Cities covet young urban single professionals

USA Today ^ | Dec. 17, 2003 | Laura Vanderkam

[laurav]

National headlines teem with debates about old people (Medicare) and married people (will gay marriage change the institution?). But locally, officials are eyeing a very different demographic.

Tampa spent years turning Ybor City, an old cigar-making district, into a nightlife hub. Baltimore advertises its low living costs on the Washington subway. Memphis residents spearheaded a "Memphis Manifesto"

[xsmommy]

hey dreamboats.... ; )

[ffusco]

They sure got my number. In the last 7 years I have lived in NY, LA and Houston.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm not exactly cityfolk.....

[xsmommy]

i know that, but you fit their demographic otherwise...dreamy...; )

[Mr. Jeeves]

Hey, they're talking about me! But I won't move into the city of San Francisco for any reason - they aren't getting a dime of my tax money.

[Dan from Michigan]

Twenty acres in the country, no neighborhood associations, a nice car, good gun laws, good bars nearby, and low taxes, and I'm happy:)

[laurav]

I know what you mean. I'm in NYC. It's wretchedly expensive. But it's also more fun than living in Topeka. So it's always a trade off. San Francisco is beautiful, if you can stomach the weirdos.

[laurav]

Of course the "nice car" and "good bars nearby" are one of the issues that make cities attractive. Driving your nice car home from the bars can be trouble. I'm in NYC -- as long as you remember your address, you can get home.

[Porterville]

I won't live in a city... That madness on the roads and rudeness at the grocery store... When rats over populate a spacial area, they start to kill each other and some even eat the others.... I'd rather be poor on the countryside then rich in the city.

[Mr. Bird]

Wanna attract young single professionals? Give them a state tax deduct on rent.

[laurav]

Give them a state tax deduct on rent

Now that would be a beautiful, beautiful thing...

[XRdsRev]

100% correct.

There is a place for everybody. Some people are happy watching an icecube melt, others want an active social scene, some want a bit of both.

If you are a really outgoing person who likes socialization with others and you are 40 or younger, big cities or upscale urban areas are the place to be. There is so much to do and see and so many people to meet, it's really amazing.

[XRdsRev]

Ummm, I think you watch too much tv. Your view of city life is a little distorted.

[laurav]

That madness on the roads and rudeness at the grocery store

The rudeness in the grocery store, I'll concede. It's gotten to the point where I just don't shop (fortunately, there are 6 take-out places in 2 blocks, so not an issue). The aisles are very narrow, yet people insist on pushing shopping carts. Hello! It's Manhattan! You live 2 blocks away. You can come back in 3 days when you run out of food. Use a basket! Then there's the senile old folks who refuse to give up their rent-controlled apartments. They stand in the middle of the aisle staring at the jar of spaghetti sauce, at their coupon, at the sauce, etc. until they ask me for help. I'm happy to, usually, though I wonder if all the store employees flee from these people and suddenly discover a need to mistag produce.

[Porterville]

come to the Central Coast of California, you will think you died and gone to heaven, I swear to God, San Luis Obispo area is my favorite place in the entire United States, and I bet many would agree with me... Everyone loves Morro Bay.

[Porterville]

I lived in Dallas during my undergrad.... for many people, the city spins the mind.

[GrandMoM]

San Luis Obispo ....that is one hopin place. You can't get a hotel/motel room or table in a resturant all week-end in Pismo Beach! I never saw such a multitude of young (beautiful) people gathered in one area, and that's just Pismo Beach!

That's where I would be if I were young and single!!!

[laurav]

LOL!

[Porterville]

I love it here. It is a sunny day around 65 degrees, and the salt air breezing in through the windows....