For nearly two-and-a-half years after first purchasing and moving into a condo in downtown Tacoma, Chris Lucero didn't even own a car.

One might consider it an act of embracing urban living.

Lucero, an associate vice president of an investment firm located downtown, got tired of living in the South Hill area of Puyallup and battling traffic every day on the lone thoroughfare that connects the freeway with the many residential tracts.

"My commute went from 45 minutes (in a car) to now maybe three by foot," said Lucero, who now works right across the street from his condo downtown.

Although he eventually caved and bought a car, Lucero still loves the fact that he can basically walk to get whatever he needs.

"I can walk to the local farmer's market and all the great restaurants and bars," he said.

There are also several coffee shops and the museum district just minutes away via the light rail, which runs through the middle of downtown.

While Lucero had to get used to not having an easy trek to the local grocery store ("Either way, I'm hiking up a hill," he said), there have been rumors floating around that a centrally located grocery store (possibly Whole Foods) could be coming to downtown Tacoma.

"That's really exciting," Lucero said.

That's in addition to an already sealed a deal with McMenamins, the respected Portland-based hotel/brew pub chain. Developers are planning to renovate the historic Tacoma Elks Temple and build a new Tacoma hotel, restaurant and entertainment venue in downtown's old Elks Temple, which is slated to open in 2012.

Downtown living in Puyallup offers some of the same benefits on a smaller scale, with a couple of added bonuses. Downtown Puyallup is located in the valley, separated from most of the traffic associated with urban sprawl in the city.

Downtown Puyallup offers several small shops, restaurants and coffee houses and two large grocery stores, as well as the city library.

Kirsten Wicker, an airman stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, lived on base for two years before moving to an apartment near downtown Puyallup.

"I like it because I'm far enough away from the base I don't have to think about work all the time, and yet I have easy access to the freeway," Wicker said.

The airman, who has a dog she loves to walk, also lives close to the trail system that runs next to the Puyallup River.

"I use it a lot," she said of the trails.

While industrial and commuter trains do make some noise coming through downtown Puyallup at various hours, Wicker said the many positive traits the area features make up for the train noise.

"It has a cute downtown and I bypass all the traffic (on Meridian Ave., the main thoroughfare) getting to work," she said. "Plus, Tacoma is only five to 10 minutes down River Road."

Downtown living in Olympia has been a bit slower to develop, but a recent draft study concludes there is sufficient demand downtown for 59 to 93 new apartments per year and 30 to 44 new condominium units per year in the next 10 years. Downtown Olympia has much to offer, including a robust farmers market - the second largest in the state - and the State Capitol campus, which attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually to visit the Legislature, tour the stately buildings, grounds, gardens and monumental art.

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