Pam Goronkin sips her morning café latte in a coffeehouse with picture windows overlooking bustling Mill Avenue, her brand-new neighborhood. “You know, we ghettoize ourselves into gated communities,” says the former Tempe city councilwoman who now serves as president and executive director of the Mill Avenue District. “We don’t realize the rich experience we’re denying ourselves.”

That's why Pam and her husband, Herb, a retired Motorola executive who's now president of Technology Acceleration Associates, decided to break out of suburbia for the richness of downtown Tempe’s urban lifestyle. "It may not be New York City or Chicago, but it’s something special indeed,” she says. "I think downtown Tempe is more European, with a real village sensibility. You can walk out your door and bring home a fresh baguette of bread under your arm or a fine bottle of wine. There are dozens of choices of great places to eat or shop just steps away from our front door-wow!"

The couple’s front door is in the new 12-story Bridgeview condominium tower at Hayden Ferry Lakeside along the shores of Tempe Town Lake. The distinctive development features a sleek contemporary nautical theme with sail-type forms, tinted blue exteriors, brushed metal finishes like sea-faring vessels and ship railing features. "I can walk across the street and hike up "A" Mountain every day," Pam says. The mountain in the heart of the Mill Avenue District offers a bird’s eye view of Tempe and Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium.

Their condominium, where Herb has a home office, is also a short walking distance from the new light rail line that will run more than five miles through the heart of Tempe and link it to the airport and downtown Phoenix. "This move greatly simplifies my life," says Herb, who travels frequently on business and plans to catch the light rail to the airport. "We're tired of getting in a car to do everything we wanted to do," adds Pam.

Now that Pam has a six-minute commute to work-on foot-and Herb's is even shorter-their fun to-do list has grown. Cultural events at ASU. Exploring ethnic restaurants. Bike rides along the lake. “And even catching an ASU basketball game on occasion." Now that they live in a condo that is "lock and leave," they also feel freer to travel. With downtown Tempe reminding Pam of Europe, she’s thinking Paris.