Mold Remediation in San Tan Valley, AZ

Mattamy Homes just paid $18 million cash for 118 acres of vacant land in San Tan Valley.

Howard Weinstein and Patty Lafferty, founding principals of The Land Agency, negotiated the transaction on behalf of the seller, Everest Holdings, and brought in the buyer.

The deal closed Dec. 6 at $152,542.37 per acre, according to Tempe-based Vizzda LLC real estate database.

The land at the southeast corner of Schnepf and Bella Vista roads is platted for 443 lots and is within Epcor's service area for water and sewer, said Weinstein.

The land had been owned by Dwayne Sherwood, who leased the surrounding state land to grow alfalfa and turf, Weinstein said.

At the time, Sherwood's parcel had no access.

"You couldn't drive to his property without permission from the Arizona State Land Department," Weinstein said.

Weinstein reached out to Sherwood to see if he was interested in selling, and found an investor group interested in the property.

By 2013, Sherwood sold it to Everest Holdings, which then began the process of zoning, entitlements and getting access from state land to the property.

The land was in an area served by Johnson Utilities, which was acquired in 2021 by Epcor after battling water quality issues and class-action lawsuit.

Don Barrineau, Phoenix division president for Orlando, Florida-based Mattamy Homes, the U.S. division of the Toronto-based builder, said water was pivotal in being able to get the deal done.

Epcor also is a Canadian company, he said.

"Prior to my time in Phoenix, Epcor swept in like a white knight to clean up that mess in that part of the city," Barrineau said.

He said he has other developments in that area of town where Epcor is the water and sewer provider.

"There were over 11 years of twists and turns," Weinstein said. "The biggest thing was getting the price of the homes to a point where we could sell the property for a number that was attractive to the investor. That took time."

As nearby Gilbert and Queen Creek run low on inventory, the San Tan Valley market is a natural replacement, Weinstein said.

Several homebuilders had put in offers on the land.

"Some wanted all the lots and others only wanted one or two parcels," Weinstein said. "Mattamy made the best offer with the best price buying all the lots."

Barrineau said he plans to to break ground in September or October of 2025 for homes ranging between 1,500 and 3,500 square feet. Home prices will start from the $360,000s and go up to the high $500,000s.

He said Mattamy will build all the homes in the community, which will include a large pool, clubhouse, trails and pickleball courts that normally would be reserved for a much larger master-planned community.

With 330 lots at Pinnacle San Tan Heights and 500 lots at Empire Pointe in Queen Creek, Barrineau said it was time to buy more lots in that area, where he will be sold out at Pinnacle San Tan Heights by next year.

"It's a dynamic area," Barrineau said. "It's a corridor we believe in and we're committed to."

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KTAR.com

PHOENIX – Residents of San Tan Valley, a northern Pinal County community with a population of about 100,000, are making another push for incorporation.

Tyler Hudgins, chairman of STV Inc., the group behind the campaign to incorporate San Tan Valley, said Thursday he’s optimistic about the latest attempt to turn the unincorporated area into a town.

“There’s been some incorporation attempts in the past, but San Tan Valley residents have never been given the choice to be able to decide their future. And, so, that’s really the heart of what we’re trying to do,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.

STV Inc.’s mission, per its website, is to “empower residents through self-governance, improve local services and enhance the quality of life in our community.”

RELATED STORIES

Hudgins said creating a local governing authority would give the community more control over tax dollars and development plans. The aim is to create a municipality where residents can work and play without relying on surrounding cities.

“We want to build a community, not just houses,” he said. “People are tired of having 20 car washes on every corner. People are tired of having to go to restaurants outside the community with their families. People are tired of having to commute outside of San Tan Valley for work.”

Why San Tan Valley has ‘viable opportunity’ to incorporate

Hudgins said “outside interests” have derailed previous incorporation efforts, but things are different this time.

“A lot of the laws have been changed and updated to allow us to be able to move forward. And, so, for the first time, we really think we have a very viable opportunity to do this,” he said.

A big hurdle was recently cleared when the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to let STV Inc. start a petition campaign to get the incorporation issue on the ballot.

“We got approved two weeks ago. We have almost 1,600 signatures. We have six months to be able to get 6,000. And, so, we feel like the community is just excited to see this happen,” Hudgins said.

If all goes as planned, the public vote will be held in August 2025.

Surrounding cities wooed to back incorporation effort

As part of the push to incorporate San Tan Valley, Hudgins said his group has been communicating with leaders in surrounding cities and towns in Pinal and Maricopa counties.

“I’m proud that our City Council supports the incorporation efforts of San Tan Valley, as they work toward greater self-governance and local representation,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.

“Incorporation is a smart move that will enhance regional collaboration, empowering… pic.twitter.com/aOBACeweBU

— Tyler Hudgins (@tahudgins) August 20, 2024

Officials in Queen Creek, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler have already committed to supporting the effort, he said. STV Inc. also met with the mayors and city managers from Florence, Coolidge and Apache Junction. Florence was a notable opponent in the past.

Mesa and Gilbert are the only cities that have veto power because they are the only municipalities within 6 miles of San Tan Valley with larger populations, according to STV Inc.

“We’re just excited, and we think the momentum is in our favor,” Hudgins said.

Where is San Tan Valley?

San Tan Valley, which gets its name from the nearby San Tan Mountains, is around 47 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, beyond the southeast Valley suburb of Queen Creek.

Updated map pic.twitter.com/YC3Lpr2Eve

— Tyler Hudgins (@tahudgins) April 8, 2024

The public was provided with opportunities to provide input about where the proposed town’s boundaries should be drawn.

“Our heart is not to force people into something that they don’t want to do, and so we decided to go with the map that we have based on feedback with the community, based on what we understand to be San Tan Valley proper,” Hudgins said.

In addition to the area’s cultural history, planners took economic factors into account.

“The land that we’ve included in the map has provided opportunities for us to develop good commercial, develop industrial, so that we can have our residents stay in our community and make this a community,” Hudgins said.

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Business

Courtesy Amber Thompson

Posted Thursday, November 21, 2024 1:36 pm

The Dance Spot

270 E. Hunt Highway, No. 7

San Tan Valley

By Leah Haynes | Special to Independent Newsmedia

The doors to The Dance Spot — a family-oriented dance studio in San Tan Valley — opened almost 13 years ago. Back then, the community hardly knew the lasting impact the small business would have on the lives of those who walk through its doors.

Since 2012, The Dance Spot, 270 E. Hunt Highway, No. 7, has grown into a studio with seven different competing groups, 52 classes a week and 15 instructors. The children of original students are enrolling in classes, and the small studio is entering the community’s hearts in large ways.

“The most fulfilling part is the longevity,” said Mindy Melillo, founder and CEO of The Dance Spot. “I have students I’ve taught (and) I am now teaching their children. It’s amazing to see the full circle of community, how important it is to people and how people stick around a while.”

Examples of longevity abound even within the office staff.

“My daughter was very shy and very reserved and now she’s doing a solo,” said Megan Wilhelm, an office staff member at The Dance Spot. “The friendships at The Dance Spot really help the kids bring out their personal confidence.”

Similarly, Melanie Vidra, another office staff member, said, “I like the friendships for my kid. That’s a big part of it too.”

“When we started here, she was shy. She went into her first class and stood in the corner and just watched,” Vidra added. “Within a few classes, especially with Arian (an instructor) who was really good with her — picking her up and carrying her around — she made me feel that my daughter was going to be OK. Now my daughter is much more outgoing.”

Before opening her own small business, Melillo had more than 30 years of experience teaching at other dance studios. During that time, she came to the realization that she wanted something more for herself and her students: a sense of community and belonging.

“I’ve taught for some very large, competitive studios, and it just wasn’t my style. I wanted more of a small-town studio, a small-town feel that still does some competitions and performances, just without the pressure that some of those big studios put on the kids. Something just a little different,” Melillo said.

With that goal in mind, Melillo opened The Dance Spot’s doors.

However, just like many other small businesses, The Dance Spot has gone through its challenges.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, in-person classes were not an option, and enrollment rates dropped. Melillo suddenly found herself navigating online dance classes and facing new obstacles she had never experienced before.

“The challenging part is just being a business owner in general … there’s lots of learning curves and curve balls daily and monthly. I think that’s the most challenging, but it’s also humbling,” Melillo said.

As the jarring effects of the pandemic ended, The Dance Spot gained traction once again, and enrollment rates rose exponentially.

“The public response has been really well,” Melillo said. “San Tan Valley is now getting pretty large and growing pretty rapidly, but it has been a small community, so I think it needed a small-town thing, and that’s kind of what this has been.”

With more 250 students, The Dance Spot has grown into “a big family,” which has been Melillo’s intention since day one.

“I didn’t want it to feel stuffy or too business-like. I wanted the parents to have just as much fun hanging out in the lobby as the kids are having in the classroom,” she said. “I think I’ve been pretty successful with that.”

Leah Haynes if a student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

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Keywords

San Tan Valley, dance, The Dance Spot

Gilbert San Tan Charter played inspired defense against Santa Cruz Valley in Friday’s high school football showdown of the top 2 teams in the AIA's 2A Conference.

Santa Cruz valley (7-1) entered the game No. 1 in The Arizona Republic's 2A Conference rankings, and San Tan Charter (7-0) No. 2. Those positions were reversed in the AIA's initial 2A rankings released earlier in the week.

The Roadrunners' forced three turnovers on downs, two fumbles and two interceptions. Another stellar outing from versatile two-way player Uriah Neloms led the Roadrunners to a win, 24-15.

Key Plays

Santa Cruz’s O’Ryan Williams got things going for the Dust Devils with a fumble recovery returned all the way to San Tan Charter's 8-yard line. A couple penalties and Roadrunner stops later, Santa Cruz went for it on 4th-and-25, but couldn’t convert.

With 2:30 left in the first, Neloms showed off his legs and took it up the middle for a 55-yard touchdown. The Roadrunners held a 6-0 lead after a missed 2-point conversion.

San Tan's Timi Akinyoyenu had things rolling on both sides of the field. He picked up a loose ball after a completed pass was knocked loose by Christian Munoz. Then, with a little over two minutes to play in the half, he caught a 47-yard strike from Neloms for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good this time and San Tan was up 14-0 at the break.

Santa Cruz came out in the second half swinging, putting together an efficient drive that concluded with Juan Juarez reaching into the end zone after quarterback Nathan Harris delivered a dart.

But the Roadrunners were resilient. On fourth down, they faked the punt to get the first down, and the next play, Dwayne Jones caught a short pass and ran it 45 yards for a touchdown. Roadrunners up 14.

San Tan’s defense continued to show out. They forced another fumble, which was recovered by the Dust Devils only for Brody Prassas to intercept a pass from Nathan Harris on the next play. The Roadrunners would force another turnover on downs when Santa Cruz went for it on 4th-and-goal.

Then it was the defense, again, that closed it out. With two minutes to play, Jayden Williams tipped a pass attempt into the air, and it was none other than Neloms who came up with the interception. Then it was victory formation for the Roadrunners.

Key Players

Neloms started the Roadrunners’ scoring with a 55-yard rush and contributed two touchdowns through the air. He even added an interception to the stat sheet to close out the game. Timi Akinyoyenu got it done on both sides. He recovered a fumble for San Tan, then caught a 47-yard touchdown.

Quotes

“It sucks,” said San Tan head coach Chase Cartwright on what it’s like to play against Santa Cruz. “They’re big, they’re physical, they’re well-coached, they’re disciplined … Hopefully we’ll see them down the road again.”

“Todd Peat being our defensive coordinator, a former high school teammate of mine, he’s come in and done just an incredible job leading that entire group of defense,'' Cartwright added.

“Trust in the game plan. Coach Chase had us in a position to win. We just executed our game plan.” – San Tan’s Uriah Neloms

Next Up

Santa Cruz (7-1) will play in a home game against Sequoia Pathway (1-6) next Friday, while San Tan Charter (7-0) heads out on the road against Heritage Academy (5-2).