Construction employment increased in 26 states between July and August and in 35 states for the year, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials cautioned however, that construction employment remains below peak levels in most states and warned of the potential impact of a halt in federal construction investments.

“While we would all like to see even more robust growth, it is encouraging that most states have a larger construction workforce today than they did a year ago,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “It will take a lot more growth, however, before construction employment levels return to their pre-recession levels in most places.”

South Dakota had the largest one-month percentage gain (6.7%, 1,300 jobs), followed by Vermont (3.7%, 500 jobs), Wisconsin (3.6%, 3,300 jobs) and Connecticut (3.0%, 1,600 jobs). California (7,700 jobs, 1.3%) added the largest number of jobs for the month, followed by New York (4,900 jobs, 1.6%), Florida (4,700, 1.3%) and Wisconsin. Employment was stable in Alabama and Maine.

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs between July and August. Oklahoma had the steepest percentage drop in construction employment for the month (-4.2%, -3,000 jobs), followed by Hawaii (-3.6%, -1,200 jobs), Nebraska (-2.7%, -1,200 jobs) and Utah (-2.6%, -1,900 jobs). Texas lost the largest number of jobs between July and August (-4,900 jobs, -0.8%), followed by Illinois (-4,100 jobs, -2.2%), Arizona (-3,100 jobs, -2.5%) and Oklahoma.

August 2012-August 2013 California added the most construction jobs for the year (29,100 jobs, 5.0%), followed by Texas (24,200 jobs, 4.1%), Florida (19,500 jobs, 5.7%) and Louisiana (10,600 jobs, 8.4%). Wyoming had the steepest percentage increase (12.8%, 2,700 jobs), followed by Mississippi (12.0%, 5,700 jobs), Colorado (8.8%, 10,100 jobs) and Hawaii (8.8%, 2,600 jobs).

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs between August 2012 and August 2013, while construction employment levels remained unchanged for the year in Vermont. Indiana lost the most jobs over the past year and experienced the steepest rate of decline (-10,100 jobs, -8.1%). Other states experiencing large job losses for the year include Ohio (-6,100 jobs, -3.4%), North Carolina (-3,500 jobs,-2.1%) and Alabama (-2,000 jobs,-2.5%). Rhode Island (-4.4%, -700 jobs), Montana (-4.4%, -1,000 jobs) and the District of Columbia (-3.7%, -500 jobs) also experienced steep percentage declines.

Association officials said that much of the industry’s recent growth was coming from a few private sector areas, particularly demand for new housing and energy facilities. Those gains have been strong enough to offset declining public sector investments and weak private sector demand in areas like retail construction. As a result, many construction employers would be particularly hard hit by a sudden halt in federal construction activity.

East Speedway Development, LLC of Tucson (Ray Schneider) acquired the home and 12.5 acres at 8200 E Speedway in Tucson after the passing of his friend, Jane Robb, who left a first right of refusal for it to him. Once the Trustee of the Estate, Wells Fargo Bank, had determined an appraised value, Schneider paid $820,000 for the 2,686 square foot house on 12.5 acres ($65,600 per acre) located between Pantano and Camino Seco on the eastside of Tucson.

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[mepr-show rules=”58038″]Schneider told us the property is currently zoned RX-1 allowing one unit per 36,000-square-feet, so he is considering rezoning it to a higher density. The home is in need of repairs, but functionally sound, and he is also considering fixing it up to live there. For the time being, he is exploring options by meeting with neighbors and Tucson Development Services to discuss possibilities. He knows the neighbors would like to keep it open desert but they know that isn’t realistic, with the property surrounded by higher density residential, something the appraisal also took into account when valuing the property.

When asked the possibility of a commercial use, Schneider responded that he didn’t think anything other than a higher density residential use would be a practical use. He wants to keep it residential, that will please the neighbors and in remembrance of his good friends who lived there for more than 30 years.

For the time being, Schneider says he just wants to get a feel of the land and the neighbors’ wishes, before making any decision.

Schneider is a real estate broker with Ray Schneider Company of Tucson and self-represented himself in the transaction.  Schneider can be reached at (520) 869-1544 for more information.

Sale date: 8/23/2013. Buyer put $220,000 down and financed the balance with a private lender.[/mepr-show]

The Elliot Corporate Center sold for $23.5 million to a joint venture between Everest Holdings in Scottsdale, Ariz. and Walton Street Capital in Chicago, Ill. The 223,392-square-foot office building located at 875 W. Elliot Road in Tempe, AZ sold for $105.20 per square-foot.

Built in 1998, Elliot Corporate Center benefits from immediate access to I-10 at Elliot Road as well as access to a densely-populated, large and well educated workforce in south Tempe and the extended southeast Valley.

Anchored by The Apollo Group’s (NASDAQ: APOL), The University of Phoenix, which occupies 162,069-square-feet, the two-story Elliot Corporate Center was 87% occupied at time of sale. The project also houses Lamson Business College in 32,400 square feet. The remaining vacant space totals 29,923 square feet and is available for lease by CRE.

Jim Fijan and Will Mast with CBRE’s Phoenix office represented the seller, tenants-in-common owners through Costa Mesa, California-based Thompson National Properties, LLC.

“This transaction is another example of the continued demand for office investment properties in the southeast Valley,” said Fijan. “Savvy investors recognize the continued strengthening of the market and well-located, well-taken-care of assets, like Elliot Corporate Center, are going to be well received.”

Fijan and Mast can be reached for more information at (602) 735-5206.