9 Comments

We chose to move to Minnesota for the same reason...plus family a 10 minute drive away. Growing up in Manhattan as I did, the idea of walking to the grocery store, the bank, the pharmacy and so on is native and makes all the sense in the world. We could use a few more restaurants, but other than that it's all good.

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Apr 27Liked by Don Akchin

I love this article! My husband and I also live in a NORC, with numerous amenities within close walking distance. It’s such a simple, sensible, natural concept...I’m floored that the conspiracy theorists have this one in their crosshairs. Is it fear of moving from fossil fuels? When I’ve seen pix of these wackos they don’t strike me as having huge stock portfolios of oil and gas holdings.

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author

Trying to explain conspiracy theorists rationally is irrational.

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Touche!

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I've not heard of this term before! Fascinating. Funnily enough, I do live in what would qualify as a 15-minute city - though not a NORC because there are loads of young people here. Still, I do agree that living in a city where everything is within 15 minutes (walking in my case) is truly ideal

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We are looking to downsize in 2 years, move closer to family. What you are describing sounds ideal. I'll keep it in mind when we go house hunting.

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founding

When I moved to the Canton neighborhood in Baltimore 20 years ago, it was walkable but far from a NORC. At 50, I was an anomaly in the gentrified district full of bars and bros. But to my surprise and delight, it has matured along with me, and at least on my block (far from the bars), my neighbors are starting to retire. The amenities have grown as well. I now live 3 blocks from a shopping center that wasn't there when I moved in, and I can see a very nice restaurant from my front steps. I may or may not be around by the time public transit makes it here, but in the meantime I can easily walk and ride my bike to many destinations.

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author

Miriam, that's leadership by example.

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Never heard of this term and it's great! When I grow up I want to live in a NORC.

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