Kyle Backer

Phoenix

Associate editor for @azbigmedia, covering Arizona commercial real estate and economic development. Em dash enthusiast. Probably listening to a podcast.

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Articles

Development done right: The importance of partnerships

1 month ago | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

When it opened in 1957, Park Central Mall converted what once was a dairy farm into an open-air mall featuring sought-after retailers. But as the city continued to grow northwards and enclosed malls offered relief from the heat, Park Central Mall’s popularity and profitability started to recede.
Ben Graff explains how NIMBYism impacts Arizona development

1 month ago | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

Ben Graff, partner at Quarles, has made a career of ushering in new possibilities. As a zoning attorney, he helps clients change a site’s designation to a higher and better use. Sometimes that means an adjustment to how dense an apartment building can be. On other occasions, the transformation is more drastic — like getting approvals for the development of retail, restaurant, Class A office and luxury multifamily where a landfill once stood.
Here's how TSMC Arizona is committing to environmental stewardship

1 month ago | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

On March 3, TSMC reported that its total investment in Arizona will now reach $165 billion — a 1,275% increase from the initial $12 billion announcement made in 2020. Now the largest single foreign direct investment in U.S. history, TSMC Arizona’s site will include six semiconductor fabs, two advanced packaging facilities, an R&D center and a host of other supporting buildings.
How Arizona data center construction will explode with AI adoption

1 month ago | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

In January, tech sector stocks tumbled when a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, DeepSeek, unveiled a large language model that operates at a much lower cost than U.S. versions while maintaining similar capabilities. DeepSeek reports that it spent just $5.6 million to train its AI, compared to the more than $100 million committed by OpenAI for GPT-4.
Creation redevelops ‘funky shaped’ site in Tempe

1 month ago | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

On Feb. 13, Creation broke ground on a 144,885-square-foot Class A industrial facility in Southern Tempe. Located in one of the most sought-after regions in the Valley, Source Logistics Center features HVAC throughout the entire building, 3,000 square feet of spec office, a six-acre yard and access to a Union Pacific rail line. Construction is slated to finish in mid-2026.
How Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport drives regional development

Mar 20, 2025 | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

In today’s interconnected world, airports facilitate the flow of people and goods that are essential for society to function. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a prime example of how these pieces of critical infrastructure are not only economic powerhouses in their own right — it contributes $1.8 billion to Arizona’s economy annually, according to the airport — but also generates further investment from companies. On Dec.
Arizona Department of Water Resources sued over groundwater rule - AZ Big Media

Mar 18, 2025 | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

On March 10, Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro announced that the Arizona House of Representatives, in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and the Arizona Senate, filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) over its Alternative Path to Designation of Assured Water Supply (ADAWS) regulation, alleging it is an “unlawful groundwater tax.” Under state law, a home developer in the Valley must prove that the project has enough...
How air quality regulations could impact Phoenix real estate development - AZ Big Media

Mar 14, 2025 | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

Recent years have brought numerous big deals and billions of dollars in investment to the Valley. That growth has come with challenges, such as concerns over water supplies, rising construction costs and the need for more power. But another issue affecting development is getting more attention — air quality in Metro Phoenix. During Willmeng Construction’s Fence Post Speaker Series event on Oct.
TSMC Arizona: A look inside the $165 billion site

Mar 11, 2025 | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

What does $165 billion look like? It only takes a few minutes of driving west on Loop 303 from I-17 to get a glimpse. Emerging from the desert of North Phoenix, TSMC Arizona is already a colossal sight from the freeway, even at this early stage. The first fab, now producing chips, is a silver-gray monolith that overlooks a vast solar-covered parking lot for employees, vendors and visitors.
Meet the panelists for 2025 AZRE Forum: 5-year forecast

Mar 10, 2025 | azbigmedia.com | Kyle Backer

The past five years have brought an eye-watering amount of growth to the Valley. TSMC’s $165 billion investment in North Phoenix remains the poster child for this era of expansion, but it is by no means the only project that will reverberate through Arizona’s economy in the years to come. Because of that, the 2025 AZRE Forum, will focus on what’s to come: A five-year forecast for Arizona’s commercial real estate sector.