City Kids: 4 Reasons why parents are choosing urban living over the suburbs

A small but growing number of parents are rejecting the 20th century mantra that children need to grow up in suburbia – rather than move to suburbs as their parents once did, many are opting to stay in or near downtown.

Along the way, they’re pushing cities to be more welcoming to families. Parents in cities across the country, including SeattleMinneapolis and Denver, are banding together to advocate for new downtown schools, more playgrounds and more affordable family-friendly housing.

“We seem to be closing the child gap,” said Eric De Place, policy director of Sightline Institute, a Seattle-based think tank.

Between 2007 and 2012, the number of downtown kids enrolled in kindergarten to eighth grade jumped nearly 30 percent, according to the Downtown Seattle Association, a business group that has worked to get more families downtown.

Here are some reasons why these parents are settling down in the city:

Shorter Commutes

Long commutes are one of the biggest barriers to human happiness. Whether it’s to school, work, or shopping and entertainment, the convenience of being able to walk or bike to your destination appeals to many. “The commute is shorter so you get to spend more time with your kids,” says Malcolm and Liz Russell of NYC.

Furthermore, reducing the need for a second family vehicle, gas expenses, and parking fees can result in huge savings for a family – perhaps as much, if not more than $125,000 in 10 years.

Cultural Diversity

Children raised in urban environments tend to be exposed to wider variety of ethnic and religious groups. Exposure to these different groups in the public realm as well as in school reduces unrealistic fear of those who are different. It may increase tolerance, or at least the willingness to hear another point of view.

In a recent study of 19-month-olds, University of Chicago doctoral student Lauren Howard found that children who heard multiple languages in their neighborhoods were more receptive to people who spoke languages other than their parents’ language.

Our children live among and interact with people of all different shapes and sizes from many different cultures—what falls under the rubric of “diversity” in current parlance. They can see that not all people hold the same beliefs and values, and they’re not afraid to converse with people who appear different from them. – Russell Nance, NYC

A Wealth of Different Experiences

On the same line as cultural diversity, children raised in urban environments are more likely to be exposed to a diverse range of experiences. Closer proximity to cultural resources – library, theaters, performing arts, museums, etc – may increase exposure to culture and the arts. This exposure can peak a child’s interest in learning about different fields or developing diverse skills.

The city is a hotbed of art, entertainment, landmarks, culture, sports, history, food, and many, many other things. Our children are constantly immersed in all of these things and are receiving a cultural education every time they walk out the door. Experiences that would have been extraordinary to us as children are commonplace to our kids, but no less influential. – Russell Nance, NYC

Additionally, contact with a diverse population of elders, poor and those with disabilities stimulates a child’s awareness of human frailties, compassion, and their sense of their ethical responsibilities towards those who may need help.

Living in an urban environment forces you out of your comfort zone on a daily basis, which is where I feel the real personal growth occurs. My kids have learned about the real world from a very young age—they are very connected to others. – Michele Barber-Perry, NYC

It Benefits the City

The carbon footprint of families living downtown in a mixed-use 5-6 story urban fabric is far lower than in suburban single family homes and is also lower than families in high rise housing. Over all, every family living downtown reduces the city’s need to invest in costly infrastructure at the city’s periphery.

Another added bonus – The increased density of families living in mixed use buildings of 5-6 story apartments or condos greatly increases the potential economic success of all kinds of businesses in close proximity, compared to suburban shops and businesses. Families help to bring back a diverse economy downtown, and diversity increases the city center’s economic resilience.

Families living downtown also enhance the safety of all population groups by efforts to ensure children’s safety – calming traffic, widening sidewalks, ensuring eyes on the street, etc. Ultimately, everyone benefits.

Families with children are indicator species about the health of an urban neighborhood. – Gary Johnson, Seattle’s city center coordinator.

“It’s nowhere near as challenging as people think it is,” said Paul Hughes on living in downtown Seattle with his wife and second-grader son. “The more people see it working, the more they think it’s possible.”

Interested in Building or Buying a Home in Urban Austin?

As both a real estate brokerage and a home builder, Riverside Homes and Turner Residential helps people buy, sell and build houses across central Austin. We specialize in building custom modern homes that are energy efficient, easy to live in and easy to maintain. If you are interested in building a home in urban Austin, please contact us for more information. We’d be glad to help any way we can.