Ross said he missed the sense of community in the Central Area and recently moved back to the district, where he is living with his sister while trying to find a house. Others say they're not bothered by the growing diversity or rising costs. Mary Donely, an African American who has owned a home in the district since 1959, doesn't mind that her property taxes have tripled. The environment is better now. There are a number of reasons for the white surge in the Central Area.
Location is one lure.
Close to downtown, it has become a magnet for the congestion-weary. The district, said Landmark Group Realtor Mark Anton, is awash in speculators. Today that home is owned by a pair of Microsoft engineers. It's a good spot here. Everyone says hi.