by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Move over St. Pete. Step aside Fort Myers. A Jacksonville neighborhood is quickly becoming one of the top areas of the country to retire.
Jacksonville’s Riverside/Avondale neighborhood was recently named one of the “Best Places to Retire” by Money Magazine. Some of those that live and work in the neighborhood agree and understand why.
“I’m not surprised,” said Cassie Norris, broker/owner of Prudential Network Realty’s Avondale/Ortega office. “I expect an increase in the retirement community.”
The article focused on retirement in big cities and spotlighted different neighborhoods in the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
“I think it’s the quality of life in the area,” said Wade Griffin, a Realtor with Lifestyles Realtors Riverside/Avondale office. “It has a very pedestrian-friendly feel to it.”
Griffin said he believes anywhere from 20 to 25 percent of the clientele that frequents the Lifestyles Realtors office is retirees.
Long-time resident and community activist Bonnie Grisset said she wasn’t aware of the retirement living statistics for the area, but that Riverside and Avondale appeal to all ages.
“It’s such a beautiful setting,” said Grisset, executive director of the Riverside Avondale Preservation Society. “The parks, the museums, the architecture ... all just give the area its charm.”
Sally Suslak, vice president of Atkinson Realty Group and a Riverside/Avondale resident since 1975, agreed and noted that the area has a diverse age group.
“It (age diversity and amenities) make it a real neighborhood,” she said.
The Money Magazine article also listed pros and cons of each neighborhood. The Riverside/Avondale pros included the weather, art, eclectic shopping and river views while the cons included little public transportation, traffic and limited real estate and rentals.
While Grissett and Realtors agreed with the pros of the area, they didn’t all see eye-to-eye with the listed cons of the area.
“I don’t think that the traffic is a problem,” said Norris. “It’s actually pretty convenient and it’s a short commute to Downtown.”
Griffin believed the traffic con should have been listed as a pro.
“I think the traffic is one of the main reasons why people like the area,” he said. “There isn’t a main artery that attracts a lot of traffic.”
One knock on the area was a lack of available real estate. According to some, that’s a perception issue and isn’t exactly accurate.
“I think that’s totally wrong unless they’re referring to single family homes,” said Grissett. “There are plenty of condominiums and complexes available and more are being built.”
Griffin said he’d like to see even more being built, while Norris said more new construction projects that involve flats and condominiums that might attract retirees are in the works.
Norris did agree that public transportation is a problem. Suslak agreed, but pointed out the pedestrian-friendly nature of the Riverside/Avondale area makes public transportation less of a necessity.
“In this area, people can walk anywhere,” said Suslak, adding shopping opportunities are usually within a mile in most cases and for older people it could be their only form of exercise.
Riverside/Avondale was the only neighborhood in Florida on the list. It was listed at No. 19 of 35 on the list while neighborhoods in New York, Chicago and San Diego were at the top.