By Jackee Coe, The Republic | azcentral.com
The economic downturn slammed the brakes on the rapid and expansive growth of the West Valley, but as the economy recovers, cities across the region are seeing development grow inward rather than out.
At Home Furnishings recently renovated and moved into a large space near downtown Peoria that had been vacant since a Kmart moved out last summer. Tanger Outlets near Westgate is adding 60,000 square feet to its shopping center in Glendale. Several small businesses, artists and restaurants are moving into downtown Avondale’s burgeoning Creative Arts District.
Much of this development is what city officials call infill, in which businesses renovate and repurpose empty spaces, expand on existing properties or erect new buildings on vacant land in a developed area.
