[Alberta's Child]

Gates said his research seems to confirm an old axiom, that the property values in fringe neighborhoods tend to increase after gay men move in.

Overall, cities like Boston, and particularly its South End neighborhood, have the vibrancy and diversity that appeals to the creative class, Florida contends. It is also an indicator to industries that it is a city where highly talented people people want to live, he says.

Greenwich Village in New York is another example of an area that has been revitalized after it earned a reputation as a "gay" area. The author of this article really misses the point, though. The "gay" issue has nothing to do with the economic revival of these areas -- the real issue is that the people moving to these areas are relatively young, predominantly single (and never intend to raise children), mostly professional, and often have pathological, insatiable appetites on several different levels. These are people with money to spend, and spend it they do.

[wardaddy]

Quite right.

I do not agree that gays are necessarily drawn to "tolerant" environs insomuch as they are drwn to interesting, attractive or opportunity locales.

Key West, SF, New Orleans and a few other places like that are simply pretty or unique places and homosexuals are not encumbered by dependents other than themselves which creates a lot of options financially and otherwise that someone with 5 dependents like me would not have.

Homosexuals did not migrate to South beach, Montrose(Houston), Lower Mckinney(Dallas), Buckhead(Atlanta) or even (Hillsboro Village/Vandy/Belmont area(here in Nashville) because of "tolerance". They came into those areas following one another because of opportunity. All that "tolerance" which really means changing the existing social mores comes later usually.....and then may very well attract the post-pioneer wave.

What is ironic is that eventually the young married hetero couples then come in later and towards the end of the cycle...the homosexuals move on to new ground.

It is not uncommon for the homosexual vanguard to be among the first to gentrify decaying urban neighborhoods. That speaks of opportunity obviously.