I think the key bit of the article is barely mentioned, and that is the office building being turned into condos. I've never found these downtown areas very interesting because everything closes after lunch. Actually getting people to live in these downtown neighbourhoods will also make them much more alive and vibrant just like your neighborhood further out. Yes, there will be a painful transition, but mixed use neighbourhoods will be much nicer long term. It may even get people back to the office if they can live near work. One of the reasons to work from home is simply to avoid the commute.