Eric Goldstein, executive director of the King of Prussia District, envisions a future King of Prussia that maintains its suburban roots while giving itself injections of urbanity in order to attract a new generation of businesses and workers, writes Sandy Smith of Philadelphia Magazine.

“The business improvement district was founded in 2010, and it’s always been a goal of the district,” Goldstein told Smith. “While people still want to live and work in suburban communities, they are looking for communities that are more dynamic and more stimulating.”

The district has been working to reposition both its office and retail sections with the sort of walkable, mixed-use physical environments many Millennials prefer.

According to Smith, Upper Merion Township recently rewrote its zoning code to allow mixed-use districts and more compact development around future transit stations. It also approved a new development ordinance that raised the bar for construction materials and quality and promoted pedestrian-friendly, transit-supporting development.

The district then launched The Connector shuttle bus service between the King of Prussia business park and nearby SEPTA rail stations. Its bigger push for better transit is now in progress with the Norristown High-Speed Line spur to the King of Prussia malls and office park.

Since 2014, the area has since undergone a boom in construction, as 196,504 square feet of non-residential space was built in King of Prussia. And 350,000 square feet of non-residential space is on track to be added in the years ahead. Additionally, 415,000 square feet of new retail space will come this year in the form of the new King of Prussia Mall connector and the new King of Prussia Town Center.

Click here to read more about King of Prussia’s plans for the future.