Peeking out windows and opening closet doors, Natchezians were treated to a glimpse of apartment living in the historic downtown district Saturday with the Natchez Downtown Development Association’s Rooms with Views tour.

Five newly-renovated upstairs apartments — three of which are available for rent — were featured on the tour, the sixth such seasonal showcase hosted by the NDDA.

Tammi Mullins, NDDA director, said a residential downtown benefits tenants as well as the city by reducing crime and promoting business.

The more people that live downtown, the more likely that downtown businesses will extend business hours, &uot;so our downtown won’t die at 5 o’clock,&uot; Mullins said.

Kirk Bartley owns a historic home in Natchez, but said he is interested in downtown apartment living.

&uot;I’m getting to be an old guy and I don’t want to have to do any yard work,&uot; he said laughing. &uot;And it’s getting to be a community down here.&uot;

David Preziosi, city planner, welcome guests to his unfinished studio-style apartment, which he said is &uot;designed by me for me.&uot;

One of the biggest advantages to downtown living is being able to walk to work, Preziosi said.

Bernice Berdon and Mary Eidt said they enjoy touring the apartments year after year.

&uot;It’s fun to see what other people do and how they take these old places and turn them into showplaces,&uot; Berdon said.

Jenny Atkins was amazed to see the transformation of an upstairs space on Pearl Street. When she sold the property to renovators just a few months earlier, she couldn’t show one of the rooms because the floor was so unstable.

Giving the newly-carpeted floor and quick bounce, &uot;Seems sturdy to me,&uot; she said.

Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of living &uot;upstairs downtown&uot; was the same reason people came out to the tour — curiosity.

&uot;You wouldn’t need a T.V. if you lived here,&uot; said Jackie Smith, wife of Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith, as she looked out a window over Pearl Street. &uot;You could just watch all the people go by.&uot;