by bryan | Oct 15, 2011 | News & Information
courtesy of by Ryan Randazzo – Sept. 28, 2011 The Arizona Republic Phoenix is having a hard time giving away stimulus money to those who live along the light rail to make their homes more energy efficient, although businesses have been snapping up the funds. The city was awarded a $25 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus, and has spent only about $7.78 million of that as of Sept. 23, according to the Energy Department records. The money must be spent by June 2013. Several businesses, from small barbershops to large commercial buildings, have taken advantage of the money, but getting homeowners to participate has been more difficult, even with Arizona State University students knocking on doors to spread information about the offer, officials said. “The residential side has been a little slow, but that is not unusual,” said Carolyn Bristo, Phoenix’s sustainability coordinator overseeing the project. Even though the project faces a deadline, Bristo said she is not worried. “It will get spent,” she said. People who live within a half mile of the rail from Central Avenue and Camelback Road to 44th and Washington streets qualify for the money. Arizona Public Service Co. and Salt River Project offer $99 home-energy audits, where a contractor performs an in-depth analysis to determine the best way to save electricity. People in the corridor have to pay up-front for that audit, but get a full rebate. Then the Energize Phoenix program will match efficiency rebates from APS, which serves the area, so that cooling-system upgrades, duct repairs, attic insulation, shade screens and other repairs are mostly paid for. Bristo said...
by bryan | Oct 15, 2011 | Jobs, light rail corridor
Jobs Near Light Rail – Are you a returning Veteran? Are you a Vet? Returned from your tour and trying to find that job again? Been looking for awhile but have not found it yet? Look no further. We can help! Doesn’t it seems just like a mission to search and locate that enemy fighter in the foxhole? He is around here somewhere, but just where should you look next? I chatted recently with Cindy, a member of one of the veterans local support groups who confirmed, “Many veterans have had a hard time to return from their tour and pick up their lives from where they left off”. It is understandable that over the course of one or two years may things can and have changed on the home front and job front. She added: “this is such a tough time in the economy that everyone is scrambling to find any job that is available. It is hard sometimes to know where to even start to look!” While some companies have and will keep a position open for a returning veteran, others are so small that they must fill the vacated position immediately to survive, especially in these challenging economic times. We have a local fresh and updated search option for a constant stream of jobs that are also conveniently located where you can use public transportation if and when needed. You will find it today on the popular local website LightRailConnect.com. Click on the JOBS section and view over 130 “application ready” jobs posted by employers. One very big advantage these jobs have is that you...
by bryan | Oct 7, 2011 | Market Report, News & Information
The research department at Light Rail Advisors has just released the current real estate market report for the Phoenix Metro area. This data and graphical report presents the current snapshot of real estate activity within .25 miles of each light rail station. If you are interested in the Residential or Commercial market, you will find interesting trends and direction that span the last 5-10...
by bryan | Oct 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
Q3 2011 New! Q2 2011 Q1 2011 Q4 2010 Q3...
by bryan | Sep 15, 2011 | News & Information
Home Energy Check-Up Rebate Offer: Energize Phoenix is offering a limited time opportunity to receive a free home energy check-up for owner-occupied homes that qualify for the APS Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program within the Energize Phoenix program boundaries. Home energy check-up must be completed now through October 31, 2011 by an approved Energize Phoenix contractor. Completed Residential Rebate Match Form with applicable attachments must be received at the address listed on the Residential Rebate Match Form by November 30, 2011 to be eligible to receive a $99 home energy check-up rebate. If the energy check-up identifies money saving opportunities through efficiency upgrades, you can take advantage of Energize Phoenix incentives. Energize Phoenix will match most existing APS rebates. Homeowners that are low-to-moderate income may qualify for additional incentives. Common energy efficiency projects include: heating and cooling system upgrades duct leakage repair, air leaks and sealing attic insulation shade screens solar water heater upgrades To find out if you qualify enter your address on the website energizephx.com or call 602-495-5275 to learn more. Additionally, conditional grants are available to owners of apartment complexes serving low-to-moderate income...
by bryan | Jul 24, 2011 | Event Calendar, News & Information
The public now has a website calendar where they can find events in the light rail corridor. Want to see what is in Phoenix, Tempe or Mesa you can access with the light rail? Now you can! Just click on the Calendar and you are there. Baseball, basketball, theater, public events, concerts, lunchtime series, and much more are posted for you to browse. Enjoy and let us know how you like it!...
by bryan | Jul 24, 2011 | Market Report, News & Information
Market Report Phoenix Metro Light Rail June 2011 The month of June ended with 185 residential units sold within .5 miles of the Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa tracks. While the sold prices can vary significantly, the opportunity for high and low end residential units remains high. Sold Price Sq Ft Day on Market Low $23,300 602 0 Ave $114,209 1,320 100 High $669,000 3,119 642 This information in this report was furnished by ARMLS. The information and data are believed to be accurate, but cannot be relied upon for decision making. This report was supplied by LRA Real Estate Group, LLC, 637 S. 48th St, Ste 201, Tempe, AZ 85281; 480.734.7878; Bryan Watkins, Designated...
by bryan | Jul 24, 2011 | light rail corridor, light rail expansion, News & Information, Uncategorized
Metro Press Release PHOENIX, AZ — Shaded parking has been added to the 20-mile METRO light rail line with the opening of a new park-and-ride lot at 7th Avenue and Camelback Road in central Phoenix. “The new park-and-ride provides greater access to transit and to life along the line,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “And it couldn’t have come at a better time with ridership on the rise.” The new lot adds 123 spaces, 62 percent of which are shaded by overhead canopies, to a system that now contains more than 3,600 free-to-use parking spaces for transit riders. The lot was built with neighborhood involvement and provides a well-lit and secure parking environment. It will help to serve the more than 45,000 weekday riders and large weekend crowds. This project was financed using $3.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds provided to METRO by City of Phoenix for use in building this lot and adding shade canopies to existing Phoenix park-and-rides. More than 50 percent of the lots at Central/Camelback and 19th Avenue/Camelback are now shaded. “We are pleased to see that the ARRA program is doing what it intended to do, which was to put people to work on jobs that aided in economic recovery,” commented Federal Transit Administrator for Region 9, Leslie Rogers. “And transit projects play a key role in helping the economy...
by bryan | Jul 24, 2011 | light rail corridor, light rail expansion, News & Information, Uncategorized
Bryan Watkins July 24, 2011 Light Rail Advisors Did you know that you can now browse hundreds of online jobs near Phoenix light rail? Well, if that is news to you, don’t wait any longer! Why go and search through numerous job site when it is all now in one place. This new feature is smart and always up to date. Jobs in the medical field, business, hotel management, restaurant and many other are going unfilled every day. For more information, click on the link: Jobs near Phoenix light rail Happy Hunting! ...
by bryan | Jul 24, 2011 | light rail corridor, light rail expansion, News & Information, Uncategorized
by Gary Nelson – Jun. 24, 2011 The Arizona Republic In a city bloated by rootless newcomers, a city where just a few decades of existence can qualify a neighborhood as “historic,” the Wongs are an anomaly. The family has been doing business at Main Street and Mesa Drive since before Arizona was a state. Supplies from Frank Wong’s tiny grocery store traveled by buckboard to crews building Roosevelt Dam. The legendary movie cowboy Tom Mix is said to have busted broncs in a corral behind the store. But now it seems certain the day is coming when a Wong will no longer turn the key at 410 E. Main St. That probably was going to happen anyway, said former Mayor Willie Wong and his brother, Wilky, who inherited the family property in 1972. They operate Wilky’s Performance Center by themselves, with the exception of one employee. Their children are established in other careers, unlikely to take over the auto-parts store and machine shop. And frankly the Wongs are not getting any younger. The end of the line, however, may come somewhat sooner than the Wongs had anticipated because of another end of the line. That would be the eastern terminus of the light-rail extension that will muscle its way through downtown Mesa over the next five years. Construction is to begin in 2013. A public project that big will inevitably step on a few toes – or land parcels. The approximately $200 million line will require about 40 land acquisitions – some big, some small – to accommodate traffic right-of-way, tracks, stations and other infrastructure. Most would be for only small slivers...
