PHOENIX, ARIZ. (September 17, 2026) – Arizona Escrow & Financial Corporation (AEF) is celebrating 50 years in business in 2026, marking five decades of specialized commercial and business escrow service while looking ahead to continued growth in Arizona and beyond.

Founded in 1976, the woman-owned company has grown alongside Arizona’s business community while remaining independently owned and focused exclusively on escrow. Today, AEF works with business owners, brokers, attorneys, lenders and companies across Arizona, the U.S. and internationally.

The anniversary year has also brought several notable milestones for AEF and its leadership.

AEF recently became an Arizona Cardinals Small Business Partner, connecting the company with one of Arizona’s most recognized organizations and expanding its visibility throughout the state.

The company has also been named a 2026 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics finalist. BBB’s highest honor recognizes businesses for excellence in leadership, workplace culture, customer care and community impact. The competition includes businesses throughout Greater Arizona, San Diego County and Orange County, with the winner to be announced November 19, 2026.

AEF President Annette Anderson was named one of AZRE magazine’s Most Influential Women in Real Estate for 2026, following CEO Monica May-Dunn, who received the recognition in 2024.

May-Dunn was also named a Top 10 finalist for the 2026 NAWBO National Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, recognized during NAWBO Days in Washington, D.C. on May 31.

“Reaching 50 years gives us an opportunity to appreciate the people and relationships that built this company, but we’re equally focused on what comes next,” May-Dunn said. “We want to continue growing without losing the personal service, independence and expertise that have defined AEF for five decades.”

AEF’s plans for its next chapter include exploring opportunities for national expansion while maintaining its Arizona roots and continuing to modernize the escrow experience. The company is investing in technology that can improve efficiency, transaction visibility, document exchange and communication, while keeping personal relationships at the center of its service.

As AEF celebrates its golden anniversary, its direction remains true to the principles that have carried the company through its first 50 years: specialized expertise, personal attention and a commitment to getting the details right.

“Fifty years in business is more than a milestone, it is a reflection of the trust our customers, employees, partners, and communities have placed in us over five decades,” Anderson said. “We are incredibly proud of the legacy we have built together and grateful to the generations of people who have contributed to our success. As we celebrate where we’ve been, we remain focused on the future and the opportunities ahead. The best chapters of our story are still being written.”

Photo: (Left to right, left side): Darci Finsterwalder, Olivia Limon, Sarah Schorey, and Monica May-Dunn; (left to right, right side): Annette Anderson, Kalee Porter, Nicole Steele, and Melissa Baldwin. (Photo by Karianne Munstedt)

TUCSON, ARIZONA (September 16, 2026) — A newly constructed Chipotle Mexican Grill at 7101 E. 22nd Street in Tucson sold for $4.42 million in an all-cash investment transaction.

Chipotle 22nd & Kolb, LLC, a San Diego-based investor, purchased the 2,328-square-foot restaurant from Tangerine Gateway, LLC, an affiliate of David Lee Real Estate. The sale closed September 10.

The restaurant occupies approximately 0.49 acres at the northeast corner of East 22nd Street and South Kolb Road. Chipotle opened at the location in May after Tangerine Gateway redeveloped the former Chuy’s Baja Broiler and Native Grill & Wings property.

Chipotle operates under a 15-year absolute triple-net lease that commenced May 12, 2026, and extends through May 2041. The lease provides annual rent of approximately $220,000, excluding billboard income. Based on the purchase price and reported rent, the sale reflects a capitalization rate of approximately 5 percent.

The property is positioned at a heavily traveled eastside intersection surrounded by an established residential population and a concentration of retail and restaurant uses.

Ryan Moroney, Tim Westfall, Jack McAndrew and Kyle Duffy with Echo West Capital Advisors marketed the property for the seller. No buyer broker was identified.

Cameron Lee, a member of Tangerine Gateway, LLC and broker with David Lee Real Estate, represented the selling entity. Lee can be reached at 520-954-8008. Moroney can be reached at 602-421-9100 and Westfall at 602-628-6298.

To learn more, subscribers should refer to RED Comp #12713.

TUCSON, ARIZONA (September 16, 2026) — Commercial developers, architects and contractors will soon have a new way to identify potential problems in permit applications before submitting them to the City of Tucson.

PermitReady Tucson, a digital review tool being introduced by the Tucson Industrial Development Authority in collaboration with the City of Tucson, will examine draft commercial permit packages and flag missing information, inconsistencies and other common issues that could delay formal review.

The program is intended to help applicants submit more complete permit packages through Tucson Development Center Online, the City’s existing online permitting portal. Incomplete plans and missing supporting documents can lead to correction notices, additional review cycles and longer project timelines.

PermitReady Tucson will initially launch as a pilot program covering six frequently used commercial permit types: development packages, new commercial buildings, commercial additions and alterations, commercial solar projects, commercial demolition, and commercial fences or walls.

Applicants will begin by selecting the appropriate permit type and uploading their draft plans and supporting documents. The tool will then generate a readiness report identifying items that may require attention. Applicants can use the report to revise their documents before formally submitting the application to the City.

For commercial property owners and developers, the advance review could provide an opportunity to resolve basic documentation problems earlier in the development process. Even relatively minor omissions can interrupt a permit review and require plans to be returned to an architect, engineer or contractor for correction.

The tool may be particularly useful for smaller businesses and first-time commercial applicants who are unfamiliar with the City’s submission requirements. Experienced development teams may also benefit from an additional review before submitting complex packages involving multiple plans and supporting documents.

PermitReady Tucson will not replace the City’s formal plan review. It cannot approve a project, issue a permit or guarantee that an application will be accepted. City reviewers will continue to determine whether submitted plans comply with applicable zoning, building, fire, accessibility and development requirements.

The program also does not replace the professional services of a licensed architect, engineer or contractor when those services are required. Instead, PermitReady Tucson is designed to serve as an initial screening tool that helps applicants determine whether a package appears ready for formal submission.

The pilot comes as local governments and development organizations increasingly look to technology to make permitting more predictable and easier to navigate. Commercial permitting frequently involves several City departments and technical disciplines, and the time required to address corrections can affect construction schedules, financing, tenant openings and project costs.

By catching common problems before an application enters the official review process, PermitReady Tucson could also reduce avoidable submissions and allow City reviewers to spend more time on substantive planning and code issues.

The Tucson Industrial Development Authority describes itself as a public-private economic development authority focused on creating jobs, expanding housing and revitalizing communities. In addition to PermitReady Tucson, the organization provides financing and real estate resources for businesses, nonprofit organizations and developers.

A specific launch date for the pilot has not yet been announced. Once available, applicants will be able to use PermitReady Tucson to review draft documents and then submit their completed applications separately through Tucson Development Center Online.

Additional information will be available through the Tucson Industrial Development Authority and the City of Tucson’s Planning and Development Services Department.