ABSTRACT
Virtually all of the cities that have attracted both new development and new residents into areas within and around their downtowns have distinguished themselves by one salient feature. They have made significant and highly visible investments in the public realm as well as public transportation. As David Leland of the Leland Consulting Group, a Portland, Oregon-based firm specializing in urban economics, is fond of saying, "The private sector follows where the public sector leads". Cities have always been about renewing themselves, regenerating, and adding layers of richness that comes with time. It is the ability of cities to span centuries and accommodate various waves of architectural fashion that makes them distinct from suburbs. For downtowns to be truly livable, a long-term commitment to providing frequent transit service is essential. This allows residents the ability to eliminate one or perhaps all private vehicles. Fortunately, densities associated with downtowns are more than sufficient to support frequent transit service.
