Where I live the areas closer to downtown are still zoned mixed-use. The houses are mostly offices for lawyers, therapists, etc. or are some sort of boarding h

Where I live the areas closer to downtown are still zoned mixed-use. The houses are mostly offices for lawyers, therapists, etc. or are some sort of boarding house/apartment situation which has driven rents/property prices beyond what a family can afford, especially for smaller, older houses. I think most people would like to live in such an area, which is why most can't afford it.