January 2020 update: We do know that Postino won’t be part of the NE corner development as they have purchased the former Tempe Public Market space!

*Update” We are hearing that this deal is all but dead. Lots of issues going on here. The developer, the zoning, etc. Hopefully, a more concrete answer will emerge, soon.

The community has been invited to a public meeting to talk about potential plans for what the future holds for the long vacant corner.

Rural and Warner Public Meeting:

A public meeting will be held Wednesday, May 15th at 6:00 PM at Lecture Hall B at Corona Del Sol High School.

Corona Del Sol is located at Rural and Knox
1001 E Knox Road
Tempe, AZ 85284

The public is invited to share ideas, questions, comments and concerns at this meeting. There will be people involved with the proposed development along with people from the City of Tempe.

For a little more background about what’s going on, here’s the information I posted in a South Tempe Facebook Group on April 29th.

“OK, more Rural and Warner info! Everyone wants to now what’s up with the NW corner, right?
A developer has filed an application with the City for a General Plan Amendment from Residential to Commercial and a zoning Map Amendment from Agricultural to Planned Commercial Center-1 and a Development Plan Review for the site plan, landscape plan and building elevations.
They would like to do a “small , boutique, neighborhood-style commercial center.”
A letter was mailed today to the residents who live CLOSE to the proposed development. 
According to the letter, the meeting with DRC at Tempe has not yet been scheduled.
However, mark your calendars for May 15th from 6-7pm. There will be a community meeting in Lecture Hall B at Corona Del Sol HS.
Information should be posted on the site of the lot soon, as well.
I’m hearing of a daycare type center in the NW corner with approx 10,000 sq ft.
There will also be approximately 16,000 sq ft of retail / restaurant space. 
Think cool restaurant / wine bar typ of thing mixed with a coffee shop and or breakfast or lunch option.
This website is the most detailed plan I have seen of any proposed use.”

Since that time, a LOT has been happening concerning the future use of the property at Rural and Warner. In fact, information was posted on the lot just a few days later and confirmed that they will have a public meeting on May 15th at 6:00 PM at Corona.

In addition to the public notice at the lot, our local Wrangler News ran a story about the proposed development, and it has been talked about at length on sites like NextDoor and other Facebook groups.

Like many topics, there will always be people who will have to agree to disagree. Some people feel like the lot should remain “agricultural” to protect the integrity of the area and the safety of nearby residents. Other people hope for much more for the corner and many others would simply like something that is a good fit for the neighbors, the entire community and for the owners of the property.

Here’s some of what has been said about the proposed development project. I found these questions / comments on Facebook, NextDoor, etc.

“I am resident for 22 years, and the sign For Sale has been there on that lot. It is time to build something. That corner is an eyesore. A small shopping and restaurant would be nice.

“We need to hold the developer accountable so that they don’t get cheap and drop in low-budget stucco boxes.”

“Why is that overdevelopment is viewed as progress? I for one am not interested in seeing more commercialism in this area. There are more than enough eateries and shopping centers – banks – Circle Ks – blah blah blah. Maybe you feel differently? That’s your right. I believe less is better in this case.”

“I’ve lived here, 85284, for 26 years. That empty lot has been nothing but dust, weeds and campaign signs…Putting a business there will provide jobs and taxes for our city. I hope it’s going to be a Postinos..I agree it should not be a gas station or tire shop. But developed is better than what is there now.”

“I hope that they put something worthwhile in that spot. I can walk to it. I loved it when the Tempe Marketplace café went in, I can walk to a good restaurant nearby and home again. Haven’t had that available for the past 32 years I have lived here. I applaud anything going in I can use and also walk to.”

“The thing that people are not thinking about is who is gonna want to eat at a restaurant that is backed up to horse property, or other livestock? Next thing you know everyone will be complaining about smell, flies etc. This is zoned agricultural for a reason. It is not fair to the LONGTIME homeowners in the immediate vicinity to have to fight to be able to keep their properties as they have always known.”

“I would like to support this change. I don’t understand how a few people in our zip code can continuously hold that lot hostage.”

“Everyone knows this is privately owned property right ? If the neighbors near the corner want to shoot down every possible use for the corner they should get together and buy it and then they can graze horses or plant melons, or create a lovely park they can donate to the city. The redevelopment of the northeast corner with its great new restaurants have only added to increased property values in our little corner of 85284.”

“The daycare throws you off. But it could be compatible for parking. They are a daytime spot, and you basically just have people drop kids off and go. So if you owned the complex, this seems like a good tenant.”

“I think the developer does know that there’s concern from the community on what happens at that corner and how that corner means a lot to this area,” Bastian said, adding that because developers are aware of concern from the neighborhood, they wouldn’t propose a project that would produce a backlash from the South Tempe community. “There will be about four different buildings over there with parking in the middle and nice quality development,” Bastian said. “It’s not going to be a high rise, and it’s not going to be super high-density.”

In looking closer at the plans, it looks like there will be 5 buildings as part of the development. One appears to be a small drive thru coffee shop at 804 square feet. The largest pad is 10,000 square feet at the NW corner of the lot and is mentioned as being a daycare center. Along Warner Road, there is a pad that will be 7221 square feet. Along Rural Road, there’s two pads of 4807 and 3920 square feet. I believe the spaces along Rural and Warner will be restaurants. The talk for those spots is mostly wine bar, breakfast restaurant and the like. It seems like everyone is convinced that Postinos is a done deal for the space along Warner. At this point, we are hearing that no lease has been signed for the restaurants and announcements will be made in the future once a few more hurdles have been cleared.

Proposed Site Plan

Jennifer Eggert from Orion Investment Real Estate tells Wrangler News that “At the moment, we can confirm there will be a daycare user and at least one restaurant and we will be targeting other high-end service users (hair salon, yoga, waxing, etc.) for the remaining space, along with coffee and potentially one other restaurant but we cannot disclose names at this time.”

We’ll post updates here after the meeting on the 15th and more as we hear any additional details from the city.

Stick around, this is going to be interesting…

Notes from May 15th Public Meeting:

A survey went out from the people at the Tempe Public Market Cafe this morning asking questions about interest in a farmers market. They asked things like where we shop, what kinds of foods / products would be of interest, what is important to us in a farmers market, what days would be good, etc.

The email also says to contact them at hello@tempepublicmarket.com if you would like to share your thoughts.

That Didn’t Take Long:

It has been just two Fridays since they started having a peach truck / mini farmers market at the Cafe. If you were at the first weekend, you saw long lines and you found that they nearly sold out of all of their goods. To say that people were interested in having something like this in the area might be an understatement. I bought some of the honey from the peach truck and it was REALLY good!

To be clear, these guys (and gals) know a thing or two about running a farmers market as they have been doing it for years in Phoenix. The tweet below shows some of the items they have in Phoenix. There’s a good variety and people seem to LOVE this market.

Head over to #instagram to enter for a chance to win our Smokin' Local Prize Pack including Steadfast Farm, @TheProperBeast, Iconic Cocktail Co., Noble Bread, and Relish This! Just in time for #July4th pic.twitter.com/JChfoi5QHx

— PHX Public Market (@PHXPublicMarket) June 28, 2018

A Community Effort:

Things like this can be a really good fit for communities. While they have been successful in Downtown Phoenix, we have also seen the success of the Clark Park Farmers Market that the Tempe Community Action Agency helps put on at Clark Park. Who knows, maybe they can work together and develop some great ideas to make this market something really amazing for the area! I might just know a few people at the Cafe and at the TCAA in case they are interested.

So, what do you think? Is there a need for a farmers market at Rural and Warner? Let us know!

Here’s the deal.

The Tempe Public Market Cafe will soon begin hosting the Amadio Ranch Peach Truck on Fridays from 3:30-6:30pm.

Amadio Ranch is a family-owned and operated farm in Laveen where they grow organic fruits and vegetables. Beginning June 29th, 2018, they’ll be selling their produce, fresh eggs, local honey, homemade pies and more at the Cafe. Being a fan of locally owned goodness, Chef Aaron Chamberlain tells us that he is excited to be able to bring more local foods to the South Tempe ‘hood!

Sounds good to me, too!

Amadio Ranch Peach Truck is a healthy Food Truck traveling to various parts of Phoenix selling fresh fruits and veggies grown at Amadio Ranch. – via the Amadio Ranch Facebook page

More Than A Peach Truck:

So, why in the heck is there a peach truck coming to South Tempe? Yeah, that’s what I asked myself, too. Once I found out that it is more of a mini rolling Farmer’s Market, it started to make more sense. Sure, I like peaches, but I’m glad to hear that we’ll have other options, as well.

Here’s some more information we found on their Facebook Events page:

“The Amadio Ranch peach farm now has their mobile peach trucks in south Tempe! Join us every Friday afternoon from 3:30-6:30pm and grab one of our famous made from scratch farm pies, a jar or two of local raw honeys, or some jams/pickles. And of course the best of our seasonal organic produce grown right here on our south mountain farm.”

**Added bonus: Happy Hour is from 4-6pm at the Cafe. AND, they have one of the best kids menus on the planet! Come check all of it out!

Remember how much so many of us enjoyed the Farmer’s Market at McClintock and Warner a couple of years ago? I was bummed when that closed. Maybe this new addition to the neighborhood will be a catalyst for more to come? Either way, I hope to see you there. Come on out and welcome Amadio Ranch to the neighborhood!

I love this photo of Bruce Cooper holding the flag on the green while a bobcat crosses the fairway behind us. ( just left of the tree) Seeing the bobcat was almost as much fun as watching Bruce drain putts all day!

After golf was over, we gathered at the 19th hole and had dinner and a traditional silent auction to raise some money for the Kyrene Rotary Club. Check ot these cool golf shoes I won at the auction!

Randy Courtney, Nick Bastian, Patrick Walsh

Old School Tempe Real Estate:

After the auction I caught up with some old industry friends and icons. We talked about family, friends, life and our business. I love talking to agents who are collectively happy for each other’s success and who always look to be friends instead of adversaries. Many people in our industry treat each part of their transactions like a battle.

There’s probably 100 years of real estate experience between the three guys in the photo above. All of us have sold hundreds and hundreds of homes, but none of us look at each other as competition as much as we look at each other as friends and advocates. That’s a completely different mindset than what we see from a few others in our market.

It always cracks me up when I hear a particular agent here in Tempe tell her son that I am their competition. I just roll my eyes and smile / nod…

Overall, it was a really great day and I am looking forward to playing in the tournament again next year.

BIG thanks to my friend Mike Curlee for setting up our foursome! Maybe next year we’ll invite some rookies!

Their 9th annual charity Bocce Ball Tournament raised more than $14,000 for the Tempe Community Action Agency on Saturday, bringing the total amount raised at this private backyard event to over $57,000 in the past 9 years!

Ed and Heidi’s Charity Bocce Tournament is a private fundraiser held annually on the last Saturday in January to benefit Tempe Community Action Agency.

See the photo below? It is a group shot that was taken by Agnes Art & Photo just before the first round of the bocce ball tournament began.

64 teams and more than 130 people gathered together for the chance to be called the 2018 TCAA Bocce Ball Champions.

From there, some pretty amazing things happened. New friendships were made, old friendships were celebrated, people ate food together, drank beer, wine, coffee, and soda together, talked to strangers, had fun and were happy to be sharing the common goal of helping the TCAA do more great things in our community.

You know what was noticeably missing from most of the day? People staring at their phones and scrolling through random crap while not being in the moment.

It was as if we actually went back to a time where being nice to strangers was ok. It was an awesome few hours. Want to talk about the greatest show on grass? This was it for a Saturday afternoon in Tempe, AZ.

Photo by Agnes Art & Photo

Proud to be one of many winners of the day:

This was the first year that my friend Jack and I attended Ed’s TCAA bocce tournament. Of course we had heard of the the event in the past, so when the opportunity arose for us to be able to attend, we gladly and quickly registered to do so. (The event quickly “sells out” each year.)

Once I had us registered and our spots secure, I remember jokingly telling Jack that we “might as well go win this thing!”

When we got to the event, Jack and I talked about the real possibility of being beat in the first round as we had never played the game. Our thought process was to enjoy the day, have fun with some friends and just go with the flow.

We did succeed at having fun, but, as LUCK would have it, we kept winning. We ended up playing people who were having as much (maybe even more?) fun than we were, and we even played a couple of people that seemed to take this thing pretty seriously.

Miraculously, at the end of the tournament, two rookies were the last ones standing. And miraculously, those two rookies took home the 2018 #bocce9 tournament trophy! We will proudly hold on to the trophy until next year, when we return to try to keep the cup!

While I’ll never know what it’s like to win a Green Jacket or to help win the Territorial Cup, I’m pretty sure I’ll always remember the day when two jokers beat some really long odds to come home with the trophy for the 9th edition of the annual Bocce Ball Tournament benefiting the Tempe Community Action Agency.

For us, it really was our own version of the greatest show on grass…

**Like many great events, this wouldn’t be nearly as successful without volunteers, community partners and event sponsors. BIG thanks to Even Stevens for bringing sandwiches and salads, as well as D’Electables Cupcakes, Doc’s Artisan Ice Creams, Cartel Coffee, Action Wine, Flagstaff Extreme Adventure and more!

** Update: Starting in 2017, First Crush has been re-branded as Vicinity: Internationally Tempe – Please check out the new and improved event!

There is a NEW venue for First Crush this year! The 2016 First Crush Charity Gala will be held at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park. The museum is located at 1300 N College Ave Tempe, AZ 85281.  The event will feature Four Peaks brews, local wines, and tasty food favorites from places like Whole Foods, M Culinary Concepts and Snooze. There will be live, local music, as well!

The raffle and silent auction items at First Crush are always awesome! The 2016 auction is full of trips, activities, gift certificates and one-of-a-kind experiences that are totally Tempe.

The event will also feature a raffle item where the winner will get to choose their favorite getaway. Which will you choose if you win?? the Ultimate Pro Sports Fan Getaway, a Puntacana Resort & Club Caribbean Paradise Getaway, or a Fairmont Chateau Whistler Ski Getaway?!

This really is a can’t miss event!

For more information, please visit www.tempeaction.org or contact them at 480-858-6525. Tickets for First Crush will be $100.00 per person. Early bird pricing is available until September 15th. Early bird pricing: Buy 6 tickets for $450, 4 tickets for $320, 2 tickets for $165 or purchase them for $85 each!

Surround yourself with hundreds of great people, enjoy great food and drink, a super-fun charity auction and awesome entertainment while helping some of the least fortunate people in our communities. This is truly a wonderful event that Lori and I look forward to attending each year.

Great Food and a Great Cause: Give Back by attending the First Crush Charity Gala!

What: 12th annual First Crush Charity Gala & Silent Auction

When: Friday, October 21, 2016 from 6:00-10:00PM

Where: Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park – 1300 N College Ave Tempe, AZ 85281

Dress for the event is casual. But nice.

The First Crush Charity Gala supports the mission of Tempe Community Action Agency, a nonprofit leader in providing human services to East Valley residents since 1966. First Crush features one of the best silent auctions around a delicious array of menu items, Wine and there will be a LOT of Four Peaks beer along with some great musical entertainment .

Proceeds support the programs and services of TCAA, a nonprofit leader in providing human services to East Valley residents since 1966. TCAA programs that help alleviate hunger, poverty and homelessness.

For 50 years Tempe Community Action Agency has provided a variety of essential social services to Tempe’s most vulnerable residents including providing food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, delivered meals for the homebound, socialization for seniors and several children’s programs.

The Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please join us in helping to raise money and awareness for this amazing organization.

A very special thanks also goes out to all of our friends at the TCAA for all of the work they put in to this great event.

Check out the TCAA on Facebook.

I look forward to seeing all of you there!

I have a great deal of respect for the work that the TCAA does, and I am thrilled with this opportunity to assist them in serving the needy in our community.

Who is the Tempe Community Action Agency?

The TCAA provides education, stability, and advocacy to working poor families, children, seniors and the homeless. We help those who are struggling to obtain adequate food and shelter, as well as seniors and disabled adults working to attain their highest level of independence. Acting with financial support from the community we serve, TCAA operates a food pantry, three senior centers, aging programs, the Tempe Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (I-HELP), pre- and post-natal services, two community gardens, and other projects and programs that serve our most vulnerable residents.

Lori and I have been involved with various parts of the Tempe Community Action Agency for several years. I think our first introduction was via I-HELP. As a family, we served meals to homeless people at our church. We have participated in the annual I-HELP walk for the homeless and some of their other community events.  Please know that I will be much more vocal in my desire to have you join us at the next walk for the homeless!

One of the committees I currently serve on at the TCAA is the planning committee for the annual Vicinity: Internationally Tempe Charity Gala. SO, please mark your calendar for October 21st, 2016 as you’ll also be asked to join us at this amazing event!

This position on their board of directors is a wonderful opportunity for me to be more involved with some awesome things in our community and to work with some amazing people to help make our world a better place. Of course, I would love to let you know about some really cool ways you can help, too!

The TCAA is here “to improve the quality of life for the underserved in our community.” How cool is that?!?!

I sincerely hope you will join me in supporting this special organization!

Typically, people think it’s a good thing when huge developments bring big money and a bunch of new jobs to an area. Right?

In Tempe, there has been a LOT of new development and a LOT of new jobs announced over the past few years. Millions of square feet of space are being added, and more than 10,000 new jobs have been announced. Most people seem to be happy that the area is seeing an influx of quality developments.

Shutterfly is one of the new projects being built along the popular tech-corridor along the 101 freeway in South Tempe. It is a massive multi-million dollar project that as been praised by the Mayor and council, as well as many people in the city. Heck, they even named a street after Shutterfly.

They will open near a couple of other recent high profile additions to the area, like the super-cool new GoDaddy facility and the Northern Trust building.

Great news, right? Yeah, the jobs are welcome, and the sales taxes are welcome, and new residents moving to the area are welcome but…

Yes, BUT. If you look at where the new 200,000 square foot Shutterfly development was placed, and if you listen to the neighbors in The Oasis Neighborhood directly to the west of Shutterfly, you’ll hear a few people singing a different tune. There’s some opposition to how close this massive development was placed next to a residential neighborhood.

Not In My Back Yard, yo!

Take a look at some of the information on the Oasis at Anozira HOA website. If you scroll down the page you’ll see some discussion about a requested use permit by Shutterfly. You’ll also see some input by one of Shutterfly’s new neighbors.

The recently constructed monster (AKA Shutterly) has created a tremendous storm. Particularly with those who are on the east side of the Oasis. The building is located almost adjacent to the property line. Was anyone notified of the specifics of this project. I have contacted the City Manager and City Council members, requesting a response. – Ron Pies, Tempe community activist

From other things we find on the web, it sounds like Shutterfly and the city are trying to work with the neighborhood to minimize traffic, noise and any disruption to the surrounding community.

Personally, I think they will all be able to live together peacefully.

It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out as Shutterfly operates in Tempe. Hopefuly, they can do well here and get along with their new neighbors for many years to come.

If you are thinking of moving to this area, please feel free to call The Nick Bastian Team at Realty Executives. We can be reached at 602-803-6425 and we are happy to help!

For anyone outside of the real estate business, NAR is the National Association of REALTORS. This year, they are once again bringing this series of conferences to seven different cities, and I get to be one of the presenters here in AZ!

“This one-day, high energy conference is geared towards agents who are eager to learn how current web-based and mobile technologies can benefit their business and clients.”

I’m fortunate to know most of the people that I’ll be hanging out with at Tech Edge. They are an awesome group of speakers, and I’m pretty sure none of them are doing it to sell something to the attendees. One of the things that drives me nuts about so many industry events is the fact that someone is almost always trying to get in our pockets. NAR Tech Edge is different. It’s a bunch of people from our industry sharing tips, tricks and ideas to help each other learn new things or different ways to do them. I promise, no one will be pitching the latest and greatest way to effortlessly get you to page one of Google in 5 seconds. You probably won’t hear anyone say that “for today only, your subscription to our super duper service is only $19.99 per month!” What they will be talking about are proven ways that agents have been using to build their real estate business. Just honest, up-to-date, and accurate information.

What: NAR Tech Edge
When: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 9:00 AM to  4:30 PM
Where: SEVRAR Conference Center
1363 S. Vineyard, Mesa, AZ 85210
Register: NAR registration page

I’ll be sharing  my thoughts on social strategy, blogging and online branding. While these are three different topics, I believe you can use all of them to help build your real estate business, and I’ll talk about specific examples of how I’ve done that. To me, these topics are a lot of fun. We hear people talk about this stuff all the time, but I’m going to try to put a slightly different spin on it.  I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have all of the answers. Heck, the rules seem to be constantly changing and the competition to be found online seems to get more sophisticated each day, but there are things you can add to your business plan to effectively enhance the online portion of your business.  For instance: Is social media just about what you had for breakfast? Can a blog help your business? What is YOUR brand? Do you own it? Do you control it? Let’s talk about this stuff.

Here’s a list of topics that will be covered, straight from the Tech Edge agenda.

Connecting With the Online Consumer 
10 Things to Know About Data Security
Email – Friend or Foe?
It’s a Mobile/Tablet World
Photo & Video Tips for Building Your Business
There’s an App for…Everything!
REALTORS Property Resource
Social Reputation, Ratings and Rankings
Business in the Cloud
Facebook for Fun & Profit
Content That Sells
Tweets, Pins, Check Ins & Social Strategy
Getting Your Blog On!
Learning to Love LinkedIn
OnLine Branding

I’ll be sharing some ideas about social strategy, blogging and online branding. While these are three different topics, I believe you can use all three of them to help build your real estate business and I’ll talk about specific examples of how I’ve done that. To me, these topics are a lot of fun. Many people hear people talk about this stuff all the time but I’m going to try to put a slightly different spin on it.  I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have all of the answers. Heck, the rules seem to be constantly changing and the competition to be found online seems to get more sophisticated each day.

This is a list of the speakers for the 2014 NAR Tech Edge event in AZ. I always learn things when I hang around people who eat, sleep and breathe this stuff, and I think you will, too.

2014 President, Evan Fuchs
Nick Bastian
Dru Bloomfield
Amanda Sue Eberson
D. Patrick Lewis
Holly Mabery
Paula Monthofer
Terry Nolan
Bill Risser
Melanie Wyne

Tech Edge is Emcee’d by internationally known and world famous Bill Lublin. Heck, just come to hear what this dude has to say and you’ll be way ahead. He’s just cool like that. A BIG thanks to AAR, SEVRAR and AAR for making this all happen!

I hope you will join us, it is sure to be a lot of fun. In a REALTOR geek sort of way…

Mac’s is an awesome family-owned neighborhood business. We’ve been fortunate to get to know the McDonnell’s over the years and felt like it would be fun to ask them for a small donation to help the kids out. What do you think? I bet it will work like a charm…

If you know these kids, you know they are rarely at a loss for words. Apparently, the camera had them a little shy for a brief time. In the end, they got their point across. And for a good cause.