The Hot New Downtown Trend Is Babies
Once upon a time, hip, taste-making Manhattanites in the know would trek to Brooklyn to propagate the species with relatively more space and sometimes even backyards in which to park their Maclarens. But a surprising trend has been uncovered by DNAinfo, which reports that birth rates in Lower Manhattan have surged in the last 10 years. Community Board 1, which makes up the area below Canal Street, reports 1,086 babies born there in 2010. This is up 12 percent from 2009 and doubles the number born in 2001. 
This also represents a recovery trend in the neighborhood from 9/11. But the point is, it's a trend.
Downtown also now has the highest birth rate -- 17.8 births per 1,000 residents -- of any neighborhood in Manhattan, well above the borough's average of 12.3 births per 1,000 residents, according to city figures for 2010.
As if that's not enough, 40 percent of childless households south of Chambers are planning to have babies in the next three years.
All this has people worried about an already troubling New York City situation -- where do all these kids go to school? And, if there are not enough schools downtown, will people depart for more education-friendly shores? Is this something we should be concerned about?
As for those more worried that Brooklyn is losing its baby cred, know that in 2010 a whole bunch more babies (41,469 of 'em, in fact) were born in Brooklyn than in any other borough. (Comparatively, 19,646 were born in Manhattan.) Beyond that, how many luxury apartments in downtown Manhattan can claim the "ultimate rock 'n' roll play space for the urban 'under six' crowd and their parents"?
You heard it here. Babies are hot for spring. Do you have your Jayden yet?
Downtown Baby Boom Sees 12 Percent Increase in Births [DNAinfo]
[JDoll / @thisisjendoll]
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