![]() What is being billed as one of the largest pickleball facilities in the world, and by far the largest in Arizona, may soon see construction in Scottsdale. An organization called Pure Pickleball has announced plans to build facilities for the increasingly popular recreation near the Talking Stick Resort & Casino on the south side of the city, off Talking Stick Way. Currently in the proposal stage, the project is expected to see construction on an 11-acre site, and the building of 29 indoor pickleball courts and 16 courts that will be outside. The courts themselves will be comprised of post-tension and premium cushion surfacing. Those courts will additionally be equipped with video cameras for recording games or streaming matches. The planned facility will also serve as the official headquarters for the USA Pickleball organization, which is currently based in Surprise, and will have space for a training center. Additional features: the building of 500-seat auditorium, gym, locker rooms, and members clubhouse. In a statement, Brian Snider, a senior vice president with real estate developer Caliber, which has signed on as part of the Scottsdale project, remarked: "The demand for pickleball continues to exceed all expectations." Snider added: "We see opportunity for growth in this concept nationwide." According to industry statistics, there are now more than 36 million people in the U.S. playing pickleball on a regular basis. Scottsdale, with more than two dozen public courts has been rated by the site gambling.com as one of the top ten best cities in the country for pickleball. By Garry Boulard
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![]() A bill co-sponsored by New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich will make it easier for various state agencies as well as local governments to clean up and improve the water quality in and adjacent to abandoned hardrock mines. Senate Bill 2781 would establish a new pilot program under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency, offering limited liability protections for any state or local agency taking on hardrock mine cleanups. As introduced by Heinrich and a host of other Western senators, the legislation defines hard rock mine residue as "any tailings, heap leach piles, dump leach piles, waste rock," or other materials resulting from the mine extraction process. There are thought to be around 33,000 such abandoned mines in the country. Those mines have produced everything from gold and silver to copper and uranium but have also been responsible for toxic by-products contaminating adjacent water bodies and ground water. As written, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act will also make it possible for nonprofit groups to spearhead cleanup efforts. A good Samaritan is one "willing to help, not because of what they could gain, but because they know it's right," remarked Tom Cors, senior director for legislative affairs with the Nature Conservancy. In endorsing the Heinrich bill, Cors added: that the measure will make it possible for state and local governments, as well as nonprofits, to "take on responsible abandoned mine cleanups without saddling them with the same liability as the ones who caused the mess in the first place." Th measure has also won the backing of New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Lujan, along with Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema; and Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado. The bill has now been sent to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for review. By Garry Boulard ![]() Working plans are now underway for the construction of seven new cell towers in the east central Colorado municipality of Snowmass Village. The towers, measuring between 36 and 70 feet in height, will go up at various locations on the north and south side of the village, and should see construction between 2024 and 2025. Residents and public officials in the mountain village of just over 3,000 people have expressed concerns over uneven coverage, particularly when it comes to transmitting emergency calls. In all, nine cell tower proposals were made to the Snowmass Town Council, with two rejected due to the structures not being adequately camouflaged. Those final two proposals may be re-introduced before the council once the design for them shows they are more adequately hidden. In comments delivered before the council, Mak Keeling, vice president of mountain planning and development for the Aspen Skiing Company, which manages the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, remarked that the ultimate purpose of the new towers is to "assist with emergency services, whether they're with patrol, whether they're with mountain rescue, whether they're with ambulances and the hospitals." It was earlier noted that the towers would prove particularly helpful in allowing injured or lost skiers a means for communicating with first responders. According to town documents, construction of the new towers is being viewed as not only vital to increasing and improving coverage, but also to "bolster Snowmass Village as a world class tourist destination." With an economy largely based on skiing, Snowmass Village in recent years has enjoyed a condominium and luxury home building boom. According to the site Realtor.com, the average Snowmass Village home price in October was around $3.2 million. By Garry Boulard Albuquerque Site with First McDonald's in New Mexico Soon to See Construction of New McDonald's11/16/2023 ![]() Work could begin soon on the building of a new McDonald’s on the northeast side of Albuquerque. The structure will keep in place a legacy that began in 1959 when the very first McDonald’s in New Mexico was built at the same 5900 Menaul Boulevard NE site. The work is seeing the demolition of an existing McDonald’s at that site was built in 1980 and designed to replace the original 1959 structure. According to news sources, the new structure will have expanded dining space, as well as a modern advanced kitchen and digital ordering points. The original 1959 structure cost around $125,000 to build and came during a time when the fast-foot restaurant, which was launched in 1940, was seeing its initial nationwide expansion. By the end of 1959 McDonald’s had 145 stores, on its way to the more than 7,000 it operates today. The footprint of the average McDonald’s, at the same time, has drastically changed from under 2,000 square feet in the 1950s to more than 4,000 square feet today. Five years ago, the company unveiled an extensive plan to renovate thousands of existing stores, including 840 in Texas, 550 in California; and 360 in New York. Renovations have more recently been announced for three outlets in northern Florida this year; with a Hartford, Connecticut restaurant seeing a complete renovation several months ago; and one of the company’s oldest locations in Odessa, Texas, opening its doors this fall after a months-long upgrading and renovation. The oldest operating McDonald’s is located in Downey, California. Opened in 1953, the outlet in 1994 was placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and has since seen been completely restored. By Garry Boulard New Federal Report Shows Sluggish Inflation Growth, Spawning Hopes for Reduced Interest Rates11/16/2023 ![]() Last month produced the smallest rise in inflation since late 2021, according to a new report compiled by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the consumer price index was unchanged from September, although up by 3.2% over the same time last year. Simultaneously, notes the report, the BLS shelter index “continued to rise in October, offsetting a decline in the gasoline index, and resulting in the seasonally adjusted index being unchanged over the month.” The energy index saw a 2.5% decline compared to September, along with a significant 5% drop in the gasoline index, which, notes the BLS report, “more than offset increases in other energy component indexes.” On the issue of food, Americans saw an increase of 0.3% for food at home in October over the previous month, while food away from home was up a marginal 0.4%. In its narrative, the BLS report additionally notes that the “indexes which increased in October include rent, owners’ equivalent rent, motor vehicle insurance, medical care, recreation and personal care.” On the price downside: lodging, used vehicle prices, and airline fares. The lessening presence of inflation, notes the publication The Street, sparked the strongest rally on Wall Street since last spring as “investors bet that slowing inflation pressures will mark the end of Federal Reserve rate hikes." In an interview with US News & World Report, John Sedunov, finance professor at Villanova University, cautioned that rate increases by the Federal Reserve may still be in the offing despite the good news on inflation. “They may not hike rates again,” remarked Sedunova, “but they are reserving the right to do so.” By Garry Boulard ![]() The big and always-growing Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints has announced that it wants to build a new temple in Colorado Springs. During a general conference held in Salt Lake City, Russell Nelson, president of the church, revealed that Colorado Springs has been selected as one of a handful of cities for a new temple. While Nelson did not specifically mention exactly where in Colorado Springs the new temple would be built, news sources indicate that interest in constructing a new worship facility in what is popularly known as the Olympic City has been general for some time. The Colorado Springs announcement is part of a substantially more ambitious effort that will see a total of 20 new temples built in the next several years. "Spending more time in the temple builds faith," remarked Nelson as he announced a list that will see the construction of temples in a dozen countries. Sites for new temples in the U.S. include Fairbanks, Alaska; Vancouver, Washington; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Roanoke, Virginia. To date, LDS has three temples in Colorado: one built in Denver in the mid-1980s; a second in Fort Collins in 2016; and a third currently under construction in Grand Junction which is scheduled for completion sometime in 2025. The church, founded in 1830, currently has just under 340 temples both in the U.S. and across the globe. The temples are architecturally splendid affairs, varying in size between a 6,900 square-feet facility in Ciudad Juarez and a more than 235,000 square-foot house of worship in Salt Lake, City. By Garry Boulard ![]() Plans are underway to transform a currently vacant 120,000 square-foot retail space that was once a part of the Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix into an entertainment venue. The space was previously occupied by retail giant Sears, which as part of a nationwide closing of stores in 2018 moved out of the mall located near the intersection of Thomas Road and 75th Avenue. Now a repurposing of the space is being spearheaded by the brothers Melchor and Pedro Marques, owners of the Phoenix-based AM radio station KSUN. The brothers, who have established one of the most popular Spanish language radio stations in the country, want to repurpose the Sears space as a Latino-themed entertainment center. According to the Phoenix Business Journal, the former Sears store will be "replicate some of the features of the popular Latin-themed Aztec Theater in San Antonio." The Sears space is comprised of two levels, each measuring 60,000 square feet. Plans call for building a stage on the lower level, with the upper level used for any number of special events. The Desert Sky Mall was opened in the fall of 1981 and to date houses more than 130 individual stores. The Marques brothers, who purchased the Sears space for a reported $7.1 million, plan to begin work on creating the new entertainment venue no later than early 2024 with a rough completion date of either late next year or early 2025. By Garry Boulard ![]() In an overwhelming ballot, members of the House of Representatives have voted to pass a short-term spending bill that is specifically designed to forestall a government shutdown scheduled for November 17. By a 365 to 95 vote, House members approved a continuing resolution that will keep certain parts of the federal government up and running into mid-January. The agencies impacted, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Food and Drug Administration, will thus be able to remain open no matter what happens with a larger overall federal budget vote expected to be taken up by lawmakers in the immediate days to come. The unusual short-term measure was proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson who said he wanted to put an end to sweeping omnibus spending bills that are usually passed by Congress when government shutdowns are looming. In approving the measure, Colorado Democrat Representative Yadira Caraveo remarked: "By passing this spending bill, we can keep the government open and finally turn to the issues that matter most to our constituents--lowering costs for working people and putting our country on the right track for future generations." Arizona Republican Representative Paul Gosar, on the other hand, voted in opposition, arguing that the legislation fails to address a national debt that is close to $34 million "and crushing Americans with historically high inflation." The new short-term spending bill is now on its way to the Senate, where its chances for approval look promising. Democrat Majority Leader Charles Schumer struck a bi-partisan note after the House vote noting that both he and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "want to avoid a shutdown." Speaking to reporters, Schumer added: "McConnell and I are going to work together." By Garry Boulard ![]() A unique property in Albuquerque that was initially a private residence and has been in recent decades the home to a popular barbeque restaurant is now on the market with an asking price of $1.1 million. Located at 5209 Fourth Street NW, the handsome one-story red brick structure was built in 1936 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally known as the Shalit House, in honor of cowboy, sheep herder, and haberdasher Samuel Shalit, the structure is treasured by preservationists for its English Cottage style design, which includes brick chimneys, copper roof shingles, and wrought iron balustrades. Measuring around 4,500 square feet, the structure is designated as a Class B building and sits on a less than 1-acre site. For more than 50 years, the building has housed Mr. Powdrell's Barbeque Restaurant, an eatery known for its beef brisket, pork ribs, catfish, and black eyed peas, among other delicacies. The owner of the restaurant, Pete Powdrell, is known as the King of Barbeque in Albuquerque. The structure is being listed with the Albuquerque offices of Re/Max Commercial. By Garry Boulard ![]() Work is expected to soon begin on improvements to a popular golf course in Albuquerque located on the west side of the city. Opened in 1980, the city-owned Ladera Golf Course at 3401 Ladera Drive NW is a 27-hole course with a driving range, practice putting greens, and four lakes. City officials have long talked about making upgrades to the site, which will include the expansion of its much-used roughly 25-year-old banquet hall and food and beverage area. In the last several years Ladera has also seen the expansion of its practice green, as well as the building of awnings above its patio space. The planned Ladera Golf Course improvement comprises one of just over a dozen Westside park upgrade projects, either undertaken by the City in the last two years or in the planning process for next year. Additional projects will see the construction of a spray pad at the Alamosa Park, located at 1100 Bataan Drive; and new restroom facilities for the West Mesa Little League in the Redlands Park at 5121 Sequoia Road NW. By Garry Boulard |
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