Business View Magazine | November 2020

240 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 the density required to serve the new jobs being created in the region.” Huggins goes on to describe the three basic tenets Glendale uses for responsible growth: “One, everyone needs a good job at every sophistication level. So, we work with all types of industries …And that’s intentional. Two, we also plan for the future, but work within the confines of current market trends where we are experiencing industrial, commercial, residential, and retail growth citywide. Three, people and companies invest in relationships. That’s why Glendale has seen growth even through the tough times, because of the relationships we’ve built. Merit Partners, Butler Design Group, Lincoln Property Company, LGE, Swire Coca- Cola, Van Tuyl, and Mack Industrial to name a few - when someone chooses Glendale and has a great experience, they will keep coming back time and again.” Sustainability is another important focus for the city. “When we look at sustainability, we have a very broad view because we have a lot of existing buildings,” says Huggins. “We have over 250,000 citizens, so we want to make sure we’re considering all of them but, also, how do we move into newer, nicer buildings that meet all the energy efficiency and sustainability requirements? For existing buildings, we have a program for commercial or residential owners who want to convert their lawns into xeriscaping. (Xeriscape landscapes need little or no water beyond what the natural climate provides.) The city has put together a xeriscaping garden out at our library so citizens can visit and learn how the process works. And the city will pay a stipend to the commercial company or the homeowner once they have their lawn converted to xeriscaping, based on the size of the lawn.” An example of sustainability in new homes: Glendale has a new housing subdivision in development called Stonehaven – about 1,300 homes that are being pre-wired for rapid auto Courtsey of City of Glendale