A semiconductor plant under construction in Phoenix, Arizona may eventually be surrounded by a new community:

“Halo Vista,” as it is now known, will surround a manufacturing complex developed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)—which is already under construction and is being developed by New York-based Mack Real Estate Group in collaboration with McCourt Partners…

“It’s not just a science park, and not just a manufacturing district: It’s a community. It’s a city within a city.”

The project will include 2,300 acres with more than 28 million square feet of mixed-use development capacity, with will include up to 8,960 residential units as well as industrial, retail, and office spaces.

“Our vision is for chip designers and engineering students, not just suppliers and manufacturers, to co-locate here, to create a value added ecosystem beyond just what it takes to build chips, and that’s how we’re going to create more value in the Phoenix economy,” Mack said.

Build the facility for the hot industry and let the development grow around it.

While it sounds like the community would be independent from the company and manufacturing facility, is this a new version of a company town? There is a long history in the United States of communities developing around industry, whether it is the Pullman district in Chicago or development around auto plants in and near Detroit to Silicon Valley growth. This can all “work” if the industry is humming along.

At the same time, it may not be so great for those not involved with good jobs in that industry. It may not necessarily be good for the community as a whole. And if the industry itself stops growing or declines, there can be trouble for these communities.