In the News—Week of April 20, 2026
Deal of the Week
Thomas Title & Escrow is proud to highlight the successful closing of a $3.4 million commercial sale involving a self-storage asset located in Farmingdale, Maine. The buyer, headquartered in Phoenix, acquired the property as part of its continued portfolio expansion. This transaction showcased the team’s ability to efficiently manage a multi-state commercial closing, coordinating between an Arizona-based buyer and a Maine-based seller, while navigating state-specific requirements, including transfer tax filings and local recording procedures in Kennebec County. The deal also involved multiple disbursements and third-party payments, requiring a high level of precision and communication across all parties. Our Escrow team led the file through closing with strong attention to detail and seamless execution. This closing is a strong example of Thomas Title’s National Commercial Services platform in action—delivering expertise, coordination, and reliability on complex, institutional-grade transactions across state lines.
National
Sweet home Chicago: Magnificent Mile lands Candy Hall of Fame Experience
The Candy Hall of Fame Experience is set to open at 830 N. Michigan Ave., filling 60,000 square feet across three levels, and is the Magnificent Mile’s biggest retail lease in years, Option Premier reports. Backed by the National Confectionery Sales Association, the project would create the first permanent, public home for the long-running candy-industry Hall of Fame. Visitors can expect ticketed exhibits, hands-on interactive elements and an on-site shop. Developers are targeting a summer 2027 debut, positioning the attraction as another sign that entertainment-driven destinations are helping revive the corrido.
National
Big box retailers in Las Vegas gobble up industrial space for distribution centers
Industrial vacancies across the Las Vegas area are starting to ease as a surge of new warehouse construction is gradually being absorbed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Figures from CBRE show the vacancy rate fell from 10.2% in Q3 to 9.5% in Q4 of 2025. Demand is increasingly driven by large retailers seeking massive distribution sites of roughly 500,000 square feet or more. CBRE attributed the shift to companies reworking supply chains and consolidating multiple West Coast facilities into a single hub, positioning Las Vegas as an attractive option. CBRE said stronger leasing and tenant commitments helped lift absorption to 5.1 million square feet in 2025.
National
Las Vegas Sands, Texas tribal nations maneuver for casino gambling action
Las Vegas Sands is pouring millions into efforts to legalize casino gambling in Texas, aiming to build a major resort in the Dallas area, The Real Deals reports. But the push has stalled in the state Senate, where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains a key opponent, and tribal nations are emerging as major contenders for any future casino rights. Texas could pursue either commercial licenses or a compact with a Texas-based tribe when lawmakers revisit the issue in the 2027 session after an economic-impact study.
National
They are trying to sell units, but no one wants to buy on site of Surfside collapse
More than a year after launching sales, The Delmore — a 37-unit luxury condo planned for the site of the 2021 Surfside collapse in Florida — reportedly has not closed a single deal, the New York Post reports. Units were introduced in early 2025 with asking prices starting around $15 million, and the oceanfront project is being marketed by Douglas Elliman and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The developer, Dubai-based Damac Properties, bought the land for about $120 million in 2022, but the redevelopment has faced lingering controversy and stigma tied to the tragedy.
Arizona
Buckeye clears way for development that will include housing and industrial space
The Buckeye City Council has voted to rezone a 2,271-acre tract in the West Valley, clearing the way for Grand View Arizona, a rail-served industrial hub with housing and commercial development, Commercial Search reports. The property is owned by Grand View Buckeye LLC and Verrado 310 LLC, which are tied to the Vanderwey family. Plans envision up to 30.8 million square feet of nonresidential space for uses such as manufacturing, logistics, data centers and aerospace, plus as many as 6,500 homes. Developers seek a large tenant to take on the full site, with JLL marketing the project, which sits a few miles from Interstate 10 and about 30 miles from downtown Phoenix.
Arizona
Governor’s task force warns about data centers straining state’s power, water
A state government report says the rapid buildout of data centers and other big electricity users is starting to strain the state’s power grid and could push rates higher, The East Valley Tribune reports. The Governor’s Office of Resiliency’s Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce urges new rules to protect reliability, improve transparency and make sure large customers pay more of the infrastructure costs. The task force also flags community concerns — including water use, noise and visual impacts — that can slow projects, and notes limited statewide data on the water footprint of power generation.
