenix’s top cocktail destination for activities in Arizona masters, and culinary creations from 10 and is the host sponsor of the Cocktail restaurants. Entertainment this year will Society and the Scottsdale Culinary feature secret-agent-themed fun and Festival. Both events benefit the live music. Scottsdale League for the Arts, a 501(c) The 21-and-over event starts at 007 proceeds to arts programs in Arizona. (7:00 p.m.) and runs until 10:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Tickets are $75 online before April 1, Performing Arts, located at 7380 E. then $85 online or $100 at the door. 2nd Street, Scottsdale. Bond-inspired For tickets visit scottsdalefest.org/ attire is encouraged at the Cocktail tickets or for more information visit Society. scottsdalefest.org/cocktailsociety.

‘THE WURST’ CALIFORNIA CHAIN COMING TO SCOTTSDALE QUARTER DOG HAUS IS OPENING ITS FIRST ARIZONA LOCATION! This franchise, operated by Mondo Mahmoud, will be located at 15257 N. Scottsdale Road on the east side of Scottsdale Quarter.

So, what’s the story behind this franchise? It was founded by partners Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener, three friends who share a passion for good food, creativity, quality and commitment to community. The friends opened the first Dog Haus in Pasadena, California in 2010. Dog Haus has garnered critical acclaim and national attention for its signature all beef dogs and hand-crafted sausages with no added nitrates, 100 percent Black Angus beef burgers, and a fried chicken sandwich, all of which are made with hormone- and antibiotic-free meat. All dogs, sausages, burgers and the fried chicken sandwich are served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls. Guests can choose from signature Haus creations or customize their own from a wide array of unique toppings. (3) non-profit organization that donates Dog Haus currently has 30+ locations open in nine states with 20+ in development across the country. For up to date location and brand information, visit doghaus.com

“We couldn’t be more excited to introduce our one-of-a-kind Dog Haus creations to everyone in Scottsdale,” said Mahmoud. $8M IN UPGRADES AT JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE RESORT OUR VERY OWN JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE RESORT RECENTLY WRAPPED UP $8 MILLION WORTH OF UPGRADES THROUGHOUT THEIR PROPERTY. Among the upgrades were 12 new private cabana cottages, six new poolside suites, a new poolside bar, expanded fitness center and 12 new pickleball courts. The new pool suites overlook the resort’s lazy river and replaced the former poolside fitness center. Each of these suites include a wet bar, exterior patio with ceiling fans, misting systems and flat screen TV’s.

The resort removed three of their existing tennis courts to make room for the addition of the new pickleball courts. Pickleball is a paddle sport which combines the elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis, and is growing quickly in popularity

CITY NEWS YEARS OF LITIGATION AT CITY NORTH END AS CROWN REALTY & DEVELOPMENT ACQUIRES DEVELOPER RIGHTS FOR DESERT RIDGE LAND

CROWN REALTY & DEVELOPMENT, A significant retail development that was to include

RENOWNED CALIFORNIA-DEVELOPER Bloomingdales, Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. The

BEHIND SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN recession and years of litigation prevented the

ARIZONA, through controlled affiliates, has closed project from moving beyond the High Street on 96.5 acres and acquired the “Master Developer” portion that was completed in 2008. rights in North Phoenix’s Desert Ridge master planned community. The property and rights have “It’s impossible to grow new land but the been the subject of active litigation and bankruptcy slumbering status of this property for the last for a decade. Crown now plans to develop the land decade or more does exactly that, as the end of as a new urban core in Phoenix. litigation means the start of development for what Crown’s winning bid for the land was $54 million estate in Arizona, and perhaps America,” said Rick while the Bankruptcy Court had previously valued Carpinelli, Senior Vice President of Acquisition the land as high as $121 million. and Development at Crown. The acquired acreage comprises the majority of the vacant land east of the 1.2 million square foot Desert Ridge Marketplace and that surrounds the existing High Street. The land Crown has acquired Carpinelli noted that the greater Phoenix market is maturing with corporate headquarters for technology, healthcare and financial service companies moving to and expanding in the market. The majority of that growth has been centered in Tempe or the Southeast Valley where land and zoning has been plentiful to meet the demand. That all changes with City North jumping onto everyone’s short list. ” “ The land Crown has acquired is zoned for about 2,500 residential units, 2.0 million square feet of office, 500 hotel rooms and 100,000 square feet of retail. is zoned for about 2,500 residential units, 2.0 million square feet of office, 500 hotel rooms and Prior to the Great Recession and the more 100,000 square feet of retail. recent legal imbroglio, significant commercial “Unlocking this parcel from years of litigation now late 1990s and early 2000s with Desert Ridge provides the opportunity to develop a 21st century Marketplace, Mayo Clinic, JW Marriott Resort, urban community on the north side of Phoenix,” American Express and thousands of residences. said Robert Flaxman, CEO of Crown. “What Century City was to Los Angeles in the 1960s, the With this closing by Crown, the City of Phoenix new City North project will be to Phoenix,” he now has the opportunity to better capture pent up said. demand in the Valley and create a second urban Flaxman said there is now finality about litigation and certainty about future development on what Mayo Clinic has recently announced plans to many consider to be Phoenix Metro’s most prized, double the size of its nearby 250-acre campus undeveloped commercial property. As part of with a $650 million investment. Arizona State bankruptcy court proceedings all claims have been University has broken ground on its first 166,000 settled. As part of the judgment, Crown obtained square foot building on its adjacent healthcare what are known as “master developer” rights not campus. American Express is also under only for its 100-acre site but also the entire 5,700 construction on a new 300,000 square foot building acres from the 51 Freeway to 64th Street and on expanding its current employee base of 5,000 to both sides of the heavily trafficked Loop 101. 8,000. That’s approximately five square miles in the City is unquestionably one of the best pieces of real development did occur at Desert Ridge in the node for the city. of Phoenix’s highest-growth corridor. These developments show the demand for growth in this North Phoenix sub-market and were able City North was planned in the mid-2000s to be a to proceed because they were properties outside of the litigation that has stymied more growth in Desert Ridge. This all changes thanks to Crown’s successful conclusion of litigation and acquisition.

Crown acquired the 96.5 acres and Master Developer rights in Desert Ridge as a final, nonappealable step in what has been a long series of various litigation matters.

In late 2015 and early 2016 affiliates of Bruce Gray and Gray Development defaulted on notes owned by Crown. One of the notes was secured by the 96.5 acres of land that surrounds the High Street property as well as the Desert Ridge Master Developer rights. In the years that Gray held these rights, not one shred of development occurred. Gray filed bankruptcy in May 2016. The bankruptcy was resolved in March 2018 with a ruling from U.S. Bankruptcy Court that became a final and non-appealable order. The ruling ordered the sale of the Desert Ridge property through a court appointed trustee. Beth Jo Zeitzer of ROI Properties was appointed by the court to be the trustee to oversee the marketing and sale of the property. The bid deadline for the court ordered sale was January 15, 2019. Crown’s credit bid was the winning bid and thus Crown purchased the property and Master Developer Rights, closing on January 28.

Crown, which has locally developed the Montelucia Resort (now an Omni property) and spearheaded the redevelopment of Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley, now plans to develop what will essentially be a new city on the coveted property.

“The new City North project will include a residential core, office buildings from four to ten stories, vibrant new restaurants, a full-service hotel and several select service hotels,” said Carpinelli.

“All of this is great news for existing residents of the area soon to get more amenities as well as future residents and employers who will be able to call this amazing slice of Arizona home,” said Flaxman.

Crown is already working with several major corporate users looking to locate their business at Desert Ridge. Crown will begin developing the property this spring and plans to complete the streets, sidewalks and landscaping by the end of 2019. In addition, Crown anticipates the first office building, the first residential project and the first restaurant all starting construction this year.