INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA<\/p>\n
The year is about to come to an end, so here\u2019s a look at the Top 10 Phoenix stories of 2025, according to which stories Phoenix Independent readers were most interested in.<\/p>\n
Drive-thru permit denied for proposed Swig Soda shop in Phoenix<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Plans for a new Swig soda shop in Phoenix were halted in August when the Phoenix Board of Adjustment denied a use permit to allow for a drive-thru restaurant, that was planned for 535 W. Bethany Home Road.<\/p>\n Phoenix school in historic church building receives preservation status<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A former church building that is now a school in Sunnyslope received historic preservation status from the city of Phoenix in October.<\/p>\n The historic preservation overlay means any future demolition or major modifications to the site\u2019s buildings must be reviewed and approved by the city\u2019s Historic Preservation Office.<\/p>\n \u00a0Costco, two hotels announced for north Phoenix project near TSMC<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Mack Halo Vista LLC announced in October the first retail and hospitality users for the more than 2,300-acre mixed-use master-planned development, Halo Vista, surrounding the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in north Phoenix.<\/p>\n Halo Vista entered into agreements for the development of two Marriott hotels, a Courtyard by Marriott and a Residence Inn, as well as a Costco retail store and an auto mall.<\/p>\n IKEA plans in Surprise uncertain after Phoenix news<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n IKEA\u2019s plans to open a new store in Phoenix in early 2026 has left chances for a store in Surprise up in the air as the Swedish furniture giant announced in May it was opening its third location in the Valley at the southwest corner of Tatum Boulevard and Cactus Road, directly across from the Paradise Valley Mall redevelopment.<\/p>\n Neighbors ask for historic but unusable small building at Phoenix\u2019s Eastlake Park to be torn down<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Neighbors near Eastlake Park in Phoenix were asking in October for a small, unused building next to the park\u2019s swimming pool to be torn down.<\/p>\n However, the building, constructed around 1930, is protected by historic preservation status and cannot be demolished for at least two years.<\/p>\n Eastlake Park, the oldest park in Phoenix, has deep historic roots in Phoenix\u2019s Black community.<\/p>\n \n Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport sees hundreds of delays, cancellations due to storm<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport experienced hundreds of delayed or canceled flights on a Friday in September due to severe thunderstorms in the Valley.<\/p>\n Phoenix had a total of 362 delayed flights \u2014 214 departing flights and 148 arriving flights. That was the third most among U.S. airports. Only Harry Reid International Airport outside of Las Vegas (498 total delays) and the Boston Logan International Airport (371 total delays) had more on that day.<\/p>\n Phoenix Zoo says it won\u2019t shut down elephant exhibit after outside group\u2019s claim<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Phoenix Zoo officials denied claims from a California-based nonprofit to shut down its elephant exhibit in January.<\/p>\n The group, In Defense of Animals, announced the Phoenix Zoo landed on its \u2018Worst Zoos\u2019 list for elephants. The group claims one elephant, Indu, 59, was in danger if it wasn\u2019t moved out of the zoo\u2019s enclosure. The advocacy group listed the Phoenix Zoo No. 10 on its \u2018Worst Zoos\u2019 list for elephants \u2014 outpacing the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden at No. 9. The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens ranked first on the list.<\/p>\n New restaurants and stores coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Phoenix Aviation staff announced in the middle of December seven new restaurants and four new stores that will soon be coming to Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.<\/p>\n The restaurants included: The Macintosh, The Collins Small Batch Kitchen, The Mexicano, Cactus & Cow Burger Bar, Greenwood Brewing, Ingo\u2019s Tasty Food and The Farm at South Mountain: Includes Morning Glory Caf\u00e9 and The Bar at PHX.<\/p>\n New stores will include: Saguaro Mercantile, Univision, Camelback Provision Express and The Prickly Pear.<\/p>\n