Clayco broke ground on Ray Phoenix, a 26-story, 523,000-sq-ft residential tower in Phoenix, on May 31. Slated for completion in early 2026, the project is being developed as a joint venture between Ray and VeLa. The design is by Johnston Marklee & Associates in partnership with Lamar Johnson Collaborative.

The design-forward, 401-unit multifamily residential building features studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows offering mountain and skyline views. The tower also will house a large fitness center, yoga studio, outdoor resort-style pool, communal kitchen, fireplace lounge, sunken lounge with theater experience, indoor and outdoor gardens as well as 4,500 sq ft of ground-level retail.

Other features include a street-level art gallery open to the public and lobby mural by artist Alex Israel.

“We are committed to setting a new standard for urban residential living in Phoenix,” says Nick Benjamin, principal of VeLa.

$250M Las Vegas-Area Bus Rapid Transit Project Nears Construction Start

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada plans to begin construction this year on its $250-million Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project in Las Vegas, RTC officials announced May 28. The transit agency says the improvements are needed to provide better accessibility, safety and comfort for people who travel through the corridor, which accommodates about 35,000 vehicles and 9,000 transit riders daily.

Plans by GCW Engineering Inc., Las Vegas, call for a 12.5-mile parkway corridor between the South Strip Transit Terminal and the Las Vegas Medical District. Maryland Parkway currently has three lanes in each direction plus a center left-turn lane.

The project would reconfigure the road to include a shared bus and bicycle lane on the outside in both directions and replace portions of the center lane with a median. RTC also plans to build 42 transit shelters and platforms, widen sidewalks, upgrade pedestrian crossings and replace signals.

Construction will be phased, with completion expected in 2026. Officials recently awarded a $129.8-million contract to Las Vegas Paving Corp. for construction of the portion of the project within Las Vegas.

Another contract covering work in Clark County is scheduled to be awarded in July.

The improvements would include priority signals for buses, which would allow service to run along the corridor 24/7, coming as frequently as every 12 minutes during the daytime Monday through Saturday and every 15-30 minutes at night, according to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) records. There are 25 transit connections along the route.

The work also is expected to have other benefits, such as providing new opportunities for economic development in the area and creating “a stronger sense of identity for Maryland Parkway,” M.J. Maynard, CEO of RTC, said in a statement.

“At the same time, the use of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses throughout the corridor will provide a faster, environmentally friendly transportation option,” she said.

The FTA is helping fund the work with a $149.9-million grant it awarded in April. In a statement, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted the “cleaner, better, faster commute” the project is expected to help deliver for 63,000 residents and the more than 100,000 people who work in the area.

— By James Leggate

New Mexico to Provide $12M to Municipal Energy Efficiency Efforts

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Dept. (EMNRD) awarded $11.78 million in grants to eight projects across New Mexico through the Community Efficiency Development Block Grant Act, assisting efforts providing financial support for residential energy efficiency improvements in underserved communities.

The act empowers local governments, in collaboration with community organizations, to address impacts of climate change by assisting low-income households in reducing energy bills and harmful emissions while creating employment opportunities.

“This program has the potential to change how people live and feel in their homes, giving them a renewed sense of comfort and real money back in their pockets,” says Rebecca “Puck” Stair, director of EMRND’s Energy Conservation and Management Division, which administers the program.

The New Mexico Legislature provided $10 million in funding for the program, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy provided the remaining $1.78 million.

New Mexico municipalities with projects selected for the initial round of funding are Albuquerque, Aztec, Bernalillo, Las Cruces, the city of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County and Taos County. The New Mexico Finance Authority is also receiving funds for its effort to bring fuel-switching and lower energy costs to rural residents.

Innovate48 Industrial Park Project Breaks Ground Near Phoenix Airport

Ryan Cos. has broken ground alongside joint venture partner Alidade Capital LLC on the Innovate48 Industrial Park on the corner of 48th Street and Washington Street, about one mile from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The institutional quality, 163,000-sq-ft Class-A industrial building is located adjacent to the Valley Metro Light Rail Station and less than a quarter-mile from access to Interstates 10 and 17. The building will feature 25 dock-high doors, 18 trailer stalls, four grade-level doors and a fully secured concrete truck court as well as 3,500 sq ft of speculative office suite space.

Butler Design Group is the architect-of-record on the project, which is being developed and built by Ryan.

Josh Tracy, senior vice president of real estate with Ryan, said in a release that more manufacturing, logistics and semiconductor companies continue to relocate to Arizona.

Las Vegas Gets RAISE Grant to Overhaul Stewart Avenue

Las Vegas has been awarded $23.9 million from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s RAISE Grant Program for the reconstruction of Stewart Avenue into a safer, more comfortable and attractive corridor between downtown Las Vegas and East Las Vegas, the city’s Hispanic core.

Pedestrians and bicyclists account for more than 35% of traffic along the corridor, which includes three schools, two parks, a community center and several neighborhood shopping centers. Drawing from community input, the project will improve safety for vulnerable roadway users; encourage walking, biking and transit ridership; increase affordable and accessible transportation choices; provide shade; encourage corridor reinvestment and economic opportunities; and improve drainage and flood control facilities.

The city, with its consultant team, will complete full design with the intent for corridor construction to be completed by January 2029.