UCG,
I’m fine with the coming off as arrogant or elitist online. I live a rather ordinary live but I do it on my own terms in my own way. In person I am anything but. When I write, I try to speak to the young professional family looking for a great place to raise a family in a suburban setting. I beleive that is the primary demographic on this board and I try to speak to masses here. I understand its not what everyone wants or even likes but that is what I know best in SD and beyond.

As for downtown, I agree that many cities suffered declines and the seedy part was a single line BG seized upon. My point was not that downtown SD declined but rather that it never was properly developed to begin with. It is only recently through the growth of the population that it is being developed in a more thoughful manor.

All the cities you referenced are real cities with downtown employment centers, entertainment and nice living areas. Our downtown seems to have been built as an afterthought without much planning. To this day, there is no hospital downtown. Name another big city without a hospital in the middle of its downtown? Supermarket downtown? We got one??? Parks downtown? Its called Petco? The location of downtwon SD is nothing short of spectacular. It could be so much more than it is and I hope it gets there someday. When I hear the longtimers lament that the newbies have ruined their hometown, I see things differently. It’s fine that they do also.