Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State University, ASU, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, City of Tempe, Economic Development, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona | Tags: Cities, Sustainability
RESEARCHERS FIND ‘LARGE IS SMART’ WHEN IT COMES TO CITIES
TEMPE, Ariz. – Cities are considered by many to be both a blessing and a curse. Large cities generate considerable wealth; they are home to many high paying jobs and are known as engines of innovation. But cities also generate much pollution, crime and sometimes degraded social environments that lead to the urban blight that plague their very existence.
Now a team of researchers, including an economist from Arizona State University, has studied the growth of cities in different parts of the world and has come up with general equations that can foretell their resource consumption patterns as well as their contributions to society. The work has debunked the notion that cities act like biological organisms in the sense that they grow to a finite size and consume resources in ways that decrease per capita with size.
“It’s true that large cities have more problems, they are more congested, they create more pollution and they have more crime,” said Jose Lobo, and ASU economist in the School of Sustainability. “But also because of their size, cities are more innovative and create more wealth per capita. Large cities are the largely the source of their problems but they also are disproportionately the creators of the solutions to the problems of society at large.”
The researchers working with Lobo — Luis Bettencourt of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mex.; Dirk Helbing and Christian Kuhnert of Dresden University of Technology, Germany; and Geoffrey West of the Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mex. — detailed their findings in the article “Growth, innovation, scaling and the pace of life in cities,” in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An on-line version of the article was published on April 16, 2007 (www.pnas.org <http://www.pnas.org> ).
“Humanity has just crossed a major landmark in its history with the majority of people now living in cities,” the researchers state. “The inexorable trend toward urbanization worldwide presents an urgent challenge for predictive, quantitative theory of urban organization and sustainable development.”
This will require thinking about cities in new ways.
The old way of thinking about cities is as if they are an organism, which consumes resources and grows in size. Oftentimes, cities are referred to as its own ecosystem and many use the metaphor of it acting like a biological organism, Lobo said.
“The one thing that we know about organisms whether it be elephants or sharks or frogs, is that as they get large, they slow down,” Lobo said. “They use less energy, they don’t move as fast. That is a very important point for biological scaling.”
“In the case of cities, it is actually the opposite,” he added. “As cities get larger they create more wealth and they are more innovative at a faster rate. There is no counterpart to that in biology.”
In fact, Lobo said, the larger the city the greater return on investment.
The researchers base their findings on data on the growth of cities (metropolitan areas) in the U.S., Europe and China over the past 150 years. They analyzed cities consumption of resources, (such as water or electricity usage), requirements for infrastructure (roads, transportation, lengths of electrical cable), they also compiled and analyzed data on the creative output of these areas (patents issued, “super creative jobs” generated, R&D employment, total wages). The sizes of the cities were determined by population.
What they found were some general correlations of size and resource consumption that more or less fit the biological organism metaphor, meaning as the city grew in size it required less energy (resources) to sustain it in a proportion called sublinear scaling. What was surprising to the team was that the creative output (jobs, wealth generated, innovation) as cities grew, becomes faster and faster per capita.
“It isn’t like if you double the size of a city you double its creative output,” Lobo said. “But it does increase by about 10 to 30 percent.”
“We are not saying that any large city is assured of prosperity forever, but if you look at the collection of cities, large cities have managed to out run their problems,” Lobo added. “Large is smart.”
All of this points to the need of rethinking large cities, both in how they are managed and what they contribute to the greater good. This is especially true today, as cities are on the brink explosive growth in the developing world. Today a little more than half of the world’s population live in large urban areas. By 2030, it is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in urban areas.
“Cities are really one of the most important innovations in human history,” Lobo said. “We need to think of them as being very human entities and as engines of our collective creation. We need a different perspective about cities, one that is away from thinking of large cities as a source of problems, but rather as the possible and unavoidable sources of solutions.”
“The practical application of this work is that the problem is not large cities, the problem is the conditions in which some of the people live in large cities,” Lobo added. “Policies should be directed to making large cities more livable not making them smaller.”
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State University, ASU, Business, City of Chandler, City of Glendale, City of Mesa, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, City of Tempe, City of Tempe News, Downtown Phoenix, Economic Development, Maricopa County, Maricopa County News, Mesa, News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Scottsdale, Tempe, Tempe Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: Affordable Housing, Business Owners, Chandler, Chandler Arizona, Construction, Fair Housing, Homeowners, Housing, Low-Income
Greater Phoenix resale numbers tracking near historical norms
MESA, Arizona —February, like January, tends to be a poor indicator of the coming year. In addition, it is a short month, so it is typically a low month for sales activity, frequently being the lowest month of the year. For February, 4,280 homes were recorded sold, in contrast to 4,520 for January, 5,460 for a year ago and 7,935 transactions in 2005. This was the lowest February since 4,090 homes were recorded sold in 2003, which was the lowest month for 2003. So far in 2007 a total of 8,800 homes have been recorded sold in contrast to 10,715 in 2006 and 17,290 in 2005 for the same time period.
While the resale market is tracking near historical norms, the overall health of the market will become more evident in the next few months, which are traditionally the strongest for the resale market, according Jay Q. Butler, director of Realty Studies at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus.
“If 2007 is to show some improvement, listings should be increasing with a corresponding improvement in buyer activity. However, the activity levels should be well below those of the last few years, because the current market lacks the market frenzy to own and/or invest at almost any price and reasoning,” said Butler.
If the international economy and political situation remains stable, the general expectation is that the 2007 resale housing market should be a good year, but no where near the records.
Much like the ever-increasing sales activity of the last few years, the rapid improvement in prices has disappeared. The median home price has been very stable at $260,000, which is the same as January, but down from last year’s $265,000. For February 2007, 16 percent of all recorded sales were for homes priced from $125,000 to $199,999, 43 percent for $200,000 to $299,999 and 39 percent for homes priced more than $300,000. Last year, the distribution was 19 percent of all recorded sales were for homes priced from $125,000 to $199,999, 40 percent for $200,000 to $299,999 and 37 percent for homes priced more than $300,000.
The increase in the higher price levels demonstrates the importance of the move-up market in a slowing market. Since the greater Phoenix area is so large, the median price can range significantly from $687,500 ($665,000 in January) in North Scottsdale to $139,500 ($148,000 in January) in the Sky Harbor area of the city of Phoenix.
Since home prices have declined slightly from a year ago, the monthly payment of $1,300 is down from last year’s $1,320. Even though mortgage interest rates have been declining for the last few months, limited home appreciation and household income continues to raise concern about the ability of some homeowners to maintain their homes. This may be especially evident for those that have used some of the more creative financing instruments, such as option payment plans and initially low-interest-rate adjustable mortgages.
Because townhouse/condominium units are popular with seasonal visitors, it is not unusual to observe an improvement in February. Thus, February had 1,050 sales, in comparison to 850 for January and 1,260 sales for a year ago. The median home price has been very stable at $175,000, which is also the same as a year ago.
The median square footage for a single-family home recorded sold in February 2007 was 1,670 square feet, which is larger than the 1,620 square feet for a year ago. The larger size further demonstrates the role of the move-up sector in the local housing market. In the townhouse/condominium sector, the median square footage was 1,085 square feet, which is smaller than the 1,135 square feet reported a year ago.
- In contrast to February 2006, recorded sales in the city of Phoenix decreased from 1,645 sales to 1,215 sales, while the median sales price increased to $228,470 from $213,750 for a year ago. Since Phoenix is a geographically large city, the median prices can range significantly such as $139,500 in the Sky Harbor area to $305,000 ($353,500 in January) in the Union Hills area. The townhouse/condominium sector decreased from 425 to 355 sales while the median price decreased from $158,500 to $150,000.
- While the Scottsdale resale home market declined from 400 to 355 recorded sales, the median sales price increased from last year’s $575,000 to $600,000. The median resale home price is $687,500 ($665,000 in January) in North Scottsdale and $321,250 ($308,000 in January) in South Scottsdale. The townhouse/condominium sector in Scottsdale also decreased from 235 to 220 sales and the median sales price decreased from $285,000 to $254,950.
- The Mesa resale housing market declined from 655 to 460 sales, while the median price fell from $245,000 to $238,500 ($240,000 in January). The townhouse/condominium sector also fell from 190 to 140 sales, while the median home price increased from $155,000 to $161,400.
- Glendale decreased from 435 to 300 sales and the median sales price decreased from $250,000 to $242,850 ($238,500 in January). The townhouse/condominium sector also slowed from 65 to 50 sales, while the median sales price decreased from $140,000 to $139,000.
· For the city of Peoria, the resale market decreased from 275 sales to 235 sales, with the median price moving from $275,000 to $270,000 ($260,000 in January). The townhouse/condominium sector remained at 25 sales and the median price increased from $169,900 to $184,000.
- In comparison to a year ago, the Sun City resale market remained at 100 sales, while the median sales price decreased to $204,500 from $216,000. As resale activity in Sun City West stayed at 55 sales, the median sales price decreased from $243,500 to $230,000. The townhouse/condominium market in Sun City declined from 60 to 45 recorded sales, while the median home price decreased from $146,450 to $129,000. In Sun City West, activity improved from 15 to 30 sales and the median sales price decreased from $180,000 to $166,000.
- The resale market in Gilbert decreased from 290 to 230 sales, with the median sales price decreasing from $341,000 to $307,500 ($319,000 in January). The townhouse/condominium market fell from 20 to 15 sales as the median sales price decreased from $213,000 to $205,500.
- For the city of Chandler, the resale market fell from 400 to 280 recorded sales, while the median sales price improved from $299,900 to $307,500 ($305,000 in January). The townhouse/condominium market declined from 65 to 50 sales and the median sales price declined from $183,600 to $170,830.
§ The resale market in Tempe increased from 120 to 135 sales, while the median sales price decreased from $300,000 to $280,000 ($282,950 in January). The townhouse/condominium sector slowed from 90 to 50 sales and the median sales price decreased from $185,000 to $182,500.
- The highest median sales price was in Paradise Valley at $1,740,000 with a median square foot house of 3,840 square feet.
· In the West Valley, the following communities represent 9 percent of the resale market.
o Avondale fell from 110 to 70 sales, with the median price moving from $261,000 to $242,080 ($243,950 in January).
o El Mirage decreased from 60 to 45 sales, and the median home price went from $221,000 to $206,000 ($202,000 in January).
o Goodyear declined from 80 to 65 sales, with the median price decreasing from $289,000 to $270,000 ($260,000 in January)
o Surprise increased from 200 to 215 sales, while the median price decreased from $260,750 a year ago to $245,000 ($247,235 in January).
*************************************************
Realty Studies
Realty Studies is associated with the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus. Realty Studies collects and analyzes data concerning real estate in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. It is a comprehensive and objective source of real estate information for private, public and governmental agencies. Its director, Dr. Jay Q. Butler, may be reached at (480) 727-1300 or e-mail him at Jay.Butler@asu.edu.
ASU’s Polytechnic campus, located in southeast Mesa, offers bachelor and graduate degree programs, unparalleled by other Arizona state universities, through the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness, East College, the College of Science and Technology, and the School of Educational Innovation and Teacher Preparation. Visit us online at http://www.poly.asu.edu.
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona Jobs, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, Community, Community and Economic Development, Community Meeting, Community Service, Economic Development, Economic Forum, Education, Events, Free, Jobs, Maricopa County, Maricopa County News, Meeting, Networking, News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Phoenix Jobs, Phoenix Workforce Connection, Scottsdale, Scottsdale Business, Seminars, Services, Small Business, State of Arizona, Training, US - AZ (Phoenix), Volunteering, Volunteers, Workforce, Workforce News, Workshops | Tags: Adult Learning, Conference, Conferences, Entrepreneurs, Results, Showcase, Small Business Owners, Volunteer
SPECIAL EVENT WORKSHOP
MON, MAR 26, 8 AM – 2:30 PM
Exploring Your Passion – Putting It To Work
Have you ever awakened in the morning feeling stuck in your job search or in your current position and frustrated that you had no other career options that inspired or motivated you to take action?
The purpose of this one-day workshop is to assist people who may be stuck in their job search or in their current jobs. Often individuals limit themselves to what they “have always done” because it was the career that defined them for many years. They tend to lose sight of the many skills and strengths that they have developed through their life experience.
For those of you who have suspected that you were falling short of your passion or “calling,” this workshop may be of help to you! The program is designed to highlight tools to assist individuals determine where they might be stuck and to begin to identify their strengths, talents and preferences.
Facilitator: Maria Wojtczak has 20+ years of organization development (OD) experience and worked with a wide range of organizations. She brings extensive experience in the field of adult learning concepts, and in the design and facilitation of adult learning experiences. In her OD practice, Maria coached senior leadership and consulted with senior executives, high-level education personnel, as well as middle management. Maria’s focus, in her consulting practice and in her business, is organizational effectiveness and the development of individuals. Maria is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a member of SJN’s Board.
Pre-registration date extended to March 19: Seating is limited to 25 participants. Register by sending email confirming your attendance to Chris Payne, cpayne46@cox.net. Send $20 check (for materials) payable to Scottsdale Job Network at the following address:
Scottsdale Job Network
P.O. Box 25674
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Workshop location:
Catholic Community of the Blessed Sacrament Church
11300 N. 64th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
Lunch: Bring a sack lunch.
Filed under: Arizona, Business, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, Community, Community Meeting, Community Service, Economic Development, Economic Forum, Education, Events, Jobs, Maricopa County, Maricopa County News, Meeting, Networking, News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Scottsdale, Scottsdale Business, Seminars, Services, Small Business, State of Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix), Volunteering, Volunteers, Workforce, Workforce News, Workshops | Tags: CEO, Chamber of Commerce, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Showcase, Small Business Owners, Volunteer
New Tricks in Networking
New Tricks in Networking-Scottsdale Job Network Upcoming Meeting Topic.
Katie Pushor , President and CEO Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce will discuss new tricks in networking.
NEXT MEETING: MARCH 20, 9:30-11:30 AM
Katie Pushor, President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
New Tricks in Networking
Katie Pushor will discuss the current state of the Phoenix economy, growth and job market. Katie will also provide information and insight into social networks like the Phoenix chamber, and offer stories of the many job transitions and “new tricks’” she has had to learn as she has gone from accounting to marketing to consulting to government to non-profit. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 A.M. at Temple Chai, 4645 East Marilyn Road, Phoenix.
The Temple is located just east of the Piestawa Freeway (Route 51) and South & West of the loop 101 (PIMA FREEWAY SECTION). Temple Chai is on the west side of Tatum Blvd. between Thunderbird and Greenway Roads.
Click here for a location map on MapQuest
Resume reviews are offered on the third Tuesday before the meeting, 9:00-9:30 A.M.
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona Biotech, Arizona State University, ASU, ASU Downtown, Biotech, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, Community and Economic Development, Downtown Development, Downtown Phoenix, Economic Development, Education, Health, Health Care, Maricopa County, Medical, News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, State of Arizona, University of Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: Back to School, Biomedical, Construction, Phoenix Biomedical Campus
Historic Phoenix Union High School Re-Opens as State-of-the-Art Biomedical Campus
The city of Phoenix in collaboration with the University of Arizona College of Medicine, the state of Arizona and Arizona State University opened the new Phoenix Biomedical Campus.
More here: Phoenix Biomedical Campus
Filed under: ASU, ASU Downtown, City of Phoenix News, Community Meeting, Downtown Development, Downtown Phoenix, Economic Development, Economic Forum, Events, Mayor, Meeting, Phil Gordon, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: City Council, Planning, Strategic Plan, Strategic Planning, Vision
Public Invited to Downtown Strategic Plan Community Meeting
The city of Phoenix will hold a community meeting to provide residents with a status update on the city’s plan for downtown. A presentation on the “Downtown Strategic Vision and Blueprint for the Future” and Arizona State University’s “Vision for the Downtown Phoenix Campus” will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St.
In December 2004, the mayor and City Council adopted a comprehensive strategy for downtown and identified priorities, including making downtown an anchor for the knowledge economy; providing diverse quality housing; providing an eclectic mix of people, spaces and uses; expanding diversity of artistic and cultural opportunities; fostering retail establishments; creating well-defined and well-designed public spaces while protecting historic treasures; and supporting a sense of place that connects the existing urban fabric with infrastructure. The presentation will provide an update on the implementation of the goals as identified in the report.
The ASU “Vision for the Downtown Phoenix Campus” will include an update on the implementation of Phase One of campus development. The campus opened in August with more than 4,000 students and the future build-out of the campus is expected to serve up to 15,000 students by 2008.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/downtown or call 602-534-7143.
Filed under: Arizona, Business, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, Economic Development, Jobs, News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Scottsdale, Scottsdale Business, State of Arizona, US - AZ (Phoenix), Workforce, Workforce News | Tags: Government, Governor
Paypal CEO Meg Whitman and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Meet.
Filed under: City of Mesa, City of Phoenix News, Downtown Development, Economic Development, Mesa | Tags: Able Information Technologies, Azulstar Networks, Earthlink Municipal Networks, Free Wi-Fi access, Free wireless networking, Mesa Community College, MetroFi, MobilePro, WiFi, Wireless LAN, WLAN
Finalists selected in Wi-Fi Network bid
Today the City announced the two finalists in the request for proposals (RFP) process to select a citywide Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) Internet service provider. The two finalists are:
–Earthlink Municipal Networks
–MobilePro Corporation
The goals of the City of Mesa Wi-Fi project include:
– Development of a Wi-Fi Internet network that is privately financed, built, owned and operated.
– Universal wireless broadband (Wi-Fi) Internet service that is available throughout the City for residents to subscribe at an affordable rate.
– Free wireless networking for City staff to use when working in the field. This will support the work of police officers, building inspectors, utility locators, fire personnel, and many others when working away from office computers.
– Free Wi-Fi access to all City of Mesa Web sites and the Mesa Public Schools Web sites.
– A free hotzone for the planned Mesa Community College downtown campus.
– Some areas of free limited Wi-Fi access to the Internet in the community.
– Maintaining cutting edge technology to ensure a high degree of quality of service.
Negotiations will take place during the coming weeks. An award recommendation will be made to City Manager Christopher Brady, with the final award to be considered and approved by the City Council.
The City issued an RFP in April 2006. Five companies submitted proposals, including Able Information Technologies, Inc., Azulstar Networks, Earthlink Municipal Networks, MetroFi Inc., and MobilePro Corporation.
Filed under: Arizona, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, Economic Development, Events, Innovation, Maricopa County News, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Sales, Scottsdale, Scottsdale Business, Seminars, Small Business, State of Arizona, Tempe, US - AZ (Phoenix), Workshops | Tags: B2B, Business Showcase, Chamber of Commerce, Conference, Conferences, Exhibition, Mind Your Business, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Showcase, Small Business Owners, Tradeshow
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State University, Arts and Entertainment, ASU, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, City of Scottsdale, City of Tempe, City of Tempe News, Community and Economic Development, Economic Development, Entertainment, Events, Maricopa County, Maricopa County News, Museum, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Scottsdale, State of Arizona, Tempe, US - AZ (Phoenix) | Tags: Chase Field, Fiesta Bowl, Football, Fun, Hotels, Insight Bowl, Phoenix Hotels, Sun Devil Stadium
SCOTTSDALE RESORTS WILL CONTINUE HOSTING COLLEGE BOWL TEAMS
A long-term agreement to host college national championship, Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl teams at Scottsdale area resorts – and continue drawing their fans to Scottsdale – was approved by the Scottsdale City Council this week.
The agreement also paves the way for a new Fiesta Bowl Museum at the Scottsdale Waterfront, where the Fiesta Bowl will soon open its new headquarters.
The 20-year agreement aims to preserve a long-standing relationship between Scottsdale and the Fiesta Bowl while the organization makes significant changes beginning in 2007. Next year, the Fiesta Bowl moves from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to the new Cardinals Stadium in Glendale. Next year also marks the first time the Fiesta Bowl hosts a new Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, which will be played at the Glendale stadium every four years. Meanwhile, the Insight Bowl will move from Chase Field in Phoenix to Sun Devil Stadium.
Fiesta Bowl teams have stayed in Scottsdale resorts and practiced in the area for more than two decades.
The agreement relies on hotel room tax revenue to fund yearly payments to the Fiesta Bowl. The agreement calls for a one-time payment of $500,000 to the organization in 2007. Annual payments begin at $210,000, and include a second, identical payment when a BCS college championship comes to the Valley.
Altogether, the Fiesta Bowl would receive more than $8.2 million over 20 years.
In return, Scottsdale will continue to receive a substantial portion of the regional economic impact associated with the bowl games. Between 2001 and 2006, the estimated regional impact ranged from $165 million to $228 million annually. The city’s Economic Vitality Department estimates the direct return in taxes to the city over the 20-year period will range from $12 million to $15 million.
For more information on Scottsdale visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/news/2006/August/08-28-06.asp
Phoenix Arizona 