A couple strolls down a street in Midtown Sacramento. Photo by Jesse Vasquez

Summary:
• Population over 65 will double by 2030 in California.
• Livable communities enhance mobility for all.
• Big cities “can't just sprawl forever.” 

Every morning Paul Zykofsky walks to work.

From his condo in the Midtown neighborhood of Sacramento, he strolls eight blocks under a leafy canopy of trees to his downtown job, passing homes, apartment buildings, restaurants, shops and offices.

“I chose to move here because I wanted a place to age in place and where I could walk to work,” the 55-year-old Zykofsky said. “I’m very happy to be here.”

Midtown was built in the late 19th century—before the automobile became king. With its lively mix of retail and housing, a population diverse in age and income, pedestrian-friendly streets, parks and easy access to light rail and bus lines, the once rundown Midtown is now one of Sacramento’s trendiest neighborhoods.

It also fits the AARP model of a livable community. In a state with 36 million people, livability becomes critical—especially as people age. AARP projects California’s 65-plus population will double by 2030.

“The livable community concept is important because it enhances our mobility, and that increases the quality of our lives,” said Lavada DeSalles, an AARP California volunteer in Sacramento and a former member of the AARP board of directors. “If you can’t get around, you can’t visit friends, make doctor appointments, go shopping, have all the social interactions that ensure longevity.”

Photo by Jesse Vasquez

A tree-lined street in Midtown Sacramento.

Across California, governments appear to be recognizing that such ideas make sense. Continued population growth in a context of limited land, water and energy resources means denser communities not dependent on cars. Planners call it “smart growth.”

In Sacramento, a 2004 city resolution encouraged greater use of streets by pedestrians and bicyclists. Planners reduced car lanes on some streets from three to two lanes to create bike lanes, and installed traffic-calming devices such as speed bumps.

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