Lisa Suarez, of EMS Realty and this year’s association president, led the executive search committee that focused on finding a candidate with broad business, real estate and association management experience. The committee plans to meet again this week.
“For an association to succeed, there must be a leadership model in place, which we have,” said Suarez. “Because of the economy, there is a good talent pool out there. We are looking for someone who is a visionary leader and strategic thinker. We want someone to further strengthen our ability and commitment to be a resource for the community.”
 Tucson Malls $70 million renovation includes a new grand entrance. Roger Yohem photo |
Internally, the new executive director will be asked to implement a heightened focus on member retention, professional staff development, and pursue new opportunities to increase non-dues revenues.
The nine-person search committee is comprised primarily of members from the Tucson Association of Realtors and its Multiple Listing Services executive committees. The members are Bob Herd, of Tierra Antigua Realty and 2010 president-elect of the association; Jill Knox, of Long Realty; Timothy Bott, of Casas Adobes Realty; Tom Sloyan, of Re/Max All Executives; Gary Best, of Realty Executives; Vicki Cox Golder, of Vicki L. Cox & Associates; Kim Clifton, of Tierra Antigua Realty and president of Multiple Listing Services; and Laura Mance, of Long Realty.
Since the May resignation of Rick Hodges, Senior Vice President Cheryl Meadows has served as interim chief executive of the Tucson Association of Realtors. Hodges had been in the job since December 2005.
“For a new CEO, the timeline has always been fourth quarter,” said Meadows. “Our staff has done a great job moving things forward. The search committee hit the ground running, working with our national association, advertising nationally.”
Suarez said the search committee has no preference for a local or out-of-state leader, wanting “only to take the best candidate identified.”
Mall opens grand entrance Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Road, has completed a $70 million, year-long construction project creating a new grand entrance. Located on the mall’s south side near Macy’s facing Wetmore Road, the entry feature was part of a 120,000-square-foot redevelopment project by mall owner General Growth Properties.
Jim Heilmann, senior general manager of Tucson Mall, said the completion of this portion of the project will enable the mall’s new merchants “to begin work in preparation for their 2010 openings.” The construction also enabled some current tenants to relocate or expand.
The mall changes were designed by ELS Architecture and Urban Design, in Berkeley, Calif. It’s the same firm that redeveloped and expanded General Growth’s Park Place Mall. Ledcor, headquartered in San Diego, was the general contractor.
Tucson foreclosures rise
Foreclosure rates among outstanding mortgage loans in Tucson increased in September to 2.13 percent compared to 1.10 percent in September 2008, according to data from First American CoreLogic. A total 6.39 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent, double the 3.16 percent of a year ago.
Tucson’s foreclosure rate remains lower than the 2.93 percent national average.
More homes go on market In an apparent rush to try to take advantage of the now-extended home buyers tax credit, 2,048 new listings hit the Tucson housing market in October. That brought the total number of current listings to 6,213, a 3.4 percent increase over September’s 6,008, according to the Tucson Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.
Multiple Listing President Kimberly Clifton said that a relatively consistent, 20 percent rate of absorption since April easily offset the October increase in listings. In October 2008, there were 7,988 listings on the market.
As residential home prices continued to trend downward, unit sales increased. October’s median sales price was $158,900, down 2.5 percent from September. One year ago, it was $180,000. The average sales price fell to $195,755 from $196,755 in September. A year ago, the average price was $226,435.
Sales also picked up in October with 1,021 homes, compared to 945 in September. Pending sales totaled 1,287 in October, up 70 percent from the 755 contracts a year ago.
All totaled, the value of homes sold in October was $199.8 million.
Sales and leases
• Volt Village leased 1,350 square feet of retail space at 15270 N. Oracle Road, Suite 168, in Golder Ranch Retail Center from CNA Enterprises. David Dutson of Bourn Partners represented the landlord and tenant.
• Dr. Tax Inc. leased 1,200 square feet of retail space within the Shoppes at Rita Ranch, at the northwest corner of Rita and Houghton roads, from Rita and Houghton LLC. Dr. Tax offers tax preparation services, payroll services and bookkeeping. Aaron LaPrise and Brian Harpel, with the Harpel Company Inc., represented the landlord.
• Collett Ventures LLC leased a 1,200 square-foot industrial building at 1660 S. Research Loop, Suite 146, in Clairemont Plaza from Foothills Business Ventures. Collett Ventures intends to use the space for custom airbrushing, storage and distribution. Ron Zimmerman of Bourn Partners represented both the landlord and the tenant.
• Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona leased 1,195 square feet of retail space at 2080 W. Orange Grove Road, Suite 130, from JRC Pizza LLC. David Blanchette and Ben Craney of Bourn Partners represented the tenant. Debbie Heslop of Volk Company represented the landlord.
• Don Pedro’s Grill leased 1,000 square feet at 3300 S. Sixth Ave. in Southgate Shopping Center from Tucson Promenade LLC. David Hammack and Brenna Lacey of Volk Company Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord.
• Kazuo Senda and Setsjko Mochizuki leased 1,000 square feet at 3912 N. Oracle Road from the Machado Family Properties. Senda and Mochizuki plan to open a Japanese restaurant. Nancy McClure represented the landlord.
• State Farm leased 900 square feet at 3720 W. Ina Road, Suite 132, in Gold Canyon Plaza from Donahue Schriber Realty Group. Ben Craney of Bourn Partners represented the tenant. Shannon Murphy of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord.
E-mail items for this column to ryohem@azbiz.com. Real Estate and Construction appears weekly.
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