Have you heard the term “amenity buyer” yet? According to a recent story on NPR, “More Americans are living where they want to, not where they have to. They’re making new lives for themselves by the beach, in the mountains, in college towns.” Towns like Flagstaff, AZ, Aspen, CO, and “super-trendy” amenity towns like Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Park City, Utah are attracting baby boomers by the thousands, with no end in sight. (Having lived in the more densely-populated areas of the S.F. Bay Area and San Diego County, I can totally understand the desire to “get outta Dodge” and head for the hills!)
So is our little haven of Chico likely to become (or indeed already becoming) a draw for “amenity migrants“? Well, we do have: 1) The amazingly beautiful Bidwell Park (where my brother and I rode our bicycles just this morning), over 3600 acres of predominantly raw, natural beauty; 2) The gorgeous Chico State campus, conveniently located in downtown Chico, its stately elegance enhanced by Big Chico Creek which runs right through it; 3) The historic Bidwell Mansion, built beginning in 1865 by Chico’s founder John Bidwell (Note: certain scenes in the film The Thin Man were shot inside the mansion–a little known piece of trivia I just now found out by reading the Wikipedia entry! I highly recommend taking the app. 50-min. tour of Bidwell Mansion, held daily except Mon.; just $4/adult, $2/children; click here for info); 4) A thriving and energetic arts community (with the upcoming highlight of the year: Artoberfest, a celebration of the arts, complete with the well-attended Open Studios Tour); 5) Proximity to the mountains, coast, and several major cities, but with a decidedly “small town” atmosphere, etc. etc.
I could go on and on, but those of you fortunate to live here, as well as past visitors & grads know what I’m talking about. While Chico has certainly had its share of Bay Area and SoCal “transplants” (my family and me among them!), the notoriously hot summers may keep some of those boomers away, despite amenities galore. It will be interesting to see what the next few decades bring in terms of growth and how it’s managed…
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