Jean and Flip Connell fell for each other while attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the late 1940s.
As it turns out, they fell for the town, as well.
Fifteen years ago—after careers in the nonprofit world (hers) and marketing (his), and after watching their two daughters attend the university—the Connells settled in Ann Arbor. Today, they often take in productions of the school’s musical theater program, attend football and basketball games, and hear lectures from visiting dignitaries, including the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus. The Connells also are facilitators for a lifelong-learning program for individuals age 50-plus. In the past year they discussed Middle East realignment, cybersecurity and energy geopolitics, among other topics.
“We feel fortunate to be part of this fabulous college community,” says Jean Connell, age 83.
That sentiment is heard frequently among the area’s retiree population. Take one of the country’s top public universities, add an eco-friendly environment (with 24 miles of on-road bike lanes and 60 miles of park bicycle paths), a vibrant arts community and a leading medical facility (the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers), and it’s little wonder that Ann Arbor is attracting transplants like the Connells.
Focus on Learning
Situated in southeastern Michigan, Ann Arbor takes its name from the abundance of trees in the area. The city, the sixth-largest in the state, is compact and easy to navigate—except during University of Michigan home football games.
Like all cities, Ann Arbor has some downsides. Real-estate prices and property taxes tend to be high. Major department stores are in short supply (though downtown features a good number of small shops). And winters are harsh; gusty winds, in particular, make heading outdoors a challenge.
On the bright side, the city has “no floods, hurricanes or earthquakes,” says Wendy Mead, 60, who moved to Ann Arbor with her husband in 2000 and writes a blog titled “Retired in Ann Arbor.” (She solves the weather problem by spending winters in warmer climes such as New Zealand.)
Ms. Mead and her husband regularly take an 11-mile bike ride along a path from Ann Arbor to nearby Ypsilanti, which is often deserted on weekdays. They also canoe on the Huron River and take walks in the picturesque Nichols Arboretum and Gallup Park.
The city’s learning programs are a big attraction. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan has 120 study groups that focus on topics such as philosophy, history, social science and the performing arts. Instructors are volunteers; many are retired or current professors at the university. About 700 people age 50-plus take classes each year, paying $20 for a membership and $40 for a 15-week class.
A similar program, called Elderwise, has attracted about 300 students. The 50 classes this fall included “How the Supreme Court Changed America” and “Ancient Greek and Roman Theater.” Membership is $30, and each course is $5.
Residents also flock to the city’s many artistic events. The University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater and Dance puts on 10 staged performances a year and hosts about 500 free events, including concerts by students, faculty or guests.
Similarly, downtown is the stage for the city’s major attraction: the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, which take place every July. Many downtown streets are open only to pedestrians over a span of four days when artists from four separate art fairs display their wares. The event routinely attracts 500,000 visitors.
The Tax Debate
Voters usually support eco-friendly initiatives in this town, which leans liberal. The mayor, John Hieftje, in office since 2000, is a Democrat, as are all the members of the City Council except one, Jane Lumm, who is an independent. Ms. Lumm says her colleagues tend to show less fiscal restraint when it comes to the “more sexy, discretionary initiatives” but are reluctant to approve spending for basic city services.
Last month, voters defeated two millage requests. The first would have funded a major library reconstruction; the second, backed by most council members, would have supported public art in the city.
Christopher Taylor, a council member and Democrat, had said before the election that the art and library spending would make the city even more attractive to visitors and would-be transplants, far outweighing “the modest marginal costs to the individual taxpayer.”
Ms. Lumm, however, had said, “I do believe there’s a growing sentiment among some residents that Ann Arbor is becoming increasingly unaffordable as a result of the high and escalating tax and fee burden.”
Kate Kelly, 71, who retired to Ann Arbor four years ago from Portland, Ore., says she prizes the city’s “progressive-minded population” and the ability to walk to nearby cultural events. (She’s also a fan of organic food; a boisterous farmers market in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown district is one of the outlets providing ample supplies of locally grown fare.) But she’s less enthusiastic about housing prices and high property taxes, which could strain her budget.
Janice Stickney, 71, paid almost $6,000 in property taxes in 2011 for the condo she purchased downtown in 2008. That figure, she says, might have dissuaded her from settling in the city—had she not moved from New Jersey, where taxes for the same property would have been closer to $8,000 or $9,000.
In the end, she says, the taxes—as well as the brisk winters—are a small price to pay for living in an otherwise ideal setting. “There are so many different types of things to do,” Ms. Stickney says. “You have an opportunity to find a niche.”
Ms. Halpert, a writer in Ann Arbor, can be reached at next@wsj.com.
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