Baby boomers and millennialsin suburban markets desire the same lifestyle—walkability, accessto retail and restaurant amenities and dense housing—as thoseliving in urban markets. The urbanization of the suburbs is agrowing trend, with urban amenities and development showing up intraditionally suburban markets.

“Demographic shifts illustrated that we are becoming a societythat values main streets more than backyards,” JoseSanchez, retail and mixed-use design leader at DLRGroup, tells GlobeSt.com. “Walkability, density, sense ofcommunity, mixed uses and a diverse population are bringing newlife to suburbs. Placemaking, if applied thoughtfully and wellexecuted, provides the soul for our communities through the designof a contextual urban framework of pedestrian friendlyneighborhoods, open spaces and a vibrant urban environment createdby the layered realm of architecture, landscaping, signage andlighting. It is also vital to understand that these new towncenters should be developed in a way to attract multipledemographics and economic classes through inclusive design andprogramming.”

Baby boomers are catalyzing this trend. Once a proponents ofsingle-family housing, baby boomers now want smaller moremanageable living spaces, walkability and access to entertainment.“Baby Boomers spurred by a pent-up demand for achieving theAmerican Dream initiated the exodus away from pre-war industrialhubs to suburban enclaves,” explains Sanchez. “The fast demand foraffordable housing at the outskirts of American cities produced ahousing boom of suburban single-family planned communities thatbecame seas of similar looking homes lacking town centers or cityamenities. Instead of developing around urban centers, thesecommunities connected via commercial streets interspersed withstrip malls, enclosed malls and businesses. At that time, the BabyBoomer population was 35-65 years of age and the largest group. Thesuburbs provided a safe environment suitable for raising children,however, as this population ages, they have looked to downsizesince they no longer need the multiple bedrooms or large backyardsand want to use their free time to engage with their community.Town center developments with condominiums and variety of amenitieswith a true sense of community are far more attractive thanmaintaining their oversized homes.”