Taken alone, they are not solid indications of a return to normalcy — but they are “grounds” for optimism:

As a business breaks ground in Avondale, a huge land sale that could bring 1,000 homes to Buckeye is announced.

On April 14, the city of Avondale held a “virtual groundbreaking” for Modern Grind Coffee. 

Located at 13044 W. Rancho Santa Fe Boulevard (off Dysart Road between I-10 and McDowell Road), the business is set to open in the fall.

Avondale will be the first brick and mortar Modern Grind location.

The Goodyear-based company sells coffee and tea online at moderngrindcoffee.com.

Instead of the usual big-crowd groundbreaking, attendance at this one was kept to a minimum (in keeping with social distancing guidelines) and the event was streamed live via Facebook Live and Instagram.

“We are excited to welcome Modern Grind to Avondale, and we look forward to all being there in person for the ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening,” Avondale Economic Development Director Ken Chapa said.

“COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on our businesses in our community, and we want our local businesses to know that we’re there for them. We are here to mark important milestones such as groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings—we’re just doing it a little differently right now,” Chapa added.

Avondale launched its Ready to Serve Campaign earlier this month, to raise awareness that many Avondale restaurants are still open and providing service at curbside or via delivery and takeout. A list of participating restaurants is shared on the economic development website, avondaleedge.com.

The Avondale Office of Economic Development has also recently launched its biweekly Avondale Business Connection meetings. These meetings provide Avondale businesses a venue to engage with subject matter experts on a wide range of topics including SBA Programs, social media strategies, free tools and resources.

More small-business information and tools related to COVID-19 are available at Goodyear Economic Development’s website, developgoodyearaz.com.

Walton, a real estate investment and land asset company, announced it sold 290 acres in the Mystic Vista and Vista Bonita master plans in Buckeye.

A Walton spokeswoman declined to give a price on the land sale, which closed “recently.”

MPC Developments purchased 145 acres in the Mystic Vista community located at Apache Road and Southern Avenue. Mystic Vista is zoned fully residential for 564 single-family homes.

And Villa Capri Mobile Home Park bought 125 acres in the Vista Bonita master plan located in the vicinity of Apache Road and Broadway Road. The two projects are zoned residential for approximately 500 single-family homes.

Previously, 20 acres of Vista Bonita were sold to the city of Buckeye for the construction of a new water campus.

Around this time last year, a study showed Buckeye is the country’s fastest-growing city.

And things do not seem to be slowing down, as the city has  26 master-planned communities approved and 2,651 single family permits issued in 2019, according to the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“Buckeye is a prime investment market where both high demand and growth are providing great opportunity,” said Jen Ruby, senior vice president of Walton.

“Walton is also currently in negotiations for selling property in another Buckeye master plan to a leading national homebuilder,” she added.