Over the past 15 years, there has been an amazing renaissance in downtowns across America. From 1990 to 2000 the number of households living in a sample of 45 U.S. downtowns increased 10.6 percent.2 The fact that many downtowns have experienced such growth and development—in spite of zoning laws spurring suburban sprawl and real estate and financial industries that don't understand how to build and finance alternatives—is testament to the emotional commitment to our urban heritage and the pent-up consumer demand for walkable, vibrant places in which to live and work.Posted by Admin at March 14, 2005 11:03 AMThe appeal of traditional downtowns--and the defining characteristic that sets those that are successful apart from their suburban competitors--is largely based on what can be summarized as walkable urbanity. >Link