A new building trend in areas where space is tight and land is expensive are condominiums that are being either newly built or incorporated into existing high-rise buildings. Developers are embracing what are being referred to as "vertical neighborhoods" to meet demand for downtown living at a time when undeveloped parcels of land are scarce.

These high-rise condominiums feature residential units, retail space, and scores of amenities such as on-site gyms, pools, atriums, art galleries etc., aiming to ensure that occupants have a wide array of options for modern urban living. Most potential homeowners do not realize that condominiums are being built and located in a variety of places. They can be located in a high-rise building in the city or in a sprawling complex in the suburbs within excellent school districts and can vary dramatically in interior design and amenities. Gone are the days when owning a condominium meant preparing to settle for less amenities, undesirable locations and more mundane quality of design and building materials. Of course, all these benefits come at a price; however, for many homeowners this new trend suits their lifestyle and pocketbook.

The following projects which are being built or have been upgraded to condominiums throughout the United States are examples of this new trend. So-called "vertical neighborhoods" are also being built in cities such as Dallas, Salt Lake City, and other cities nationwide.

* MGM Mirage, is erecting a vertical neighborhood on 66 acres on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter will feature a 4,000-room hotel casino, 2,700 condominiums and condo-hotel units, and 500,000-plus square feet of commercial space.

The first large-scale vertical neighborhood was put up four years in Manhattan by Apollo Real Estate Advisors and Columbus Center LLC. The $1.7 billion, 2.8-million-square-foot Time Warner Center on ColumbusCircle offers upscale condos in the two towers along with a Mandarin Oriental hotel, retail space on seven floors, and TimeWarner's headquarters.

*Water Street Plaza, the first Class A commercial condominium building in Lower Manhattan, is using lobby art to appeal to tenants as reported in a New York Times article.

"The building's managers display rotating exhibits that are organized by an internal curator, whose job it is to recruit artists and organize their works as they would be displayed in a typical gallery. Time Equities has owned the building at 125 Maiden Lane since 1999. At this location in particular, the rotating art displays have helped attract culture-oriented buyers since 2006, when Greenburger's firm converted the building's leased space to for-sale office condos."

* A century ago Boston had more than two dozen breweries, but only a handful survived Prohibition. According to a Boston Globe article, three of those vintage Boston breweries dating from the early 19th century now are being turned into condominium complexes.

The first to be ready for sales are the lofts at the American Brewery Co. on Heath Street in Jamaica Plain. There will be 79 lofts on five floors, including the original brewmaster's quarters. 36 units will list for less than $400,000.

* As reported in the Associated Press, "Donald Trump is one step closer to building a high-rise hotel and condominium in downtown New Orleans.

The New Orleans city council approved a zoning proposal for Trump International Hotel & Tower, which will be the tallest building in the city at 842 feet.

The proposed condos will start at $400,000. Construction on the project will begin this summer and take 2 1/2 years to complete, says developer Cliff Mowe."

These projects are just a few of the types of condominium building that is occurring throughout the United States and were included to illustrate the types of condominiums that are now available to city dwellers who want close access to their workplaces, access to popular retail stores, upscale amenities and the benefits of homeownership. For many homeowners, these pluses far outweigh some of the negatives that most potential homeowners associate with condominium ownership.