Harvard Investments announces promotion of Roger Theis to VP of Harvard Communities

Roger Theis
Roger Theis

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (August 18, 2026) — Harvard Investments is proud to announce the promotion of Roger Theis to the role of Vice President of Harvard Communities.

In this leadership role, Theis will oversee all master-planned community and land development initiatives, guiding strategy, execution, and growth across Harvard Investments’ expanding residential platform. The promotion reflects his proven leadership and the firm’s continued momentum across Arizona and beyond.

“We believe that with Roger’s knowledge and passion, he will be an important part of the unifying vision we have for our portfolio of planned communities and land acquisitions,” said Harvard Investments President Tim Brislin. “As our portfolio continues to expand, this role helps assure we have a united vision for our growth and continue to create thoughtfully planned communities.”

Harvard Communities encompasses the firm’s master-planned communities and investment land acquisitions. Some of Harvard’s projects include Estrella and Solstice Foothills in Goodyear, Arizona; Legends in Casa Grande, Arizona; and Mariposa in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Harvard Investments is organized into two key platforms: Harvard Communities, focused on master-planned communities and land investments, and Harvard FirstStreet, which develops and owns build-to-rent communities. With its expanding pipeline that includes large-scale communities, build-to-rent neighborhoods, and emerging industrial opportunities, Harvard Investments remains focused on disciplined growth, thoughtful placemaking, and long-term value creation.

“This is an exciting moment for Harvard,” Brislin added. “Roger, as the leader of our Communities division, is a key component to aligning our team for long term growth and success.”




Tucson Lease Report: August 10–14, 2026

Tucson Lease Report

TUCSON, AZ (Aug. 17, 2026) — Tucson’s commercial leasing market remained active during the week of August 10–14, with several sizable industrial renewals and new leases leading the activity. Industrial transactions dominated the week, including renewals by Growers House Holdings and Cox Communications Arizona, while Diamondback Minerals signed one of the largest new leases reported. Retail and office activity rounded out the week with new leases by CaliDental, The Hand of Grace and Black Cat Barbershop.

The following leases were reported to the Real Estate Daily News for the week of August 10–14, 2026.

NEW LEASES

INDUSTRIAL – 2701 E. ELVIRA ROAD, TUCSON, 85756 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
Diamondback Minerals leased 24,368 square feet of industrial space at 2701 E. Elvira Road in Tucson from Four Walls Elvira Operating LLC. Jesse Blum with CBRE and Paul Hooker with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR represented the landlord. Blum also represented Diamondback Minerals.

INDUSTRIAL – 3248 N. FREEWAY INDUSTRIAL LOOP, TUCSON, 85705 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
TNI Inc. leased 5,834 square feet of industrial space at 3248 N. Freeway Industrial Loop in Tucson from Freeway Clover LLC. Jackson Kraft with CBRE represented the landlord. Tim Healy with CBRE represented the tenant.

OFFICE – 5656 E. GRANT ROAD, SUITE 170, TUCSON, 85712 – NORTHEAST SUBMARKET
The Hand of Grace, LLC leased 5,566 square feet of office space at 5656 E. Grant Road, Suite 170, in Tucson. The Hand of Grace provides social, community, health-related, educational, housing assistance, and related support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Isaac Figueroa, CCIM, SIOR, with Larsen Baker represented the landlord. Kameron Norwood with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR represented the tenant.

RETAIL – 3922 N. ORACLE ROAD, TUCSON, 85705 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
CaliDental leased 4,500 square feet of retail space at San Francisco Square, 3922 N. Oracle Road in Tucson, from The Machado Family Trust. Dave Hammack, principal and retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL – 6902 N. CAMINO MARTIN, SUITE 140, TUCSON, 85741 – NORTHWEST SUBMARKET
Tucson Paper and Ribbon Co. Inc. leased 1,459 square feet of industrial space at 6902 N. Camino Martin, Suite 140, in Tucson from FJM Merced Associates, L.P. Kameron Norwood, investment sales and leasing specialist, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

RETAIL – 7070 N. ORACLE ROAD, TUCSON, 85704 – NORTHWEST SUBMARKET
Black Cat Barbershop leased 1,208 square feet of retail space at 7070 N. Oracle Road in Tucson from Arizona Meyer Properties LLC. Bruce Suppes with CBRE represented the landlord. Lily Sanchez with Omni Homes International represented the tenant.

INDUSTRIAL – 3230 S. DODGE BLVD., SUITE 6, TUCSON, 85713 – SOUTH SUBMARKET
All Pro Garage Inc. leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center, 3230 S. Dodge Blvd., Suite 6, in Tucson from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

RETAIL – 7020 E. 22ND ST., SUITE 105, TUCSON, 85710 – EAST SUBMARKET
Mail Depot leased 1,200 square feet of retail space at Eastpoint Marketplace, 7020 E. 22nd St., Suite 105, in Tucson from Tucson Newcrest, LLC. Dave Hammack and Rob Tomlinson, principals and retail specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. Scott Soelter of NAI Horizon in Tucson represented the tenant.

RENEWALS

INDUSTRIAL – 3635 E. 34TH ST., TUCSON, 85713 – SOUTH SUBMARKET
Growers House Holdings, LLC renewed its lease with BD 34th Properties, Inc. for 36,212 square feet of industrial space at 3635 E. 34th St. in Tucson. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, principal and industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL – 1440 E. 15TH ST., TUCSON, 85719 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
Cox Communications Arizona LLC renewed its lease for 28,591 square feet at 1440 E. 15th St. in Tucson. Tim Healy, Eric Ross and Rusty Kigelman with CBRE represented Cox Communications Arizona LLC. The landlord was self-represented.

INDUSTRIAL – 2470 W. RUTHRAUFF ROAD, SUITES 110–120, TUCSON, 85705 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
Arizona Pipeline Company renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner, LLC for 2,600 square feet of industrial space at Ruthrauff Commerce Center, 2470 W. Ruthrauff Road, Suites 110–120, in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL – 4919 E. 29TH ST., TUCSON, 85711 – EAST SUBMARKET
Freedom Park Martial Arts Academy of Tucson LLC renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Town Central Business Park, 4919 E. 29th St. in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL – 2410 W. RUTHRAUFF ROAD, SUITES 110-F & 110-G, TUCSON, 85705 – CENTRAL SUBMARKET
Taylor Williams renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner, LLC for 383 square feet of industrial space at Ruthrauff Commerce Center, 2410 W. Ruthrauff Road, Suites 110-F and 110-G, in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

Submit sales and leases to [email protected].




NexMetro Opens 26th Valley Avilla Homes Neighborhood

Avilla HomesAvilla Marigold Brings 214 Cottage-Style Build-to-Rent Homes to Buckeye
BUCKEYE, Ariz. (August 17, 2026) – NexMetro Communities, the nation’s leading developer of cottage-style, build-to-rent (BTR) home neighborhoods, is opening its 26th Avilla Homes project in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area — marking more than a decade of continuous development in the market.
Avilla Marigold features 214 single-level, mostly detached, cottage-style homes, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans with private fenced backyards and front entries. The gated neighborhood is located at 19765 W. Thomas Road in Buckeye, Arizona, situated on 19 acres in one of Arizona’s most dynamic growth corridors. Avilla Marigold is scheduled to open later this month, and pre-leasing is currently underway.
“Avilla Marigold is well-positioned to serve both the established Buckeye community and the wave of new families arriving each year who want the lifestyle of a home without the burdens of homeownership,” said Jared Geisler, regional managing director of development for NexMetro’s Phoenix and Denver divisions.
A Milestone a Decade in the Making
Founded in 2012, the Phoenix-based company opened its first Avilla Homes community in Goodyear, Arizona, just two years later in 2014. At the time, the concept of purpose-built, single-level, detached rental homes in a gated setting was virtually unheard of in the mainstream market.
Today, the BTR sector is one of the fastest-growing segments in American residential real estate — and NexMetro has been its Valley anchor throughout. With communities stretching from Buckeye, Goodyear and Surprise in the West Valley to Mesa, Chandler, and beyond in the East Valley, NexMetro has developed more than 4,000 luxury leased homes across the Phoenix metro to meet the region’s evolving housing needs.
“We don’t open communities for the sake of growth — we open them because our market depth analysis consistently shows us where sustained demand exists,” Geisler said. “The Phoenix metro’s population, job base, and in-migration continue to generate demand for high-quality rental housing that simply can’t all be satisfied by traditional apartments. Our site selection process exists to find those pockets of genuine, durable demand, and Buckeye is a prime example.”
He said NexMetro’s decision to plant its 26th Valley flag in Buckeye is no accident. Consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Buckeye has seen its population surge by more than 24% since 2020, with projections pointing toward transformational growth for decades to come. The city’s 639-square-mile planning area is still largely undeveloped, offering what few Valley municipalities can: a genuine long-term runway. (Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and Axios Phoenix)