A new social networking site is using the virtual world to connect neighbors in the real world.

LifeAt.com provides a platform to revive traditional concepts of neighborhood and community by using tools common among virtual communities.

The social networking site allows people to create customized, password-protected, private online communities of people who live in the same building, on the same block, subdivision, village, or town.

Unlike MySpace, which promotes interaction among strangers, the site encourages neighbors to meet through launch parties and other events. A "Resident Profile" section allows users to create profiles, add friends, send messages, post comments, and share photos. Users can seek and find neighbors with similar interests, create networking events and clubs, and join forums to discuss topics.

"Door-to-Door" and "Neighborhood Guide" sections contain user-generated content around local businesses, which can be reviewed and rated. The site hosts "Marketplaces" for classifieds to encourage local exchange of goods and services.

A "News and Updates" feature allows property developers, owners, and managers to publish building notices, maintenance information, and information about events.

"Potential renters and buyers want to find a community where they can build relationships, families and communities, not just an apartment," Matthew Goldstein, CEO for LifeAt, said. "We are dedicated to creating personalized sites for each property that will suit the growing needs of our clients and building developers. Using tools that offer unrivaled access, residents can learn about their building, their neighbors and community in a way they never could before."

The New York company, founded last year, boasts participants from exclusive residential areas in New York, Miami, and Chicago. The company said it plans to add 600 more properties within two months.