| Traditionally, two things have been key to living in Los | | | | my office." |
| Angeles: you need a car to get around town, and | | | | While Shabazz's urban rhythm of life is common to |
| plenty of time in your schedule for the commutes. But | | | | many city dwellers around the world, being a |
| that is beginning to change in this car-centric city. | | | | 'downtowner' in L.A. is still an oddity. "On weekdays, as |
| Angelenos are embracing downtown living and | | | | I walk my dogs in the morning we're often stared at |
| spending less time in their cars. | | | | by the people walking from the train or parking |
| According to the 2008 demographic study conducted | | | | structures to their offices. People are still surprised at |
| by the Downtown Center Business Improvement | | | | the 'downtowners.'" She asserts that living on a small |
| District, the downtown population grew by 36.9% from | | | | scale, and using her feet and the train as |
| 2006 to 2008. In 2008, 63.5% of these residents | | | | transportation, her quality of life is much better. She |
| surveyed lived and worked in the downtown Los | | | | eats healthy, cost-effective lunches at home instead |
| Angeles area (up 8.4% from 2006). | | | | of at local restaurants, arrives at her office early and |
| What was once not a very livable downtown area | | | | unstressed, and has all necessary amenities close at |
| has become one of the hippest places to live in Los | | | | hand. |
| Angeles. Downtown residents easily walk to pick up | | | | Painter and loft owner Robert Vargas has been living |
| groceries, restaurants, and retail stores - all without | | | | in a downtown lofts for three years, and conducts |
| ever having to drive. This has become just one more | | | | most of his business in the area. "There's something |
| motivating factor for why Angelenos, tired of | | | | about not having to worry about finding parking or |
| commuting and seeking a higher quality of life, are | | | | remembering where you left your parking ticket, or |
| choosing downtown lofts and condos as their homes. | | | | remembering to feed the meter. When we need to go |
| | | | | somewhere we either walk or just get on the train and |
| Attorney Shahiedah Shabazz has lived in L.A. less than | | | | watch the world go by." Vargas says his car is no |
| a year, and both lives and works downtown. Like | | | | longer an extension of himself, but a special occasion |
| many transplants, she was initially daunted by the idea | | | | vehicle for necessary, longer trips. |
| of being bound to her car. "I moved here from Boston, | | | | A (mostly) car-less lifestyle is beginning to win over the |
| which is a very commuter-friendly city. I was | | | | traditional commute in downtown L.A. The trend is also |
| intimidated by the idea of spending hours every day in | | | | occurring throughout the country. From San Diego to |
| traffic going to and from work. So I decided to live as | | | | Chicago more and more people are rediscovering the |
| close to work as possible, and with the help of my real | | | | value of their downtown centers and the opportunity |
| estate broker I found a great condo two blocks from | | | | to break away from their automobiles. |