TEMPE, AZ-Concord Eastridge lands its first major competition, a 13-acre project laced with academic, retail and residential product. The two-month-old firm was up against two other developers for the prized contract for the Arizona Arts and Business Gateway.

PHOENIX-Willing to assume a $2.3-million loan, the Culver City, CA investor puts down close to $4.6 million for the Shops at 38th Street, a 23,030-sf retail center located near the Camelback Corridor.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ-Western Security Bank has moved into 8,280 sf of class A office space with a 39-month lease, pulling one division from the headquarters location. The deal, with a $328,680 payout over the term, takes the 66,057-sf building to full.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ-The Pederson Group outbids its peers at a state auction for a 22-acre tract in North Scottsdale. The deal sets in motion a $15-million plan for a neighborhood shopping center with a late 2005 delivery date.

PHOENIX-Ground breaks tomorrow on $8 million to $10 million of infrastructure work for the estimated $75-million first phase, a mix of 250,000 sf of office space and 350,000 sf of industrial product on land leased for 65 years from the Pima Tribe.

CHANDLER, AZ-Ending an eight-year hold, Sun Life Financial Inc. hands over the title to the 159,079-sf Sun Village Fair along North Alma Road to PDG America, a Phoenix-based investment group on a retail shopping spree in the metro.

PHOENIX-In an off-market deal, the State Bar of Arizona lands a 68,710-sf office building in the Camelback corridor for $8.4 million. The multi-tenant building's occupancy peaks to nearly full when the association makes its November move.

TEMPE, AZ-A computer parts distributor starts planning the customizing of a 26,492-sf industrial shell in the Tempe Business Center. Express Technology Inc.'s new location makes it a neighbor to FedEx.