Dirt to Development

From band camp to development guru...with Jason Larsen. How a random encounter at Disneyland led to an unexpected and successful career in land development.

It's hard to think of anyone who has made a more distinctive mark on land use development and master planning in Arizona than John Graham. From the creation of Valley Partnership to McDowell Mountain Ranch and many more, John's fingerprints and projects are seen across Arizona. Enjoy lessons from an industry scion

Insight and perspective from an excellent civil servant - former Mayor, business executive, and state leader Jenn Daniels.

2024 legislative update on housing bills, resignations, and Adam messes up another word…again!

Why does it feel like every good development project is getting squashed by City traffic departments? If you want to get approvals, you need to hire the best traffic engineers early. Listen as we lament why City traffic departments are like Toby from the office… always killing the vibe.

Digital streaming, online computing, and AI technology have dramatically changed the way we store data and design modern industrial buildings. Jackie Orcutt from CBRE shares how it has changed her land brokerage practice…and Adam reveals his mastery of the English langauge.

Two of our favorite City Managers - Patrick Banger and Kevin Phelps - share why Glendale and Gilbert are some of our favorite places to develop.

What should you do when your use is allowed and the municipality doesn't want it? A huge mistake is assuming the zoning clears the path to develop. Even when zoned, obstacles may still exist with city staff, local politicians, and the process. Here are our suggestions.

We found some surprising nuggets sitting down with Connor Deveraux of CoStar Group in recapping the 2023 year and development sector trends.

Looking back on some of the highlights (and absurdities) from the World of Zoning in 2023, along with Santa's zoning wish list for 2024.

Could Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) be the key to solving Arizona's housing shortage?

How a serial entrepreneur is tackling housing scarcity in a different, sustainable way.

No market segment has performed better that industrial development in Phoenix in recent years. The market is shattering absorption records and attracting major manufacturing, tech, and semiconductor users. Changes in recent finance and interest markets have shown some influence on new construction, but the overall outlook remains optimistic. In this episode we cover the state of the industrial mar...

What's the point of great land use entitlements if you can't secure the financing to make it all possible.  Having a finance concierge is key to the effort, and precisely what Adam Finkel at Tower Capital does.

With all the wild headlines about groundwater limiting new development, it's time to set the record straight. In Arizona, water and development go hand in hand. But it's not doom and gloom as so many national headlines erroneously claim  Get the facts with Jason, Adam, and Michelle Van Quathem, a water law attorney in Arizona.

Securing project financing is just as important as securing the land use entitlements. Without it, you've got nothing.  George Weisz and Neill LeCorgne from Scottsdale Community Bank give us a peak on the creation of a community bank and how it serves underbanked communities.

While our zoning case work creates headlines, reporting on it is better left to journalistic experts like Roland Murphy, AZBEX Digital Magazine. We hope you enjoy a different take on the Dirt to Development podcast with an expert in covering real estate news

Liquor laws are often an afterthought when it comes to rezoning new property but sophisticated developers know to tackle that issue early in their due diligence phase, precisely what Withey Morris Baugh can help solve. In this episdoe we share practical advice and great stories to help you navigate Arizona liquor laws before building new developments.

When Senator Steve Kaiser proposed legislation to dramatically change zoning laws in 2022, it created huge shockwaves across Arizona towns and cities.  A second attempt in 2023, created a similar reaction before the proposed legislation eventually lost steam at the state capital.  The motive were noble though, and driven by a cause to provide better access to housing and remove barriers that imped...

Development might seem repetitive, like jumping a rope, but there are plenty of areas where you can get tripped up.  Recessions, raising equity, obtaining entitlements, securing financing, etc. can all become huge hurdles, but the best developers always find a way to succeed.  Listen in as Larry Pobuda shares how he has created success in both the best, and worst, economic conditions.

Among the factors to consider in creating a site plan, one that is often overlooked is crime prevention and threat assessment.  Listen as Shawn Prinkey from Prinkey Consulting shares how developers should reconsider this aspect early in their site plan design process.

Not all sites are created equal and some require serious problem solving with local land use counsel.  Scott Whittington from Avalon Development share how he was once the office King of Albuquerque and how he pivoted towards retail sites across Arizona with the help of his favorite zoning attorneys.

The Design Review Board is a step in the entitlement process but it can be tricky to win over.  Depending on the quality of the design, it can either be a comedy roast for a poorly designed project, or a coronation for great development.  In this episode we debate the merits of the DRB with a current DRB board member Scott Thomas and local architect Korey Wilkes.  

As anti-multifamily housing opponents become louder and more effective, it was only a matter of time before the pendulum swung back harder.  SB 1117 is a senate bill pending in the Arizona Legislature which has the potential to stymie public engagement and severely limit local zoning control.  Is this a good thing? Listen as we debate SB1117 and its merits.

Experienced architects and engineers know better than to navigate zoning matters solo.  Hear why David Bohn and Nicole Posten-Thompson utilize local zoning counsel early in their design efforts.