Walkability and convenience are driving a lot of development, and many mixed-use projects combine housing with varied commercial elements, often in multistoried buildings that emphasize vertical growth and density.
The rise of mixed-use development emphasizes a growing demand for housing that connects naturally with how people live, work and spend their time. Arizona REALTORS® are hearing directly from the clients they serve as priorities shift toward convenience, connectivity and access to amenities, and these developments are a clear response to those evolving preferences, especially within urban real estate.
Arizona continues to welcome new residents and businesses for a variety of economic and entrepreneurial reasons. And, while inventory remains tight, mixed-use developments offer a community-oriented and unique path forward. They are just one piece of a broader strategy, as supporting a range of housing solutions is critical to maintaining long-term affordability and accessibility in our communities. When done effectively, these efforts help advance homeownership and position Arizona to sustain growth while maintaining the quality of life that continues to draw people here.
Mixed-use development is not exhibited only as a project spread out over a campus or neighborhood but also as towers comprised of, for instance, retail on the ground level, residential and office above, and parking below. This month’s cover story, “Stacking over Sprawl,” spotlights select examples of these developments in Metro Phoenix.
The celebrity appeal of a headline sports name to add value to a product is commonplace in marketing. But Alex Guerrero points out that the smartest brands aren’t just paying for athlete endorsements; he explores a stronger engagement in his feature article “From Endorsements to Ownership: Rethinking the Value of Athlete Partnerships.”
Kiana Taie zeroes in on office design in her guest columnist feature “Ditch the Podcast Rooms: Coffee and Privacy Are What Tenants Really Want,” making the case for “basic” amenities improving utilization and satisfaction — and providing the greatest ROI for building owners.
Brittany Hart examines a different kind of architecture as she discusses one of today’s hottest topics. In “The AI Transition: Why Communication Architecture Matters,” she shares insights to help leaders implement new technologies and educate their workforce in structured steps to avoid damaging workplace culture.
A more under-the-radar issue is Dawn Gerundo’s focus in “Investing in Readers Today to Build Arizona’s Workforce Tomorrow” as she illuminates why early literacy is a business issue. And Liana Habicht asks us to reconsider our views of growth and leadership in her Roundtable feature “Output-Driven Success: Accelerating to Burnout.”
Among other topics addressed this month is a growing “AI slop” crisis as employees over-rely on AI tools (“Unverified AI Output Is Creating Financial & Reputational Risk” in the Technology section), factors shaping the growth of Phoenix’s industrial market (in the CRE section), and increased interest in oral microbiome testing as periodontal disease is recognized to present a large and persistent clinical and economic burden (“The Business Case Behind the Oral Microbiome Market Boom” in the Healthcare section).
In Business Magazine is focused on providing business-relevant content aimed at strengthening our business community. I’m pleased to help bring you this May edition. Please enjoy the read.
Sincerely,
Scott Drucker
Chief Executive Officer
Arizona Association of REALTORS
Scott M. Drucker, Esq., is CEO of the Arizona REALTORS®, leading strategy and operations for the state’s largest trade association representing more than 52,000 REALTORS®. The association advocates for private property rights and supports members in serving clients with integrity and competence. A former general counsel, Scott oversees finances, governance and strategic initiatives. He brings extensive statewide legal experience and serves on multiple boards, including the Common Sense Institute and the Arizona Housing Fund.
