In 1998, when Art and Joanne Domingue reached their mid-50s, they decided to leave the suburbs behind and moved to downtown San Jose. The couple traded their four-bedroom, four-bathroom house in South San Jose for a condo in the heart of the city. Art Domingue says, "We love it. We don't have a yard to care for and we can go away on trips and not worry about security because it's a locked community."

Another bonus is that just about everything the couple needs is within walking distance. "We walk to church, we walk to the grocery store, we walk to the library," Art Domingue says. When the San Jose Sharks were playing, the couple walked to the arena. He adds, "When we want to eat out we have 40 restaurants within blocks that we can walk to."

Urban living is something the Domingues have grown fond of. Art Domingue says, "The best thing is that there's so much to do and it's close. Out in the suburbs I got to where I hated cars. There are still times when we have to drive, but we try to avoid it. It's much more relaxed living downtown."

Another thing Art Domingue likes is the diversity of downtown residents. "There are a lot of young people here, a fair amount of empty nesters aged 55 to 75, and then there are some people with kids." He also likes running into people in the elevator who are from places like Japan and Brazil.

Since moving from suburbia to an urban setting is a major lifestyle change, developers are finding innovative ways to attract the aging U.S. population.

For example, Belmont Village in San Jose is typical of a new crop of assisted-living communities. It's located next to Santana Row, which means it's also close to movie theaters, drug stores, grocery shopping and Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair.

Al and Sally Dudley moved to Belmont Village in February after selling their house in Cupertino. Sally uses a wheelchair, but Al Dudley says, "We have a lot of freedom. We like being in an established area with lots of places to eat and shop ... We're not stuck in here."

When they are home, they're in a fourth-floor rental apartment, which has a large bedroom and living room. There are also two bathrooms with shower stalls that have wheelchair access and benches. The apartment has a small kitchenette and lots of closet space. Al Dudley says, "It's like living in a nice hotel with lots of care."

That's important because he was in the hospital a half-dozen times last year, so his wife needed extra help. At Belmont Village, there are nurses on duty 24 hours a day. Housekeeping, bathing and other personal care services are available too. There's a fitness center that Al Dudley uses and, even though he has a computer in the apartment, he has used the facility's computer center from time to time.

As an all-in-one community, Belmont Village provides residents with three meals a day, served restaurant style. The menu features everything from salads to sandwiches to grilled salmon and barbecued short ribs. Al Dudley says, "The food is real good and I can go downstairs anytime and grab some fruit or a snack." But the kitchenette in the apartment gives the couple the freedom to make hot tea, popcorn and other snacks while they're watching television.

Before making their move, Al Dudley says he, his wife and their three children "scouted all the places around here."

Belmont Village offers apartments with one or two bedrooms, ranging from $2,550 to $4,875 a month. All services, including daily meals and transportation, are included.

Art and Joanne Domingue also did their homework. In fact, the couple decided to move downtown before they retired to make sure they liked it. There are lots of options available, but at some of Santa Clara Valley's more upscale communities there are also waiting lists.

And as the population ages, the competition for "location, location, location" may become fierce.