Who among us hasn't driven through our region and wondered, "Hmmmmmmmmm, what are they building there?"

And whether the answer is a convenience store or a new contractor's business, we are all curious to know what it is and then share that news with our family and friends. Why? Because new construction or reworking of existing buildings has an impact on the local economy, on traffic and on the nature of our towns, villages or city.

Is the new building an eyesore? Or cookie-cutter bland? Or something truly striking? These are the questions we think about and talk about in our daily lives.

The Democrat and Chronicle has long focused on what we call growth and development coverage. Since the advent of the internet, we know this is among our most popular content online. So we're going to take this coverage to a somewhat higher level.

Shopping:Eastview Mall is adding four new businesses. Here's what's coming

Dining:Shake Shack gets permit to open restaurant in Henrietta. What we know

Beginning in March, we are going to highlight such stories in more places, sometimes using the moniker "Rochester Grows" attached to them. Those two words signify the fact that Rochester is evolving and moving forward, in ways large and small. We might not be expanding like Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, or Orlando, Florida, but make no mistake: The Greater Rochester economy of the rest of the 21st century is taking root here in the 2020s.

Among the steps we're taking:

• Reporter Sean Lahman is looking closely at real-estate data to identify trends across Monroe County.

• Reporter Genae Shields this month started a newly created role examining the impact of growth and business on people and neighborhoods.

• Emerging Audiences Editor Maryann Batlle is leading an ongoing examination of the impact of the new construction along the old Inner Loop East site.

• We are launching a new Facebook group called Rochester Grows at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943196026021545. Please join!

• In the near future, we will begin an emailed Rochester Grows newsletter to help members of the public keep up with our stories and videos on new construction and businesses and their impact.

• We will work to create more photo galleries focusing on what's new, and sometimes on what's changing.

• Finally, in March we launch our first of a series of "business swarms," in which a team of reporters and visual journalists will visit a village or a neighborhood or an office park and examine which businesses are operating there and what makes them tick. If you have a suggestion, please email us.

Taken together, all this reflects a role the D&C has played for many generations: Helping subscribers like you understand how businesses small and large affect our lives and our communities.

Development:New restaurant opens in Pittsford Plaza; other businesses coming soon

Please join the Facebook group. Please share your story ideas. We look forward to your feedback.

Thank you.

Michael Kilian is executive editor of the Democrat and Chronicle.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY growth and development to be highlighted