Alexandria named to list of Top 10 Best Downtowns

Alexandria came in at No. 6 on a list of the Top 10 Best Downtowns for 2015 by Livability.com

The Franklin,Tenn.-based company explores what makes small-to mid-sized cities good places to live, work and visit.  Its rankings, which include an annual list of the country’s most liveable cities, take into consideration factors such as walkability, transportation, and arts and cultural amenities,

According to Livability, more people are opting to live in the urban playgrounds of downtowns. Young professionals, between the ages of 22 and 34, are especially drawn to these areas where people can congregate for shopping, dining, walking and biking.

Livability.com said that its list of Top 10 downtowns focused on small to mid-sized cities, taking into consideration increasing housing values, populations and new construction.

“We’re really in a new golden age of American downtowns,” Livability editor Matt Carmichael, said in a statement.  “Throughout cities large and small, the energy and resources focused on restoring Main Streets and urban cores is paying off.”

Alexandria has a population of nearly 150,000. Known for its historic district, the city is in the midst of several major redevelopments. It’s overhauling the downtown riverfront on the Potomac River, and plans to use a $50 million loan from the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank to help defray the cost to construct a Metrorail station in the Potomac Yard area.

In 2014, it ranked No. 5 on Livability’s list and has stayed right in the middle for a second year.

On its write-up on Alexandria, Livability said:

“Few places offer the historical architecture and significance you’ll find in downtown Alexandria, Va. As hip as it is historic, Old Town Alexandria’s growing collection of restaurants and artistic establishments is drawing in new residents. The downtown area has a high share of the so called “creative class,” which includes scientists, engineers, researchers, artists and designers, among other professions. Household incomes in Alexandria are projected to increase by as much as 4 percent over the next five years as the demand for homes in and around Old Town remains high.”

Here’s the list of the other cities that made the cut:
  1. Pittsburgh
  2. Minneapolis
  3. Indianapolis
  4. Greenville, S.C.
  5. Salt Lake City
  6. Alexandria
  7. Fargo, N.D.
  8. Lincoln, Neb.
  9. Somerville, Mass.
10. Evanston, Ill.