financial markets in late 2008, Glendale leaders and Valley sports chieftain Jerry Colangelo announced that USA Basketball would move to the city.

Beasley and council relied heavily on private developers to make the deals pencil out. Right Path Limited Development Group was going to build much of the basketball facility, as well as shops, restaurants and offices to generate revenue to pay for the ballpark. The plan was to march commercial development west of Loop 101.

By 2009, the economy brought a reality check.

The Phoenix Coyotes filed for bankruptcy.

A year later, Rightpath's partners split up and the remaining developers could never obtain financing. In 2010, USA Basketball pulled its plans to move to Glendale. None of the planned commercial development west of the freeway has materialized.

Offices and entertainment options didsprout around the arena, including Cabela's and 91 Glendale, which brought Humana operations to the city. But other projects sit vacant or unbuilt and Westgate this year was taken over by lenders.

Beasley continues to try to secure a new buyer who will keep the Phoenix Coyotes as an anchor tenant in the city-owned arena. Councilwoman Joyce Clark has said she expects the deal to be inked by January, before Beasley departs.

Clark, Vice Mayor Steve Frate and other council members commended Beasley's leadership.

"He saw the big picture for what Glendale could be and if it hadn't been for the bad economic times there would even be more successes," Councilwoman Yvonne Knaack said.