At the beginning of the twenty-first century there is evidence of an increasing demand for downtown or city-center living in North America and Western Europe. Policy makers are increasingly promoting the concept as part of sustainability and revitalization strategies as it is strongly believed that this will help to achieve a whole range of social, economic, and environmental goals. To date, however, there has been a dearth of research examining peoples’ attitudes and the level of demand for this locational choice. This article draws on the research of the author and others analyzing the attitudes of the public in the United Kingdom to such a lifestyle and identifies a substantial minority attracted by homes in the city center.
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