Willow Springs firm non-existent?
By J.C. Huntington
Posted to PoisonedWells July 31, 2001

       The web site for the developer of Willow Springs, a large residential housing project in southeastern Pinal County, lists an apparently non-existent firm as a member of the "core team" for the project. 

       According to Remington's web site, "MacKenzie Associates," is a firm located in New York City and responsible for business and economic development related to the Willow Springs project. 

       Alex Argueta is the founder of  The Remington Group, the firm hired by the landowner to develop Willow Springs.

     Argueta has been promoting the Willow Springs project by claiming it will bring economic prosperity to the region because "high tech businesses" and "environmental research companies" will locate to Willow Springs once it is built. 

       Remington's web site supports the claim by listing "MacKenzie Associates," as the member of the "Willow Springs Core Team" under the heading "Business & Economic Development Consulting" for  Willow Springs. 

       However, MacKenzie Associates is not at the address given on the web site.

       Calling Qwest directory assistance for the phone number of "MacKenzie Associates" results in an operator informing the caller that,  "there is no listing for MacKenzie Associates in New York City." 

       Remington's web site says that the address of "MacKenzie associates" is 230 Riverside Drive New York, NY. According to the Qwest operator, there is no listing for even a "MacKenzie" on  Riverside Drive. 
 

Photo: C. Huntington 230 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. is a residential apartment building. There are no tenants named MacKenzie, nor "MacKenzie Associates."

       230 Riverside Drive New York, NY is a residential apartment building.

       A check of the mailboxes in the lobby of the building done July 21, showed that there are no tenants named "MacKenzie Associates," or "MacKenzie" in the building.  A check of the tenant listing on that same date confirmed there is no "MacKenzie Associates" or "Mackenzie" in the building. 

       The other companies listed as members of the Willow Springs "core team" are all easily located. The exact nature of the involvement of these firms in the Willow Springs project is not explained on the web site.

       Remington's web site may be accessed at http://www.theremingtongroup.net/. 

       Argueta has not returned phone calls from The Oracle on this matter. 

       Willow Springs is a multi-phased project that proposes to put 34,000 houses on 18,000 acres of land situated 10 miles north of Oracle Junction. 

       Anam Inc., a Canadian-based corporation, owns the land and has hired the Remington Group to take care of all the legal and procedural technicalities so as to make it marketable to real estate investors and builders. 

       Remington's web site says Remington provides "investment real estate opportunities to real estate investors, developers and builders."