Flight from the city to a white-picketed suburbia was the original American Dream. Today, the reality of that dream is being exposed as out-of-reach and un- green, as the CNN article, "Is America's Suburban Dream Collapsing into a Nightmare?" details.

The article reads, "This trend, according to Christopher Leinberger, an urban planning professor at the University of Michigan and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, stems not only from changing demographics but also from a major shift in the way an increasing number of Americans -- especially younger generations -- want to live and work. 'The American dream is absolutely changing,' he told CNN. Instead, they are looking for what Leinberger calls "walkable urbanism" -- both small communities and big cities characterized by efficient mass transit systems and high density developments enabling residents to walk virtually everywhere for everything -- from home to work to restaurants to movie theaters."

Lakewood is the definition of walkable urbanism, and with high energy costs and environmental concerns, Lakewood is not only appealing to the "younger generations," but also to anyone who is environmentally conscious and concerned about the rising gas prices. Flight to the outer suburbs is in reverse, and as a result, Lakewood is becoming an increasingly attractive place to live.