By Jason Stone | YourValley.net
When it comes to repurposing vacant big box stores these days, cities across the Valley are learning that anything is better than nothing.
That’s the issue the Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission found itself grappling with earlier this month when it voted to approve plans to turn the vacant Safeway building on Grand Avenue into a self-storage facility – even though nobody was really happy about it.
The City Council still needs to sign off on the project in the Grand Village Plaza Commercial Center, but the message was clear: Cities are having to settle for less desirable projects in some cases to keep vacant big box stores from staying empty for long.