With the kids gone, aging Baby Boomers opt for city life
It’s a common misconception that urban life only appeals to young people. This idea has been repeated many times in recent weeks with regards to the upcoming mayoral and city council election in Cincinnati. Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes said on Twitter that the purpose of the streetcar project is “to please ‘milennials'” (sic), and the Enquirer recently published a letter-to-the-editor claiming that the upcoming election is about “Millennials vs. Baby Boomers.”
However, a recent Washington Post article sheds light on this issue, and finds that an increasing number of Baby Boomers are opting for urban life. Once the kids have moved out of the house, Boomers don’t need as much space, and prefer the amenities that cities and new urbanist developments offer. More from the Washington Post:
“The millennials and the boomers are looking for the same thing,” said Amy Levner, manager of AARP’s Livable Communities. […]
“The spirit on the streets, there’s a kind of vitality, a regeneration,” Harold Closter said, adding that most people in their building are younger than they are. “We’ve made a lot of new friends, and we’ve found that it’s a lot easier for our friends to get to us, because we’re right on the Metro. . . . Our (adult) son and his friends think this is pretty cool as well.” […]
“I don’t have to spend my time taking care of the house, replacing the gutter, sealing the driveway,” he said. “After you make the move, it’s like a big rock lifted off the back of your neck.”