Southwest City Scoop: Construction Starts in Flagstaff

Stung by a Residential Slowdown, Construction Activity Expected to Decline by Nearly 14%

Non-building sector faces weaker highway and bridge spending, while activity heats up for public works and utilities.

City Grill

Daniel Folke
Planning Director
City of Flagstaff

With a population of 71,000, this northern Arizona city is experiencing a building boom. “It has been strong across all sectors,” Folke says, adding that his own department is hiring in an effort to keep up. Due to growth at Northern Arizona University, large, dorm-style multifamily housing projects are in the pipeline. Two are under construction, with both featuring 600-plus bedrooms. In the hospitality sector, Hampton and Fairfield Inn just opened hotels and a Marriott Residence Inn is now downtown, Folke says.

Firm in Focus

Loven Contracting Inc.
1100 S. Pinnacle St., Flagstaff, Ariz.
President: Mike Loven
Founded: 1983
What’s new: The firm is currently building a $3-million, 31,000-sq-ft Mercedes-Benz dealership at Flagstaff Auto Park.