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Suburban Seniors Move On to City Life
SF Chronicle: 04.02.08

4-3-chron1.jpgYesterday's featured article in the Chronicle's H&G section was interesting because it was about something you don't often read about (in shelter magazines, anyway) -- seniors moving from the suburbs to the City. Of course, the Gruens were able to move from El Cerrito to a penthouse condo at the SOMA Grand...

 
 
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Susan Fornoff's article is here.

Images: Eric Luse

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Comments (9)

"something you don't often read about" ???

I was under the impression that this is a fairly well-documented real estate trend among empty-nesters. Or maybe just not in SF??

posted by Kathryn on April 3rd 2008 at 3:11pm
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It's so interesting to see MCM in the home of people who were around to see it the first time. I always wonder if they have vintage, or are just being modern.

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on April 3rd 2008 at 3:17pm
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While I'm not in a hurry for life to be nearly over I sure do wish I had a lifetime of good investments sitting around to fund a purchase like that!

posted by kimg924 on April 3rd 2008 at 3:26pm
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Yeah, it is a growing trend, but also old news [in terms of "something you don't often read about" which, I think, you do, if you keep up with contemporary urban issues]. I'm glad these older folks are choosing the urban life; it seems so much easier to stay independent, mobile, and community-connected in the city.

posted by visualingual on April 3rd 2008 at 3:58pm
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This is the trend in Denver too.

I worked with a young couple moving from their downtown loft... into a 70s suburban ranch - gutting the whole thing to make it loft-like turned out very cool.

The young Mrs. said that the lofts downtown were full of retired seniors... found it kind of funny.
I guess they're the only ones who can afford the expensive lofts!!!

posted by clickchick on April 3rd 2008 at 4:16pm
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Good for them. I hope I have managed my finances well enough near the end of my life to be in a similar position.

posted by dantsea on April 3rd 2008 at 5:26pm
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I can totally see my old apartment from their balcony ... which of course pales in comparison! I certainly hope they have cleaned up that section of Mission St. since I was there (which was only a year and a half ago).

posted by Barrett on April 3rd 2008 at 5:30pm
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I think it makes a lot of sense for seniors to move in the city. They don't have to worry about landscaping, there's enough space for two, and there're close to everything. Good for them.

posted by M2JL on April 4th 2008 at 7:08am
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I wouldn't be surprised to see shelter mags covering this more in the future, because this is very much a current trend. I don't think it's going to go away anytime soon either, as the baby boomers age. In fact, I read a piece in the Atlantic recently about newer suburban developments turning into ghettos, thanks both to the shift back to urban living, and the sub-prime crisis.

posted by greer on April 5th 2008 at 12:01pm
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