Take a good, hard look at zoning laws and push for mixed-use communities. When I lived in downtown St. Louis, I STILL couldn’t walk to a grocery store since retail space was seperated from residential.

Also, although I LOVED that apartment- there was no way I could have lived in the neighborhood if I had kids. You have to have a safe city with good public schools that can attract business- not just nightlife- before you expect anyone from the suburbs to move in.

But really, I could go on and on… Take a look at the fantastic book A Field Guide to Sprawl. I must get to work (via subway!)

liz