Those of us who live in urban neighborhoods by choice do so because we enjoy the lifestyle. We enjoy the fact that we can walk to many places as opposed to having to drive everywhere. We enjoy the history of the buildings and architecture that surround us. We enjoy the energy and the constant traffic (people and even cars) that goes by just outside our windows. And we enjoy living in diverse communities where we are close friends with many of our neighbors who also share our passion for urban living. Though I understand that urban living is not for everybody, I do think that more people would be open to the idea if they knew what it was like and knew what it was that attracts so many of us to it despite the challenges. Or better yet, if somebody were to somehow teach them how to actually "live urban". Hmm, if only there were somebody we could find that could speak to some of these people…
Well, we may have found that somebody – and we didn’t have to go any further than
Columbus! Kyle Ezell is the founder of Get Urban, Ltd. and is so passionate about city living that he has written two books on the subject:
Get Urban! The Complete Guide to City Living
and
Retire Downtown: The Lifestyle Destination for Active Retirees and Empty Nesters.
Kyle is a certified city planner, instructor of downtown housing at Ohio State University, and since 2005 has been a keynote speaker on the topic of urban living in cities all over the country – including San Francisco, Chicago, Columbus and more. He has organized "Ruppie" parties to help attract active suburban empty nesters to downtown neighborhoods (we have several Ruppies here in Downtown Dayton). And he has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Cool Town Studios, Columbus RetroMetro and yes – here on MostMetro.com.
So why am I telling you about Kyle and Get Urban? It could be because he seems to understand the potential we have right here in Dayton ("… When complete, Downtown Dayton could become one of America’s chicest Postindustrial Urbs. Life here, even in the often-bypassed city of Dayton, Ohio, will be hard for any urbanite to resist." – Get Urban! The Complete Guide to City Living). Or maybe somebody is planning a Get Urban event…
Yes, details are coming soon…
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