Alhough a lot of attention is paid to the growth Boise has seen in recent years, the prize for the fastest growing city in Idaho belongs to its neighbor to the west: Meridian. As family farms have turned into single family homes and retail space, the community's identity has shifted with the growth. Perhaps one of the best examples of the rapid change in Meridian is located at the intersection of Eagle and Fairview roads.
That’s where The Village at Meridian shopping center opened in 2013. Hugh Crawford is the General Manager of The Village, and he spoke with Idaho Matters about how the center complements the suburb's rapidly changing identity — and what the future holds for that relationship.
"We're an employment center of about 2,200 jobs," The Village General Manager Hugh Crawford says.
He says in addition to the 1,800 people who work in the shops and restaurants, another 1,200 work in the offices above the retail ground floor.
“The enclosed mall is becoming obsolete," Crawford says, "and our company has really excelled at creating environments that are not just about shopping, or just about dining."
This interview is part of our new series called "Growing Pains." Over the next week or so, we'll explore stories and issues surrounding the Treasure Valley's rapid growth and increasing unafforability. Subscribe to our podcast to hear every interview, and download the Boise State Public Radio app to send us a voice message using our Talk To Us feature.
Support for "Growing Pains" comes from Broadcast Society members Jennifer Dickey and Andy Huang. Member support is what makes these interviews possible. Support this coverage here.
