Apparently it is a downtown area (5,4)

I believe the answer is:

inner city

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'area' is the definition.
(I know that inner city is a type of center)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for inner city that I've seen before include "In run-down area" , "Urban sprawl" , "Urban centre" , "Centre of conurbation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.

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