AARP recognizes Spokane as ‘dream town’

Dorothy Donaldson was born and raised in San Francisco, but she says the Bay Area has nothing on Spokane.

Alison Boggs
Staff writer Spokesman Review

The cheerful 85-year-old moved here nine years ago to be near her son and couldn’t be happier with her choice.

"It’s not a fast-moving town like Seattle or San Francisco," said Donaldson, who lives at the Fairwinds retirement community on East Holland. "There’s so many activities, and retirement homes like this one are less expensive here."

Donaldson’s thoughts echo what the nation’s largest retirement organization has just proclaimed. The May/June issue of AARP’s bi-monthly magazine includes Spokane on a list of the "15 Top Dream Towns" nationwide where retirement-minded baby boomers can "reinvent" themselves.

Spokane ranks No. 14 and gets high marks for being what the magazine terms a "darn good buy."

Bellingham is the only other Washington city to make the list.

AARP officials said they would not reveal the names of the other communities until the magazine is published on Tuesday. The article will be posted on the AARP Web site on Wednesday.

The Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau provided photographs to accompany the article, including images of Riverfront and Manito parks, the Spokane Falls at twilight and a view from Sunset Hill.

"This is the first time Spokane’s been included," said Nancy Goodspeed, spokeswoman for the CVB. "To be a dream town is really a pretty cool designation."

And it could translate to more tourist dollars, said CVB president and general manager John Brewer.

"Getting this recognition by a national organization definitely helps us sell the region because more people will focus in on where we are," Brewer said in a news release.

Visitors to Spokane County spent an estimated $497 million last year, providing jobs for 9,000 residents and generating $42 million in nonresident tax dollars.

Brewer said visitors repeatedly mention Spokane’s quality of life and family-friendly nature. Positive traits cited by the AARP article were Spokane’s cultural offerings, access to outdoor recreation, golf courses, low utility and housing costs and lack of a state income tax.

Kyle Freedman moved here from Sacramento, Calif., to be close to her daughter and three grandchildren. "I really like it here a lot," said Freedman, who lives at Harbor Crest at Cedar Canyon Estates on the South Hill.

Freedmann and several of her friends at the retirement community enthusiastically affirmed the AARP’s findings Friday afternoon.

Dan Davis, who is 89, said he appreciates Spokane’s golf courses, symphony and business climate. "I’ve taken some writing courses from the community colleges," Davis added.

"I like to go to the theater and plays," said Betty Weathers, 57.

"I love Spokane," said Mark Brown, 83. "The weather is good and it’s an inexpensive city to live in."

One negative factor the article cited, however, was Spokane’s 6 percent unemployment rate, which caused the magazine to caution that the city "may be best for entrepreneurial types."

The magazine’s ranking system was based on: job availability, entertainment, affordable housing, access to outdoor recreation, sense of community, quality of public schools, ease of getting around and proximity to good health care.

AARP spokeswoman Muriel Cooper said the list of dream towns is reflective of the fact that baby boomers are redefining retirement by looking for things other than just good weather.

•Business writer Alison Boggs can be reached at (509) 927-2150 or by e-mail at [email protected]

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