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2014: issue 8
Increasing Home Values Affect Housing Affordability Nationwide housing affordability dipped in the second quarter of 2014 as several markets saw a firming of home prices, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today. In all, 62.6 percent of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of April and the end of June were affordable to families earning the U.S. median income of $63,900. This is down from the 65.5 percent of homes sold that were affordable to median-income earners in the first quarter. The national median home price increased from $195,000 in the first quarter to $214,000 in the second quarter. Meanwhile, average mortgage interest rates decreased from 4.57 percent to 4.44 percent in the same period. “With interest rates near historically low levels and strengthening job growth, now continues to be a great opportunity to buy a home,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del. “The second quarter HOI reflects the slow but steady march toward the historic levels of price appreciation and
interest rates that result in affordability levels we experienced before the mid2000s boom,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “While we are seeing a slight decrease in affordability, it is still fairly high by historical standards.” Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa. claimed the title of the nation’s most affordable major housing market, as 90.4 percent of all new and existing homes sold in this year’s second quarter were affordable to families earning the area’s median income of $52,700. Meanwhile, Cumberland, Md.-W.Va. was the most affordable smaller market, with 97.2 percent of homes sold in the second quarter being affordable to those earning the median income of $54,100. Other major U.S. housing markets at the top of the affordability chart in the second quarter included IndianapolisCarmel, Ind.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pa.; and ScrantonWilkes-Barre, Pa; in descending order. Meanwhile, smaller markets joining Cumberland at the top of the affordability chart included Kokomo, Ind.; Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill.; Battle Creek, Mich.; and Lima, Ohio; in descending order. For a seventh consecutive quarter,
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif. was the nation’s least affordable major housing market. There, just 11.1 percent of homes sold in the second quarter were affordable to families earning the area’s median income of $100,400. Other major metros at the bottom of the affordability chart were Santa AnaAnaheim-Irvine, Calif.; Los AngelesLong Beach-Glendale, Calif.; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.; and New York-White Plains-Wayne,
N.Y.-N.J.; in descending order. All five least affordable small housing markets were in California. At the very bottom was Santa Cruz-Watsonville, where 16.6 percent of all new and existing homes sold were affordable to families earning the area’s median income of $77,900. Other small markets included Napa, Salinas, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, and San Luis ObispoPaso Robles; in descending order. -NAHB
Record income gap fuels US housing weakness
Department data for the 100 largest metropolitan areas by population, analyzed for the Financial Times by property website Trulia, found the income disparity between the 10th most expensive region and the 90th by home prices in 2013 hit its widest since records began in 1969. The research shows Boston – ranked at 10 – reporting a per-capita income 1.61 times that of Cincinnati ranked at 90. At its low point in 1976, the gap was 1.36 times, between San Francisco and El Paso. A patchy labor market recovery has meant significant variations in job and income growth between regions across the U.S., which in turn has intensified the divergences across the country's housing markets. "Housing markets are playing out at very different speeds partly as a result of the lack of geographical breadth in the labor market. Certain sectors of the economy are performing better than others, propelling some housing markets over others," said Fannie Mae economist Mark Palim. While some areas are experiencing
bubble-like conditions, others are flailing. In Austin, Texas, a surge in technology jobs has driven demand. But in Akron, Ohio, which is struggling to boost employment through a new manufacturing base, house purchases have been more muted. In the government town of Sacramento, California, anxious homebuyers are waiting on the sidelines after being priced out by investors. Stanley Fischer, Janet Yellen's deputy chairman at the Federal Reserve, highlighted the central bank's concern about housing in a speech this week. "The housing sector was at the epicenter of the U.S. financial crisis and recession and it continues to weigh on the recovery," he said. In contrast to previous recoveries, he noted "residential construction [has been] held back by a large inventory of foreclosed and distressed properties and by tight credit conditions for construction loans and mortgages." How cities fared through the boom and bust, and the extent of state and local government control over foreclosures, have dictated housing
market performance. But job and income growth are playing an outsized role, Mr Palim added, particularly as mortgage interest rate rises and home price increases affect affordability. The number of Americans in work has surpassed the pre-recession peak. But there has been little lower and middle wage growth, constraining demand for houses across much of the country. The rebound in construction, led by apartments, has been concentrated in pockets of the country where incomes are among the greatest. Six of Trulia's 10 highest-income areas – including San Jose, Boston and New York – also had the strongest residential construction performance by permits in 2013 compared with past norms. Economists see construction activity as a better gauge of an improving housing market than prices, which have been skewed by an influx of investor buyers since 2012.
Anjli Raval Financial Times The income gap between America's richest and poorest metropolitan regions has reached its widest on record, shaping an uneven housing recovery that threatens to hold back the broader revival of the world's largest economy. The gap has narrowed and widened in past cycles, but the rebound from the most recent financial crisis has seen the ratio hit its most unequal since data collection began 45 years ago, fueling policy makers' concerns. Read MoreBuying a new home? What a difference $1,000 makes U.S. Commerce and Labor
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Builders Outlook
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2014 issue 8
2014 issue 8
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Builders Outlook
President’s Message | Frank Torres
El Paso Disposal
President, El Paso Association of Builders
I got back from vacation and right away Ray told me about the issues with Fort Bliss. Here we go again but this time we’re preparing for the fight. I call it a fight because it’s going to be and we have to be united as we get in the ring with the Department of Defense and the administration in Washington. I remember how bad it was when back in the mid 90’s one day Fort Bliss lost almost all the soldiers. They went to Colorado, which made no sense to me and just about everybody else in El Paso. Then back in 2005 we were fighting to keep Fort Bliss open, this time it was about not having enough water. After a very long and hopeful time our Congressman and the community really worked well to show Washington and the Pentagon that we had water and we had land. Together with White Sands Missile Range we were about as large as Rhode Island, and the Defense Department owned it from the ground to space. We won that battle and found ourselves getting a whole new Fort Bliss built, new roads from TexDot and lots of promises about housing. Two out of three were true, housing was sort of left out because we just didn’t boom like we thought we would. As Ray say’s we were given some less than truthful promises and our boom was only a little bit of a snap. For some it was a great thing, and some of our members became very good at working with the Federal government. Others left to do work for them, and then contracts ran out and so did the money. Some of them never recovered. This time the Greater Chamber of Commerce has an early start to try to protect Fort Bliss. Right now is the time to get our offense going. We cannot afford to lose what we have, and I would tell the Pentagon we have a lot of room to grow. So stay tuned as the Association works to keep Fort Bliss. We’ll present a really good picture for them to have and easy time confirming that Fort Bliss is the future and El Paso is truly a good neighbor.
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Builders Outlook
2014 issue 8
Perspective
Ray Adauto, Executive Vice President EPAB
The month of July has become the traditional time to take a break from association business and this July was no exception. We were able to use the last two weeks of July to go to a nieces wedding in Los Angeles; visit Disneyland with the grandkids; and enjoy a week of family stuff. We followed that up with a return through Las Vegas but Margaret and I took along our oldest grandkids, Gaby and Matt, so that they could do some fancy eating and get a look at the hype they only heard about. I’ll be honest, driving isn’t as much fun for me as it once was, but with the airfares and security checks and the need to rent a car once we got to L.A. I just decided it would be a scenic trip through the southwest. Even with good planning the results sometimes are dissatisfactory and I have to tell you that I’m pretty good at planning, getting deals, and looking for unusual places to eat or enjoy. My past presidents have experienced my “concierge” style, knowing what to do and where to do it. I find places to eat so that the experience is special and I like doing that. Lately I’ve also begun to be a regular contributor to Trip Advisor, the online
Fort Bliss, trolley’s and time off. I’m tired, aren’t you?
website that helps with travel. I’ve done enough reviews to earn the title “senior contributor”. That and a dollar fifty gets me a cup of coffee, the only thing is that the coffee shop gets reviewed with my opinion. Suffice it to say that we got to California in one piece after a little weirdness in Phoenix. We stayed at a “resort” in Indian Wells, just outside of Palm Springs. Note to Trip Advisor: skip the resort, move on up the freeway to the new Native American hotel/casino. Entering Southern California you immediately get the traffic and brother is there traffic. Even on a Sunday morning our drive was nearly bumper to bumper as we headed to meet our Austin kids at Manhattan Beach, a public beach near the airport. More crowds, only with very little clothing on except for the guys surfing who traditionally wear those wetsuits. Finally a two hour drive through more L. A. traffic to our home for a week, Anaheim. We shared a wonderful five bedroom house for the week with our girls and their spouses and kids, an exercise in adjustment, poolside relaxing, and more driving. We had Disney fever and so we
experienced Disney all over again. By the way the price of admission is $100 day for one park, $139 for two parks. One day. That’s right seeing Tinker Bell is not cheap. Downtown Disney is still “free”, if you call buying overpriced everything free. We enjoyed our L.A. stay and capped if off with the reason we had gone, the wedding. I don’t know how my niece Gina and sister in law Mary Alice Contreras did it but it was a wow! I will tell you I don’t think I’ve ever been to a more beautiful church in my life as the non-denominational cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. We had fun with the family, something I don’t say often enough, and we had a good time. All in all things for me get better when we hit Vegas, and so it was. We’re back in the saddle and I already had to deal with another couple of important things. Fort Bliss is being attacked again, not by a foreign enemy but by the administration hell bent on cutting our Army staffing. We cannot afford to let this happen and you’ll be hearing more. I did a piece for you to read in this edition and you’ll get more as we continue to fight to keep Bliss very active.
My good friend Joe Pickett is pretty upset about the $96 million going to be used for the old trolleys. I don’t blame him as I would think we have more priorities that spending that much for something I think would be better utilized. Joe Muench (pronounced Minch), the El Paso Times columnist and also a friend said it best about the city’s spending on stuff: Bike lane money should be used to repave streets, something everyone uses, not bike lanes that no one uses. Go get ‘em Joe. City manager Tommy Gonzalez has also endeared himself to me by saying that we as a community need to know that what we want has to be paid for. In other words figure out how to pay for it before you buy it. Maybe that notion will reach the local politicians next time someone has a special request for something they want. My time off was appreciated but frankly I think I’m more tired now than before we left. Isn’t that just the way it happens?
2014 issue 8
Builders Outlook
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Industry News Builder Confidence Rises Two Points Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose two points to 55 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for August, released today. This third consecutive monthly gain brings the index to its highest level since January. “As the employment picture brightens, builders are seeing a noticeable increase in the number of serious buyers entering the market,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del. “However, builders still face a number of challenges, including tight credit conditions for borrowers and shortages of finished lots and labor.” Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales
expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. All three HMI components posted gains in August. The indices gauging current sales conditions and expectations for future sales each rose two points to 58 and 65, respectively. The index gauging traffic of prospective buyers increased three points to 42. “Each of the three components of the HMI registered consecutive gains for the past three months, which is a positive sign that builder confidence appears to be firming following an uneven spring,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Factors contributing to this rise include sustained job growth, historically low mortgage rates and affordable home
prices, which are helping to unleash pentup demand.” Every region saw a gain in its threemonth moving average HMI score in August. The Midwest posted a seven-point increase to 55 and the West registered a four-point gain to 56. The Northeast posted a two-point gain to 38 and the South was up one point to 52.
Housing Recovery Continues at Slow Pace Markets in 56 of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. This represents a year-over-year net gain of seven markets.
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The index’s nationwide score moved up slightly to .89, meaning that based on current permit, price and employment data, the nationwide average is running at 89 percent of normal economic and housing activity. Meanwhile, 78 percent of markets have shown an improvement year-over-year. “Things are gradually improving,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del. “As the job market grows, we expect to see a steady release of pent up demand of home buyers.” Baton Rouge, La., continues to top the list of major metros on the LMI, with a score of 1.39 – or 39 percent better than its last normal market level. Other major metros leading the list include Honolulu; Oklahoma City; Houston and Austin, Texas. Rounding out the top 10 are Los Angeles; San Jose, Calif.; Salt Lake City; Des Moines; and New Orleans. “With the national tally only reaching 43 percent of normal, single-family housing permits continue to be the lagging component of the index,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “The big bright spot is employment, where the number of metro areas having reached or exceeded their norms grew from 26 to 46 in a year.” “In the 22 metros where permits are at or above normal, the overall index indicates that these markets have fully recovered,” said Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Co., which co-sponsors the LMI report. “This finding shows the impact that an uptick in permits can have on the overall health of markets.” Looking at smaller metros, both Odessa and Midland, Texas, boast LMI scores of 2.0 or better, meaning their markets are now at double their strength prior to the recession. Also leading the list of smaller metros are Bismarck, N.D.; Grand Forks, N.D; and Casper, Wyo., respectively. The LMI shifts the focus from identifying markets that have recently begun to recover, which was the aim of a previous gauge known as the Improving Markets Index, to identifying those areas that are now approaching and exceeding their previous normal levels of economic and housing activity. More than 350 metro areas are scored by taking their average permit, price and employment levels for the past 12 months and dividing each by their annual average over the last period of normal growth. For single-family permits and home prices, 2000-2003 is used as the last normal period, and for employment, 2007 is the base comparison. The three components are then averaged to provide an overall score for each market; a national score is calculated based on national measures of the three metrics. An index value above one indicates that a market has advanced beyond its previous normal level of economic activity.
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Builders Outlook
2014 issue 8
Fort Bliss and the future: Are we facing another BRAC?
By Ray Adauto, EPAB Recent actions by the Department of Defense following orders from Congress and the White House have caused concern about the future of military bases and in particular Fort Bliss. The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce held a series of meetings and hosted a group of Texas legislators to discuss Fort Bliss with them. The Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs, chaired by Representative Jose Menendez met in El Paso August 12 -13 to take testimony on how the impact of a proposed reduction at Bliss would affect El Paso. Its mission is also to monitor the newly created BRAC task force, SB 1200 and review methodologies to enhance relationships between military installation and state and local government to positively impact decisions of BRAC. It is also charged with seeking to identify, when possible, new missions that would complement or support exiting ones in Texas. The El Paso Association of Builders was invited to present testimony and offer the committee information with regard to the
impact it would have on construction, particularly new home construction. Ray Adauto, Executive Vice President, offered written testimony to the committee and met with the committee members. “We are preparing for the potential for Fort Bliss, whether that means a reduction in military and civilian work force, or better yet the opportunity the Post offers the Army,� Adauto told the Outlook. “I think that as a business community it’s our job is to show the Army that we can handle more soldiers and more jobs at Fort Bliss,� he said. It was a sad day in 1993 when the city of El Paso awoke to news that the 3rd Armored Division would be moving to Fort Collins, Colorado on a move that wasn’t anticipated or known about. It was a rude awakening to the community, and that led to the formation of Team Bliss, a concerted effort to ensure nothing like that would ever occur again to El Paso. It came at an opportune time because the Pentagon had plans to close Fort Bliss because of perceived water shortages. Team Bliss and then Congressman Silvestre Reyes began the work to save Fort Bliss and show the Army that El Paso had water and resource commitment to ensure a civilian military partnership could be ongoing. BRAC turned out good for the Post as improvements were made and growth happened on Fort Bliss. The White House ordered a reduction in the current active duty military as it wound down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the reduction in those countries new unrest has revived the hope that the cuts to the military would be taken off the books.
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However, the Congress created the BRAC 2020 law and it is in effect, looking for ways to reduce DOD spending. The El Paso Team Bliss members wasted no time in taking action, beginning with a writing campaign to the Pentagon and by inviting the Texas delegation to hold hearings in El Paso. State Representative Joe Moody echoed the concerns of Team Bliss in his opening remarks stating that El Paso is concerned about the potential for cuts, but thinks that we have to highlight all that is good about Bliss. “I want to make sure that the Army doesn’t forget it invested $8 Billion at Fort
Bliss over the last five years, and that the state, the city and the private sector have invested millions to make El Paso the most friendly and safe home to the military,�. Team Bliss will continue to meet and monitor the actions of the DOD and hopes to send delegations to important state and federal meetings as they occur. The El Paso Association of Builders has a commitment to Team Bliss as an Association and through the private businesses associated with us. Stay tuned for more on this subject as it arises.
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2014 ISSUE 8
Builders
Builders Outlook
utlook on the scene |
City manager Tommy Gonzalez: ‘We have to pay for what you want’ By Ray Adauto, Builders Outlook The general meeting held at the Marriott Hotel on August 13 featured the new El Paso City Manager Tommy Gonzalez addressing the Association for the first time. Gonzalez, a native of Lubbock, and former city manager of Irving, Texas took to the podium to present himself and his viewpoints on the challenges of being El Paso’s second city manager. “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce myself to this group and to bring to you my vision and commitment to the public that I’ve been entrusted with,” Gonzalez said. “I want to make sure that I give you my ideas on how I’ll run the city for you and assure you that I will be as much a student as a teacher in the process,” he continued. Tommy Gonzalez is a retired Colonel and successful businessman who happen to enjoy the challenges of government work. He has been the only recipient of the Malcom Baldrige National Quality award for outstanding work while at Irving, a city constrained by geography and smaller in population than El Paso. It is also a much more conservative city than El Paso and Mr. Gonzalez was quick to point out in his remarks. “I have never met a community that wants this much and that considers wants as necessities more than this community of El Paso,” he told the audience. “I come from very conservative communities like Lubbock, Harlingen and Irving where wants like libraries and parks are just that… want’s,” he continued. “Here those things are considered necessities, almost a demand, without regard of how we will pay for them,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez began to tell the audience that the projects authorized by the voters a few years back will be completed despite the fact that how those projects will be paid for are still unknowns. “I will work to complete the wants of the vote, but we will have to figure creative ways to pay for them because there wasn’t a plan in place for doing so as part of the vote, and that probably starts with increasing taxes,” he said. He said that the city would see increased revenues because the city continues to grow, spreading the increase over a larger base. The issue of taxes was a key point to the presentation he made to the association. “I want to remind you that the school districts take about 48 cents of every tax dollar, while the city is at about 24 cents” Gonzalez said as the screen showed a chart showing those figures. His point was to make sure the audience identified the larger taxing entity and to show how much needs to get done with the smaller amount. Gonzalez shared his goals for the job at hand: address the challenges he found; improve quality; implement strategic goals and priorities; improve communication; oversee capital improvement programs; and get results based budgets. He went on to give his parents credit for his work ethic, showing pictures of them in the fields picking cotton and highlighting his family’s history of challenges and accomplishment. He is the proud father of two boys and a loving husband, showing us his personal life. Tommy, as he likes to be called, told
the 132 guests that he sees stabilizing revenues at the City while meeting the demand for increased service levels, including rising health care and fuel costs as his key challenge. He has a plan to create a realistic strategic plan and align it and work it with all departments. He plans to incentivize success with employees while listening to the voice of the customer. His military background will bring some changes to city hall as he will establish expectations while fostering a team culture. He strongly believes in being a Servant leader. Gonzalez is a Six Sigma black belt. Wikipedia offers as a definition: Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement. It was developed by Motorola in 1986] coinciding with the Japanese asset price bubble which is reflected in its terminology. Jack Welch made it central to his business strategy at General Electric in 1995. Today, it is used in many industrial sectors. Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in manufacturing and business processes. It is clear that the city employees will soon be getting trained in Six Sigma in order to keep up with the rigorous demands Mr. Gonzalez will institute for change. The new city manager is also getting to know the politicians he has to work for and try to decipher their wants to meet the ability of the city to pay for them. “It is clear that if you want something you must pay for it, and I am seeing a culture of wanting without regard to paying for it,” he told the group. “I found his talk refreshing and to the point, because he didn’t mince words, that’s for sure,” said Sam Shallenberger. Many of the members echoed the same. “It seems like we have someone who isn’t going to rubber stamp everything,” said Edmundo Dena. Shallenberger also asked the city manager if he was going to open on Friday’s which elicited this response: “I want to make sure that we meet the customer needs but I also have to consider the employees who have worked under the four day work week for a while,”. When asked if the police and fire contracts would be worked on he told the audience that the police contract only needs ratification by the union because it’s done, and that the fire union contract had not yet been agreed to. “I think we’ll have the fire contract soon, especially since the police already have theirs.” Mr. Gonzalez was grateful for the opportunity to come before the group and he has pledged to work with the association leadership for the benefit of all. His construction background will serve the association well so far as he understands what it takes to be in this business in the private sector. “I understand the lingo, the struggles and the wants,” he told us. “Be patient with us and we’ll be good partners,” Ray Adauto is Executive Vice President of the El Paso Association of Builders, and editor of the Association’s newsmagazine, The Builders Outlook. He can be reached via email at ray@elpasobuilders.com
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el paso development news Mixed-Use Infill Development Planned for Northeast El Paso Proposed Project Includes Residential & Commercial Spaces with Zero Setbacks FA vacant property in a long-standing Northeast El Paso neighborhood will see new life as a mixed-use development, according to a current rezoning application with the City. The owner is proposing the project for a 0.23-acre property at 5101 Fairbanks Drive. According to the project’s site plan, there will be six commercial spaces and two one-bedroom apartments created. The commercial buildings will be easily distinguishable as they will have zero setbacks along Fairbanks Drive, which means the structures will be built along the sidewalk, with parking in the back. The total area for the retail spaces will be 4,781 square feet. Some of the proposed uses include an art gallery, book store, and flower shop, though no tenants are named in the rezoning application. The two residential apartment units will be located above the retail spaces
and will split a total of 1,509 square feet of housing space. A 190 square foot courtyard is also proposed. The project will be built in two phases, with the retail spaces constructed first and the residential areas coming in the “medium term.” Cavallion Developers, the company developing the project, is applying for rezoning from residential to General Mixed Use to allow for the unique center. Mixed use designation allows for elements such as zero setbacks and reduced parking requirements if approved by the City. No timeline is available for the project which will be built at the corner of Fairbanks Drive and Shenandoah Street, west of Rushing Road. The City Plan Commission will review the rezoning application at its July 17, 2014 meeting.
Plans Revealed for Former ‘El Cruzero’ Land
“neighborhood commercial” uses. The perspective of buildings and landscaping will contribute to pedestrian friendly streets, with a focus on neighborhood parks. Buildings will have zero setbacks, according to the plan, meaning facades will be at or nearly at the sidewalk. The proposed layout differs significantly from El Cruzero’s ambitious illustrative plan. Desert Sands will have a standard grid design, with all streets meeting at right angles. A main thoroughfare is proposed that will travel north and south through the development, with a linear park occupying the median area. There are two smaller neighborhood parks towards the middle of the site plan. Culdesacs are located on the northern and southern portions of the site. Single family parcels will occupy the vast majority of the development, with two-, three-, and four-unit buildings slated for a narrow strip of the development jutting up from the northwestern corner of the property. El Cruzero, cancelled in March of 2013, had a somewhat different vision for the same site. The illustrative site plan included a mix of residential, civic, and flex space, properties that could include office, residential, or retail activities. Multiple parks and open space areas were planned. The 113.7-acre portion of the former El Cruzero property now being called Desert Sands encompasses the northeastern portion of the 220 acres sold to River Oaks Properties last year. River Oaks has not disclosed its final plans for the southern portions of the property, which
River Oaks Seeks Mixed Use Zoning for 113 Acres in East El Paso The developer of a Far East El Paso property formerly slated for a smart growth development has submitted a rezoning application showing the planned layout for 113.7 acres of the site. The property was part of the larger ‘El Cruzero’ development that was cancelled in 2013 when the owner sold the involved parcels to River Oaks Properties. Now referred to as ‘Desert Sands’ in the master zoning plan, River Oaks proposes to develop the property under Residential Mixed Use (RMU) zoning that includes single-family, duplex, triplex, and quadruplex units. It is currently zoned C-4 Commercial. The RMU designation means neighborhoods will be constructed in a more compact manner with a focus on promoting walkability. This includes shorter block lengths and recreational facilities within one-eighth of a mile walking distance. Providing a “range of housing types and price levels” is also a focus of the development, according to the master zoning plan. Residential areas will abut
Sun Metro Adds Articulated Buses to East Side Route
The Northeast El Paso mixed use project will include retail buildings with zero setbacks. Street trees are included in the zoning plan. (www.elpasotexas.gov)
The newest additions to Sun Metro’s bus fleet aren’t only reserved for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) debuting later this year. El Paso’s mass transit system has added three 60-foot articulated buses to serve its most popular route, Route 59. The 2014 New Flyer Xcelsior units look much different from the Sun Metro units to which most residents are accustomed, mostly due to the extended length and the accordion-style joint section in the middle of the bus. Other amenities include low floors, a smoother braking system, better fuel
Single-family homes (in yellow) will make up the majority of the 113-acre Desert Sands development proposed by River Oaks Properties. A linear park will occupy the median of a north-south street. (City of El Paso)
included a hotel block, higher density residential, and a town center in El Cruzero’s plans. River Oaks told El Paso Inc. last year that it intends to bring a development called Town Center on the Loop to 50 acres at the site, but mentioned no timeline nor whether it intends to incorporate smart growth into its design. River Oaks is one of the largest com-
economy, and LED interior lighting. The larger size allows for 48 passengers seats with additional room for 24 standing passengers. Though nearly identical to the Brio RTS units that will be in use later this year, these regular route buses will not offer free WiFi service. Three Xcelsior buses were added to Route 59 beginning last week, which runs from Downtown El Paso to the Eastside Terminal near Cielo Vista Mall, mainly via Interstate 10.
mercial real estate developers in El Paso, making Desert Sands stand out as a residential development for the company. According to the master zoning plan, the project will be constructed in one phase and should take two years to complete, though no starting date is mentioned. The City Plan Commission will consider the rezoning request at its July 17, 2014 meeting.
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Builders Outlook Issue 8.2014 Retail Buzz: Corner Bakery Coming to Airway, CVS to Northeast The location for a new Corner Bakery restaurant in East El Paso has been selected, according to an item on the City Plan Commission’s (CPC) agenda. The new eatery will be built at 1311 Airway Boulevard, at the intersection with Edgemere Boulevard. The restaurant will be built at the site of a former golf shop in front of a relatively new TownePlace Suites by Marriott. The GECU headquarters building is located across Edgemere. It will be the fourth Corner Bakery location in El Paso, with two also located on the East Side and another located on the West Side. In the Northeast part of town, a CVS could be coming to a property near the
corner of Dyer Street and Diana Drive. An item also set for consideration by the CPC has a label titled “CVS Subdivision,” though the site plan does not show the actual store. The application includes two commercial lots totalling 1.97 acres, across Diana Street from the future Northgate Transit Oriented Development being advanced by the City of El Paso. Officials have remained mum on that project since the bidding period closed last year. CVS has been steadily expanding in the city after opening its first store in Downtown El Paso in early 2013. Since then, it has opened a store on Zaragoza Road in the Lower Valley and has plans for a store on Mesa Street near UTEP and another on the East Side at McRae Boulevard and Wedgewood Drive. No word on the timeline for either project. The CPC will consider both items at its July 31, 2014 meeting.
Walmart Plans to Add Another West Side Store Retail Giant Submits Site Development Plan for Sunland Area Location
A Walmart store may soon be headed to a property near the intersection of Sunland Park Drive and Doniphan Drive in West El Paso, according to a Detailed Site Development Plan recently submitted to the City.
The retailer has plans to construct a 41,980 square foot Walmart Neighborhood Market at 1110 Sunland Park Drive, just east of the State Line Restaurant. The property on which the Walmart will be constructed is located in
Westin Hotel/Retail Complex Teased in New Video
new high rise Westin Hotel, ending at a proposed drive called High Street. The hotel shape has changed from triangular in initial site plans to a more traditional rectangular footprint. And the height looks to be a bit shorter, with between nine and ten floors included in the new concept imagery. The hotel may also have a contemporary look, according to the video. Four huge circular cutouts run down the middle of the building along a wide decorative column, the base of which contains a large waterfall feature. This columns lines up with Acequia Park Court. Neon-colored rectangles can be seen interspersed along the facade of the hotel, surrounding multiple hotel windows each. These are lit up at night in the video, matching neon arcs on some of the retail structures. The video was posted to Vimeo in July by Ronkot Design of Fort Worth (www.ronkot.com). The layout of the buildings matches a recently unveiled updated site plan featured by Construction Reporter News (constructionreporternews.com). Aside from the major change in shape of the hotel, the layout of the complex remains largely similar to previous versions, with the biggest change being the removal of a roundabout in front of the hotel. Retail buildings in that section have been changed accordingly. The site plan features parking areas in the middle of the retail blocks, plus hotel parking located on the western side of the property. A ponding area on the northwestern corner will be used as open space. Last year, the City of El Paso awarded
Updated Renderings Show a Changed Footprint for High Rise Airport Hotel A detailed site development plan is offA new hotel/retail complex for a property near El Paso International Airport is expected to break ground this year, and now a video is offering a fresh look at what the center may look like once completed. The design of the complex in the renderings included in the video shows a contemporary design for the buildings, which create retail blocks on the property with parking in the middle. Bright colors, curving lines, and fountains can be found throughout the expected 80,000 square feet of retail space. A “main street” divides the property down the middle, called Acequia Park Court. It will have retail buildings lining both sides, with zero setbacks and street parking. Other retail buildings will line Boeing Drive on the northern side of the property, including the highly visible intersection with Airway Boulevard. Acequia Park Court will lead up to the
Texas but nearly crosses the New Mexico state line. According to the site plan, the store will sit at the back of the property with parking located in front of the store. A separate lot occupies the front of the property, along Sunland Park Drive, though there is no mention of what may be constructed there in the future.. Vehicle access to the Walmart will be via a driveway connected to Emory Drive on the western side of the store. Another driveway will be located off of the rightturn-only lane along eastbound Sunland Park Drive. BNSF Railway railroad tracks run on the eastern side of the property.
A different Walmart location opened recently along Doniphan Drive, at its intersection with Redd Road. The new store will be about four miles to the south. Other planned Walmart locations for the city include one at the Aldea development near Executive Center Boulevard on the West Side and another at North Hills Crossing in Northeast El Paso. The City Plan Commission will consider the Detailed Site Development Plan for the latest Walmart at its July 31, 2014 meeting.
Acequia Park Court will have restaurants and retailers lining both sides of the “main” street. (Ronkot Design Vimeo Channel)
an incentives package to EP Vida, LLC, to develop the nine-acre property into a fourstar hotel and retail complex. As part of the agreement, the hotel will have at least 220 rooms. In all, the project is expected to be at $64 million, according to the package. The timeline for the project has shifted, with groundbreaking originally scheduled for earlier this year. In February, the developer announced that Jordan Foster Construction would perform “predevelopment services” for the project and likely serve as general contractor. That same month, EP Vida told the El Paso Times that construction would begin
in June. Then in July, the developer told the Times that revisions to the property’s plat has delayed the project and that they weren’t sure when construction will begin. The developer also suggested the project will be built in two phases, with construction of the hotel happening first. The hotel/retail complex was originally slated for completion in fall of 2015, though it is unclear if that deadline can still be met.
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2014 issue 8
Expert Advice Play or Pay under the Affordable Care Act is almost here Joe Bernal Employees Benefits of El Paso
2015 is getting close and the Employer Shared Responsibility Mandate (“Play or Pay”) under the Affordable Care Act is almost here. So what does this mean for your organization? Play or Pay requires certain employers to offer affordable and adequate health insurance to full-time employees and their dependents, or they may be liable for a penalty for any month coverage is not offered. Play or Pay goes into effect in the calendar year of 2015 for large employers only. However, mid-size employers aren’t entirely off the hook. They’ll have to report on insurance coverage even though they won’t be liable for penalties in 2015. By January 1, 2015, businesses with 100 or more full-time or full-time-equivalent employees must ensure they are offering health benefits to all of those working an average of 30 hours per week, or 130 hours per month. If an employer has a non-calendar year plan and can meet certain transitional rules, they can delay offering employee health benefits until the start date of their non-calendar year plan in 2015. Mid-sized employers will have to comply beginning in 2016. Here are important questions that employers need to answer today: • Do you know which category your business fits into? • How do you classify who is a full-time employee? • What do you need to do to comply with Play or Pay requirements? Let’s take an in-depth look at each of these questions. Which category do you fit into? Whether you are a small, mid-sized, or large employer is determined by the number of fulltime and full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). It sounds simple on the surface: • Small employers have 1-49 full-time or FTE employees • Mid-sized employers have 50-99 full-time or FTE employees • Large employers have 100+ full-time or FTE employees However, it’s important to remember that these numbers can be affected by several factors, including whether the employer is a part of a control group, seasonal employees and variable-hour employees. That brings us to our next question: Who is a full-time employee? The law defines a “full-time employee” for penalty purposes as an employee who, for any month, works an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours. This includes any of the following paid hours: vacation, holiday, sick time, paid layoff, jury duty, military duty and paid leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Employees who aren’t considered full-time include non W-2 leased workers, sole proprietors, partners in partnerships, real estate agents, and direct sellers. Variable-hour employees—those who don’t work a set amount of hours each week—fall into a gray area. That is, they don’t need to be counted as full-time employees until and unless it becomes an established practice for them to work more than 30 hours per week. To assist employers in determining whether variable hour workers will meet the definition of full-time employees (and therefore need to be offered health insurance), employers may use various “look back” and “look forward” periods. Here is a summary of terms used for measuring variable-hour employees: • Measurement Period: A period from three to 12 months in which the employer would track hours to determine whether the employee worked an average of more than 30 hours per week.
• Stability Period: A period from six to 12 consecutive months in which the employer must provide health insurance coverage to employees who worked more than 30 hours per week in the Measurement Period. Note: must be at least six months and cannot be shorter than the Measurement Period. • Administrative Period: A period not to exceed 90 days, which falls between the Measurement Period and Stability Period, and/or a short period after a new employee’s date of hire. Using this waiting period allows employers to analyze eligibility of full-time employees and provide enrollment information to enroll them in a plan before penalties could be assessed. Does your plan meet the Play or Pay requirements? To avoid penalties, you’ll need to make sure your plan meets certain requirements. First, coverage must be offered to full-time employees and their dependents. Under the ACA, dependents are defined as children under age 26. Spouses are not considered dependents. For more information contact Joe Bernal joe@employeebenefitsep.com 915-542-0900 (c) Copyright 2009 Employee Benefit News. All rights Reserved.
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Industry News
Top housing official stepping down by year’s end By Dina ElBoghdady, Washington Post
The head of the Federal Housing Administration announced recently that she’s leaving her post toward the end of the year to return home to California, where she Carol Galante will teach at the University of California, Berkeley starting in January. FHA Commissioner Carol Galante joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development more than five years ago as a deputy assistant secretary for multi-family housing programs before she was confirmed to lead HUD’s FHA in December 2012. Galante took the FHA post as the agency was struggling to beef up its cash reserves. In the wake of the housing bust, the agency had propped up the housing market by insuring qualified lenders against losses. But its default rate shot up as its loan volume expanded, depleting its reserves to levels below what is required by law. In September, FHA tapped taxpayer money to cover its losses for the first time in its history. The White House has since projecteted that FHA would not need taxpayer help in fiscal 2015. Galante’s departure comes just as HUD Secretary Julian Castro is gearing up at his new post.
In her goodbye memo to staff, Galante said Biniam Gebre, general deputy assistant secretary for housing, will take over as acting FHA commissioner once she’s gone. She also discussed her tenure at FHA and her plans in California, where she was once chief executive of Bridge Housing Corp., a nonprofit developer of affordable, mixed-income and mixed-use developments in the state. Here is the full memo: After serving alongside you for over 5 years and after careful consideration, I have decided to leave HUD and my role as the Assistant Secretary Housing /FHA Commissioner toward the end of this year. In January, I will assume the I. Don Terner Distinguished Professorship in Affordable Housing at the University of California, Berkeley, where I will also serve as the Director of the Berkeley Program in Housing and Urban Policy and co-chair the Fisher Center on Real Estate Policy Advisory Board. This is a compelling opportunity for me to continue with work I am passionate about and also return home to California. While I am excited about California weather and tossing out my ice scraper, I will miss working with all of you to continue the important work we have been doing over the past several years. When I started as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing we were still recovering from the economic crisis and the market was far from stable. Now because of your efforts, we have helped
our housing market come back. Homeowners’ equity is now over $10 trillion, foreclosure starts are at their lowest levels since 2005, and American families are on pace to purchase over 5 million homes this year alone. Every area of the Office of Housing stepped up to the challenges of meeting the extraordinary needs during this critical time. I stepped into the role of Assistant Secretary of Housing and FHA Commissioner just as the toll the legacy portfolio was taking on the MMI Fund became apparent. By working hard to establish the right pricing, increase recoveries on distressed assets and better manage risk, we have turned the corner on those losses and significantly improved the financial health of the Fund. There are so many other ways in which, we have a much stronger Office of Housing. With the Risk Office, we have implemented a holistic approach to risk assessment for every business line. We have stabilized the HECM Program and partnered with Public and Indian Housing (PIH) to find ways to invest in public and affordable housing. We managed a fivefold increase in multifamily and healthcare work and we have begun the process of clarifying FHA policy so lenders have clear, consistent guidelines to follow. I could go on and on, but it is not necessary as you know better than anyone what has been done. The point I want to make is how very proud I am of what we have accomplished
and what a privilege it has been to be part of your team. Any success I’ve had has only been because of your efforts, your commitment and your ability to go above and beyond for the millions of families that depend on the work that we do. I will miss the enthusiasm and commitment of this amazing housing team. And though I am leaving, I am confident that Biniam Gebre, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing, will provide the leadership and continuity needed to continue progressing toward our shared goals. In fact, it is because of the strong leadership team in both the field and headquarters that I can leave at this time with great confidence, knowing our work will continue unabated. However, now is not quite yet time for goodbyes! Over the next few months as we transition, I will be relentless in focusing on our most recent initiative the “Blueprint for Access” and other high priorities such as the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program. I remain passionate about the work we do to make housing more available and affordable for American families and assist communities to thrive. It is why I joined HUD and why having the opportunity to work with you has been so rewarding. Thank you for making the past five years so successful and inspiring. Thank you, Carol
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2014 issue 8
2014 Issue 8
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Membership News
www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org
UPCOMING EVENTS | SEPTEMBER 3-5 NAHB FALL EOC MEETING PHOENIX, AZ
SEPTEMBER 10 BOARD MEETING 12 NOON EPAB OFFICE
OCTOBER 8 BOARD MEETING 11:00 GENERAL MEETING 12:00 EL PASO CLUB CHASE BANK BLDG.
OCTOBER 17 – 19 FALL HOME AND GARDEN SHOW EL PASO CONVENTION CENTER
RENEWALS | CUSTOM DREAM HOMES BUILDER’S FINANCE COMPANY
PALO VERDE HOMES STEWART SOLUTIONS TRE & ASSOCIATES
NEW MEMBERS | MARBLE & GRANITE DESIGN CONCEPT CONTACT: JUAN ZALDIVAR 5952 GRIEMS CT. EL PASO, TX 79905 915-319-4443
SODA SPONSOR
EL PASO WINDOW CO. INC. CONTACT: ELIZABETH RIVERA 1724 TEXAS AVE. SP-A EL PASO, TX 79901 915-584-0226
ADT SECURITY CONTACT: VERONICA VAZQUEZ 11227 PELICANO DR. EL PASO, TEXAS 79935 915-440-1554
LARA & COMPANY CREATIVE, INC. CONTACT: RICHARD (RIC) LARA 1317 MONTANA AVENUE EL PASO, TEXAS 79902 915-544-9800
CONDOLENCES Condolences to Javier Ruiz on the loss of his mother.
Thanks to our AUGUST SODA SPONSOR: PALO VERDE HOMES
Condolences to David Bombach past president and Nick Bombach Casas de Leon on their loss.
Jaime’s Courier Service,Inc. 915-549-4533 or 915-478-2404 Bonded, insured for your peace of mind.
There’s no place like the 2014 Parade of Homes for the Holidays! Tion SociA
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The El Paso Association of Builders proudly present the 2014 Holiday Parade of Homes
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S E M HO mbe 5 - dece r e b m e c open de g xury livin lu e c n ie r Expe g! it of givin ir p s e th &
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December 5-21, 2014 at Rio Valley Subdivision by Winton. This year, the Parade of Homes will feature a holiday theme and embrace the spirit of giving by sharing proceeds with local not-for profit organizations. There are many creative and fun sponsorship opportunities. The 2014 Parade of Homes is a perfect place to showcase your business!
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Exclusive sponsorship opportunities available
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2014 issue 8
Associates Council
Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply
We are starting to gear up for the final leg of 2014 and that means we’re busy as an association. First I’d like to thank all of you that attended the General Membership meeting where Tommy Gonzalez spoke at. He was something wasn’t he? I had the opportunity to ask if the city would start to open on Friday’s? Mr. Gonzalez said he was studying that and it would depend on a number of factors including how the staffs could adjust. Thought I’d ask since most of us are open. It’s times like this one that gets you in front of the leadership of
the City that is part of your membership here. We have had a really good group of speakers once again and this was one of the best. As for what’s coming up next we’re still looking at doing a surplus sale of some sort, if there’s interest. It would then be followed by our bowling tournament, and then more. We set up the date for the Pro Am golf at Painted Dunes, November 5, shotgun at 9 am, only 18 teams. Ray has five already sold so again it probably will be sold out long before the date. Teams are $600; sponsorships are
available and also selling fast. Our year will end with the Holiday Parade of Homes, and the installation. Somewhere in between we’d like to do a three day Vegas trip, to unwind and celebrate our work. September is also the only month that members will have to get free admission to the International Builders Show in January. Don’t wait because you can save a bunch of money. Stay tuned for other announcements and thanks again for belonging. Sam
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www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org 6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905 915-778-5387 • Fax: 915-772-3038 ■ execuTive oFFicerS Frank Torres – President GMF Custom Homes edgar montiel – vice President Palo Verde Homes carlos villalobos – Secretary Treasurer Palo Verde Homes Sam Shallenberger – Associates chair Western Wholesale edmundo Dena - immediate Past President Accent Homes ray Adauto – executive vice President El Paso Association of Builders Jay Kerr -Attorney of record
■ couNciL/commiTTee cHAirS Associates council Sam Shallenberger Build PAc Randy Bowling Desert Green Building council Javier Ruiz Land use council Sal Masoud Young Designer Award John Chaney remodelers council Rudy Guel membership retention Mike Santamaria, Greg Bowling Finance committee Carlos Villalobos Women’s council Lorraine Huit ■ ADviSorY To THe BoArD J. Crawford Kerr, Attorney, Firth, Johnston & Martinez ■ BoArD oF DirecTorS Beverly Clevenger, Automated Division 6 Builders, Inc. Leti Navarette, Custom Dream Homes Kathy Parry, Hunt Communities Edgar Garcia, Bella Vista Custom Homes, Inc.. Bud Foster, Southwest Land Development Services Juanita Garcia, ICON Custom Home Builder, LLC Walter Lujan, DAWCO Home Builders Joey Najera, Joseph Custom Homes Rigo Mendez, Mission Homes Nick Bombach, Casas de Leon, LLC Lydia Mhouli, Crown Heritage Homes JJ Vasquez, Pacifica Homes Dan Ruth, Millenium Homes Ken Wade, El Paso Building Materials Ruben Orquiz, MTI Ready Mix Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank El Paso Henry Tinajero, WestStar Bank Chuck Gabriel, Carpets West Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing John Chaney, Passage Supply Joe Bernal, Employee Benefits of El Paso Linda Troncoso, TRE & Associates Orlando Rodriguez, Mass Media Advertising, Inc. Bret Thompson, Foxworth Galbraith Lumber Chris Worm, City Bank Texas Sal Masoud, Del Rio Engineering
■ TAB STATe DirecTorS Randy Bowling Greg Bowling
■ NATioNAL DirecTorS Bobby Bowling IV. Demetrio Jimenez NATioNAL ASSociATioN oF Home BuiLDerS (800) 368-5242
TexAS ASSociATioN oF BuiLDerS (800)252-3625
2013 Builder member of The Year Edmundo Dena Accent Homes 2013 Pat cox Award Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply 2013 Associate of The Year WestStar Bank Larry Patton, Burt Blacksher and Henry Tinajero
Honorary Life members Wayne Grinnell Don Henderson Chester Lovelady Cliff C. Anthes Anna Gill Brad Roe Rudy Guel E H Baeza Past Presidents committed to Serve Greg Bowling Kelly Sorenson Mark Dyer Mike Santamaria John Cullers Randy Bowling Doug Schwartz Robert Baeza
Bobby Bowling, IV Rudy Guel Anna Gil Bradley Roe Bob Bowling, III E. H. Baeza Hershel Stringfield Pat Woods
ePAB mission Statement: The El Paso Association of Builders is a federated professional organization representing the home building industry, committed to enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing affordable homes of excellence and value. The El Paso Association of Builders is a 501C(6) trade organization. © 2014 Builder’s Outlook is published and distributed for the El Paso Association of Builders by Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing ted@snappypublishing.com El Paso • Texas • 79912 915-820-2800