AARP has spoken... drumroll, please! The following cities have been chosen as the best places for seniors to live:
Atlanta, GA
Chandler, AZ
Milwaukee, WI
Portland, OR
More details can be found in the upcoming Sept/Oct '07 issue of AARP The Magazine.
At first glance, one wonders what these four cities could possibly have in common; it's not the weather, certainly! Nor could it be the cost-of-living or lifestyle attitudes. No, the judges agreed that these four all had successfully managed to consider and accommodate seniors in their urban renewal plans: from transit and cultural options to mixed-use developments that keeps retail and medical facilities within close distance of neighborhoods. (*Aren't these good ideas for all ages?)
Boston's Beacon Hill Village was highlighted for its wide menu of services available to seniors who pay an annual fee for personalized concierge-like help, booking everything from plumbing and rides to cultural events.
In Atlanta, mixed-income housing and mixed-use development were recognized, citing popular Atlantic Station, a booming residential/shopping/business area, located on the site of an abandoned polluted steel mill (*as someone who formerly worked across the street from the mill, I can verify that it was indeed an eyesore, and am so proud of how Atlanta and the developers have breathed new life into that existing space!).
One of the senior-friendly programs offered in the the sunny and less-expensive Phoenix community of Chandler was its popular cab coupons available to seniors who might not drive.
Both Milwaukee and Portland were chosen because of their revitalization efforts in local historic districts, adding ammenities such as walks, bike trails and mixed-income housing.
Congrats to the winners; let's hope they have even more contestants in the coming years!
