Why was Chandler, which saw its population explode as recently as the 1990s, able to turn its once sleepy, historic downtown into a success so rapidly?

How was Scottsdale able to maintain its Old Town area as a regional destination?

And why is Glendale, home to antique shops and millions of sparkling Christmas lights, struggling to turn around its downtown?

Across the country, cities are revitalizing their downtowns. Three prime examples are these Valley cities, all of which are trying different approaches to bringing their downtowns to life. They are all roughly the same size population-wise, with about 250,000 people, but that’s about where the similarities end -- and the stories of their downtown revitalization efforts are no different.

Each city has its challenges.

Downtown Chandler is working on upgrading the infrastructure in its older buildings to prepare for development, but limited parking and constant construction has taken its toll.

Old Town Scottsdale is trying to maintain the small town feel that draws tourists and gives it its charm. It’s also working on improving public amenities in spite of its limited land area.

Glendale’s downtown is trying to move beyond its “antique capital” past and to attract fresh, new businesses that cater to a younger demographic, but some of the city’s long-time merchants have been resistant.

“Every city, regardless of its size, or the state that it’s in, or the region, is competing against one another in a market that is driven by sense of place,” said John Robert Smith, former mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, and senior policy advisor at Smart Growth America, a nonprofit organization that works to fight sprawl and improve communities. “That’s where the workforce of the future wants to be. That’s where retirees are gravitating to, and that’s where job creators are gravitating to.”

Explore the interactive story of each city below.