CNNMoney: Americans Find Cities Appealing...Again

Cities are hot again
After years of urban flight, Americans are finding the appeal of places like Philadelphia, Nashville and Seattle.
By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
June 15, 2006

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Retirees, empty nesters and young professionals usually have little in common, but they're all in the vanguard of a recent trend - they're repatriating center cities.

The trend, which began in the late 1990s, marks a reversal of the post-war urban flight to the suburbs. Now, it's strengthening....

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Young professionals make up a big part of the trend. "It's carefree living," says Caparo. "Young professionals just want to put the key in the door and go to bed at night and lock it up again in the morning." It's also where the action is, professionally and socially. "For them, there's lots of DNA to hook up with," says McIlwain.

Retirees love the museums, restaurants and, most important, access to the best health care. Empty nesters get to live near work....

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All the various demographic groups benefit from some of the same aspects of city living. None of them have to cut the grass or water the flowers any more. They don't even have to cook; restaurants are just a short walk or even a phone call away. Leisure time activities, such as movies, plays, concerts, professional sports, art galleries and clubs are nearby and easy to get to....(T)he ideal of city life is not new. Centuries ago, Ben Johnson said, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life."...

http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/15/real_estate/return_to_cities/index.htm?cnn=yes

Way to go America!

I love cities and I love rural towns.

Suburbs have done more damage to this country socially, economically and environmentally than just about anything else.

You never even have to leave!