Looking For A Retirement Home In The City

Some baby boomers looking for a place to retire are scouting out homes in New York City, wooed by the city's cultural attractions and public transportation.

2 minute read

December 26, 2006, 12:00 PM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"According to a report issued by William H. Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution, and the Mortgage Bankers Association, the baby boomers who do not age in place or, like previous generations, move to sunnier climes, will be lured into big cities."

"Ken Dychtwald, a gerontologist and founder of Age Wave, a consulting firm that focuses on baby boomers' retirement, described them as generally wanting more out of the experience than the typical resort lifestyle associated with golf courses and recreation rooms. As a result, he said, boomers will probably move in increasing numbers to cities and college towns."

"Joe and Debbie Karp are an active couple in their 50s who see themselves someday retiring to New York City. The Karps are born-and-bred New Yorkers who moved to Florida in the 1970s and now live in Palm Beach. With their two sons nearly out of college, they decided last fall to buy a one-bedroom apartment near Lincoln Center.

They plan to start by spending about 12 weeks a year in the city, but their eventual goal is to spend only their winters in Florida. 'We see what happens to people in the suburbs,' said Debbie Karp, who is 55. 'When you lose your car, you become a prisoner. If and when we retire in an official sense, I would want to do it in New York.'"

Sunday, December 24, 2006 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Canadian flag in foreground with blurred Canadian Parliament building in background in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Has President Trump Met His Match?

Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

March 11, 2025 - Toronto Star

Close-up of green ULEZ sign in London, UK.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution

Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

March 10, 2025 - Smart Cities World

Tents set up by unhoused people under freeway overpass in San Jose, California with American flag above them.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population

In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

March 14 - The Mercury News

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan

City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

March 14 - Saporta Report

New York City city hall building.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?

The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.

March 14 - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.