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Why do the elderly continue to live in huge houses long after their children have moved away? Memories? They painted, mowed, replaced furnaces and planted flowers; they measured the heights of their children each year and etched those changes into the doorways of their kitchens. They knew their neighbors, supported their schools and watched their children grow up and leave.

Baby boomers, the children of the elderly, aren’t as sentimental about selling their oversize homes and moving into modern condominiums – especially if those condos have fabulous views. Granted, that’s not the only reason they want to move on up.

Betsy’s Story

Artist Betsy Woodyard says she and her husband talked about downsizing for a few years. As time went by, the desire to simplify became stronger.

“We slowly realized how much energy we were using to maintain the house and lawn, not to mention the cabinets and cabinets of ‘things’ that had accumulated through the years,” she says. “When the kids all graduated from high school, we took action.”

For the Woodyards, the hardest part was the actual process.

“We didn’t have qualms about giving things up — in fact, it was liberating — but we made a conscious decision not to simply box things up and put them in storage,” Betsy says. “We didn’t only want to downsize our house; we also wanted to downsize the clutter, things we had slowly collected through the years that were taking up space on a shelf, in a closet, in a box.

“To accomplish this, we made five lists: 1. What we absolutely, positively could not live without. 2. What the kids wanted/needed (one of my stepdaughters pulled up with a huge trailer!). 3. What had to go to storage. 4. What to give to Salvation Army/Habitat ReStore. 5. What to throw away.” (The Salvation Army had to send their largest truck to carry away all the things the Woodyards no longer needed.)

The couple wanted to be downtown. The building they chose provided what they needed, when they needed it.

“Before we moved here, I was most excited about not having to take the garbage out on garbage day,” Betsy says. “Seriously, that just delights me. But since being here, two things are wonderful for me: I love having an extremely helpful concierge, David Barker; and I love having the view out of floor-to-ceiling windows 24 hours a day.

“My husband likes having a pool and hot tub that he doesn’t have to maintain and the convenience of the workout room downstairs. And, of course, there’s the convenience of being able to walk to restaurants, theater and the river. Having downtown at our door is the best amenity of all.”

For example, Betsy says, “When it snowed recently, downtown residents didn’t have to get cabin fever — Capital Bar and Dugan’s stayed open; a neighborhood party didn’t have to be canceled because no one had to drive to attend.

“We didn’t know anyone who lived here when we first moved in,” she adds, “but we absolutely have made new friends.”

The proximity to downtown has paid off in many ways.

“When Wicked was at the Robinson Center, I read in the paper that they were having a lottery for $25 orchestra seat tickets,” Betsy recalls, “but the caveat was that you had to sign up at 5 p.m. and be present to win. Having already seen the show elsewhere, we hadn’t purchased regular seats. But since we were downtown and could walk to the lottery, we didn’t have to worry about parking or effort. Therefore, we didn’t have anything to lose since it wasn’t any trouble to take our chances. We walked to the center and won two tickets in the lottery.

“While we were waiting for the show, we walked to the Capital Bar and had a glass of wine, then walked back to the performance, stopped back at Capital Bar afterward for a late snack, then walked home.

“A perfect night — and an example of the serendipity that downtown Little Rock offers.”

No Regrets

Darrell Green was the one in his family who first thought about moving into a downtown condo when Moses Tucker built the Commerce Center. Darrell’s wife, Stacey, resisted for several years.

“At the time, we had two dogs” she recalls; “I thought it would be inconvenient to have to walk them several times a day in all kinds of weather. Plus, we lived and worked in West Little Rock, so I thought the commute would be inconvenient as well. Since then, I’ve discovered it’s no big deal taking my dog outside. And I work in North Little Rock now, so I have a five-minute commute.”

The hardest part of downsizing, according to the Greens, was deciding what was essential for them to keep vs. give away. For the most part, they gave furniture and clothing to friends and charities. That made them feel better about parting with their things. (It helps that there’s a storage unit on-site at their new home.)

The Greens were the first owners in a new building. They wanted to choose a unit that faced north. “It was so weird until the next folks, the Grimes, moved in a week later,” Stacey says,

The couple would like to see an upscale grocery store and liquor store. However, they praise downtown living.

“My husband and I go to the Farmers' Market every Saturday morning when it’s open,” Stacey says. “We love to eat at Dizzy’s Bistro, and we love to hear live music at Dugan’s and The Rev Room. Unfortunately for my waistline, Brown Sugar Bakery recently opened by us, and it’s so good!”

No regrets? “Not yet,” she says.

For Many Reasons

Jim and Arlene Hardwick came by downsizing in a unique way. As a business requirement years ago, Jim stayed in a high rise in Chicago for several weeks. His wife visited, and they loved the walk-to-everything concept of living downtown. Later, when it began to be too much of a hassle to maintain their house, lawn and acreage, they decided it was time to move to a high-rise condo in downtown Little Rock. There was another reason, too.

“My father-in-law was living with us,” Jim explains. “He’s nearly legally blind and has the beginnings of Alzheimer’s. After the second time he fell into our sunken den in the homestead, we decided we needed to move.”

The condo they chose gave them a chance to get in on the ground floor (so to speak) and land a unit with the view they wanted. It also provided the opportunity to make some floor plan adjustments and customizations.

“The condo is all one floor and level,” says Jim. “We rigged it with security cameras so we can look in on my father-in-law if we’re out. And if we should note a problem, there’s a concierge on duty we could call, and we’d have someone up to the condo in two minutes.”

Although the Hardwicks didn’t know any of their neighbors when they moved in, they’ve made many new friends.

“It’s a running joke that you have to have a dog to own a condo here,” Jim says. “You make lots of new friends — both human and canine — on the elevator taking your dog(s) out several times a day.”

One thing that Jim thinks is missing downtown is a marina/boat dock.

“The Arkansas River is now a major recreational attraction,” he says; “not having a public boat dock between the dams is a major drawback.”

Fireworks

Nell and Jim Lyford weren’t thinking of downsizing in the classic sense. They had lived in their Heights home for 30 years and just wanted to get rid of some things: furniture they had inherited over the years, an attic full of old papers, yearbooks, old bikes and skis, art they were tired of, dishes they never used — that sort of thing.

But one thought led to another; eventually, the Heights home was exchanged for a riverfront condo.

“We liked the idea of being able to work with an architect and designer and create a space that reflected our needs,” Nell explains. “And the view from our condo was the deal closer.”

It helped that they only lost about 400 square feet in the transition. Meanwhile, they’ve gained a few things in their new location.

“We knew a few people who bought when we did,” Nell says. “And we’ve made lots of new friends. For example, we have a Girls Night Out event. This week, we’re playing bunko in one of our owner’s condos.”

Nell likes the amenities, such as the fitness room, 20th-floor party room and swimming pool. Plus, she says, she has an ace concierge who makes her life much easier.

Nell would like to see enforced noise ordinances: “The motorcycles in the summer are annoying,” she says. “When the amphitheater books a heavy-metal band, that can also be a nuisance. But we just find something to do away from the condo during that time.”

However, there is an upside to summer activities, she adds: “The fireworks shows watched from our new home are fabulous! We love inviting family and friends to enjoy the show.

“We’ve also discovered a terrific walking path along the river and across the river,” Nell says. “It will be spectacular when the Clinton Bridge is completed. The food choices are excellent, too. We’re big fans of Zin, Brown Sugar, the Copper Grill and the Capital Hotel bar.”

Mixing It Up

Nina DuBois, marketing coordinator of Riviera Condominiums, says the totally renovated Riviera is not home to just baby boomers:

“One of the best points a baby boomer enjoys at the Riviera, which is a mix of retirees, 20- to 30-somethings, and other empty-nesters, is the feeling of living in a community that interacts with each other and yet the privacy of having their own space to go to.

“They don’t feel like they’re being shipped off to a retirement home, where it’s time for them to be ‘old,’ she adds. “They still enjoy being around the younger generations and the retirees. The thought of having children of any age in the building also appeals to them, whether they live here or are just visiting other owners in Riviera.

“Baby boomers and retirees do still want to be active and part of the society,” she adds, “but without some of the hassles of owning a detached home.”

DuBois says Riviera owners enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle — with no yard, no upkeep, no seasonal chores to be done. They like to travel and be away from home and not worry whether they are away for a few days or an extended period.

Riviera is in midtown, an area of popular restaurants; and shopping is within walking distance