Anyone know what this is?  I know, it looks a little bit like a hairless bear wearing a t-shirt holding a hammer (actually it’s my Pops). Was helping him the other day in his garage and asked him to hand me a hammer and this is what he gives me. “Whoa!?!  What the heck  is this?” “I don’t know?” he says.  “It was my Grandfathers.” (Notice on the right side, there is a moveable razorblade attached). I looked at him, “What did he use it for? It must have had a specific purpose?” He thought maybe to cut the twine on hay bails. Makes sense. Maybe just a handy utility tool for around the farm.  Looks like you had to be a tough ol’ boy to wield hammer like that.

Speaking of tough ol’ boys, the hairless bear turned 76 this weekend.  Happy Birthday Pop. Keep rollin!

BTW; took the picture because I was sure I would be able to match one on google images and find out more about it.  No luck.  If anyone does know something, be much obliged if you gave me a shout.

Switching gears. It’s getting to be late March and many of our seasonal residents will be flying north for the summer.  Those that are leaving a vacant home for any duration of time; just a reminder how important it is to have someone to check on the place every week or two.  Part of my residential service business is managing seasonal residents homes.  Have heard more than once, “Just make sure there are no wild animals roaming inside.” Kind of a naïve statement.

In the eight or so years I’ve been doing this, seems if it can go wrong, it will.  Have walked into; flooded homes where a pipe has burst, leaky roofs,  pools being neglected, termite activity, irrigation systems flooding the yard and yes a critter or two. The landscaper will fix that broken irrigation valve, but he may not be scheduled to be back for 3 weeks.  And pool guys, god bless em, hard to find a good one, but they are pretty aware the resident has left for the season when all the cushions outside have been put away. Seems that weekly service turns into every other week.  Just sayin, got to have a guy to make sure the other guys are keeping up.   Like I tell my friend Josh in the 032, “Just helping one homeowner at a time.”

Are you looking for a desk to rent or a boardroom to host a meeting? No, my barn is not available.  However, according to Hayley Ringle over at the Phoenix Business Journal, Desk Hub is opening a 10,000 square foot office space at City North. For $300 a month one can use a desk space up to 12 times a month.  $400 will allow for unlimited use.  There is also a kitchen and coffee area available as well.

The executive suite idea is not new.  But something of this scale is fairly unique.  City North has had a heck of a time making a go of it.  Allowing Desk Hub to turn 10,000 square feet into rentable office space seems to be a short term solution for cash flow.  And with the amount of infrastructure and development happening around City North, it seems pretty evident the corridor will eventually have its hey day.  When that happens, the commercial space will likely revert back to high end retail. But for now this is a good solution.  Love solutions.

What really caught my eye was a quote from Desk Hub founder and CEO Jay Chernikoff, I’m paraphrasing here, “the North Phoenix hub is a bit a haven for people doing entrepreneurial stuff.” I haven’t heard that but it makes sense. Entrepreneurs are going to follow development. Just hope they aren’t all Realtors 🙂 And as a guy who used to use a coffee shop as my office, it’s good to see there are some other options.  For me though, I have landed in barn heaven. I can write a blog or build a mail-box all in the same space.

Here’s a link to the article if you are interested in reading more…

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/business/2016/03/exclusive-scottsdale-co-working-space-to-open.html

The 032 is a really good investment.  As we continue to gather more annual data post 08′ crash, what may not have been perceived as strong neighborhoods are showing their strength. This comes from Catherine Reagor over at the AZ Republic:

“The northeast Phoenix ZIP code 85032 draws the most buyers in the city. Last year, 1,151 homes sold across the area’s neighborhoods. Even as Phoenix area sales slowed by 15 percent in 2014, sales in 85032 climbed almost 16 percent. Its central location, freeways, shopping and parks are popular with buyers and renters. The median home price climbed more than 10 percent in 2014, double the overall rate for the Valley. Foreclosures had been high in this area, but now buyers looking for a deal have fewer short sales from which to choose.”

It seems clear as to why people flocked back to the 032; location, location, location. But from that stand point one would think the great recovery would be evident in local business.  That aspect still appears to be in flux.  Part of what makes North Phoenix so attractive is the accessibility to Scottsdale; in particular the Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons.  And of course there is Desert Ridge and City North just across the 101 to the north.  Maybe I’m a broken record, but it would be good if the “mom and pops” in the 032 had an opportunity to thrive.  Here’s to you OBH, Casey Jones, Rainbow Doughnuts, Shea 032. Keep rollin.