PHOENIX-Ross Smith is charged with leading an initiative to assist builders and developers in the purchase or leasing of state lands. Smith joins Grubb & Ellis after two years as president of SLAQ, a division of HeylCorp.

PHOENIX-With the highest number of vacant big boxes in the West, the Valley is fertile ground for discount retailers looking to tap middle-class dollars. Discounters are finding some sweet deals in the metro's upscale neighborhoods.

CHANDLER, AZ-The Arizona Heart Institute cuts the ribbon on its 12th location in the state. It is joined by a medical imaging lab and family practice in a 30,000-sf office building on the Chandler Regional Hospital campus.

PHOENIX-With the highest number of vacant big boxes in the West, the Valley is fertile ground for discount retailers looking to tap middle-class dollars. Discounters are finding some sweet deals in the metro's upscale neighborhoods.

PHOENIX-With the highest number of vacant big boxes in the West, the Valley is fertile ground for discount retailers looking to tap middle-class dollars. Discounters are finding some sweet deals in the metro's upscale neighborhoods.

MESA, AZ-The 55,000-sf complex delivers in May and sells in late September after pushing its rented area to 54%. The Augusta Ranch Self Storage's big draw is that it sits in the midst of retail development.

MESA AZ-Goodwill Industries secures its second high-profile location as a result of the Krause furniture store bankruptcy. The second-hand merchandiser gets an upscale address at $12 per sf. The 18,600-sf store will open in November.

CHANDLER, AZ-Three restaurants have opened in the past month and more are on their way in a major push into the Phoenix market by the Greenwood Village, CO-headquartered chain. To date, the chain has eight spots in the metro.