Intown Living: A Different American Dream

(Hardback)

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Description

The American dream of a single family home on its own lot is still strong, but a different dream of living and prospering in a major city is beginning to take hold. After decades of abandonment by the middle class, a detectable number of people are moving into urban downtown areas. The Intown Living phenomenon is generally powered by people under the age of 40 who are seeking more stimulation than offered in the typical subdivision lifestyle. This book encourages cities and the private development community to team up and expand central city housing opportunities and illustrates the upside of Intown Living to those considering moving to a city. This unique work provides current data on who is buying intown, at what prices, and in what size apartments and condominiums. This piece serves as a firsthand account of what is happening in today's cities and why. It gives details about the financial and programmatic incentives needed to make Intown Living happen, and why they are necessary. Includes 10 detailed maps and an in-depth look at the cities of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, B.C.

Reviews

Conventional wisdom suggests that downtown living is an artifact of the urban past, although some cities never experienced residential abandonment. Through case studies of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, and Vancouver, Breen and Rigby demonstrate that intown living--residence in or near a city's downtown--is a growing phenomenon even in the most suburban-oriented, sprawling metropolises....Recommended. Urban studies and planning collections, upper-division undergraduates and above.-Choice
"Conventional wisdom suggests that downtown living is an artifact of the urban past, although some cities never experienced residential abandonment. Through case studies of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, and Vancouver, Breen and Rigby demonstrate that intown living--residence in or near a city's downtown--is a growing phenomenon even in the most suburban-oriented, sprawling metropolises....Recommended. Urban studies and planning collections, upper-division undergraduates and above."-Choice

Author Bio

ANN BREEN is founder and co-director of the Waterfront Center, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., since 1981. The Center organizes an annual international conference on urban waterfront planning, development, and culture, conducts an international awards program, and does community consulting. DICK RIGBY is founder and co-director of the Waterfront Center, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., since 1981. The Center organizes an annual international conference on urban waterfront planning, development, and culture, conducts an international awards program, and does community consulting.