Condo attraction
Lifestyle dictates where to liveBy MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff Writer
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Two years ago the Puringtons moved into one of the new Lower Harbor condominiums — widely referred to as “the birdhouses” — according to the retired couple.
“We moved from a fairly large family home with a large yard, which we really enjoyed, but we were ready to have a little less maintenance,” Sandra Purington said. “We just love the setting. We enjoy the park and bike path. There are so many outdoors activities right at your fingertips.”
The Puringtons are outdoor enthusiasts, “replacing yard work with cross-country skiing, kayaking, running, hiking and backpacking,” they said.
The couple moved to Marquette from Seattle to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Doug Baldwin.
“We like the size of Marquette,” Sandra Purington said. “It seemed right for our stage in life.”
Although there are some disadvantages to moving from a family home to a condominium — such as no basement and less storage space — the Puringtons said they haven’t regretted their move.
“We love it,” Burt Purington said.
Real estate agent Paula Lutey said people choose condominiums over family houses for a variety of reasons.
“Basically, maintenance of a home gets to be too much for people,” she said. “Some of the people live in these communities for the community.”
Lutey, who deals with some of the condominiums and townhouses at Lakeshore Park Place, said most of the people choosing to buy condos are either retired or close to retiring.
“There are a lot of locals and people who are coming back to the area who have family members here,” Lutey said.
In addition, some people are simply used to the “condo life style” in the bigger cities, she said.
“Once they are accustomed to (not having to do) any lawn work or shovel (snow), they are used to it.”
She said that the location of the condominiums — with easy access to the bike path, beach, downtown, hospital and university — is attractive to people, as well.
No stairs, a heated lobby and underground heated parking adds to the comfort, Lutey said.
Paul and Joan Mattson moved into one of the townhouses at Lakeshore Park Place after selling their family home on Kaye Avenue they built themselves and had lived in since 1963.
“We sold our house and just got rid of stuff,” Paul Mattson, 78, said. “We unloaded and started over.”
The retired university professors approached their decision from a practical perspective. They decided to sort through the memories of 43 years, so their children wouldn’t have to take care of their belongings once they are gone.
“We’re starting on a new adventure,” Joan Mattson, 73, said. “We have basically everything new here. We like it better. We have no regrets.”
The Mattsons said they like their townhouse and the condo association for a variety of reasons. For instance, they enjoy the company of others in the association.
“We have another new set of friends that we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Joan Mattson said.
They also love the pond and garden outside of their house — things they can enjoy but don’t have to maintain.
The Mattsons’ bedroom is on the first floor so they won’t have to climb stairs if that becomes an issue for them. And when the retired couple wants to travel, they just lock the door and take off.
Despite a common misconception, people who buy condos do have some input in the construction of their new home — if they buy it early enough.
The Puringtons, Mattsons, and Kristy and Fred Taccolini all helped shape their homes.
The Taccolinis were the second family to buy a condo in the Waterfront building at the Lower Harbor that is still being renovated.
“It’s just like building a home,” said Fred Taccolini, 47.
The Taccolinis — one of the younger families in the building — helped lay out their condo’s floor plan and told the architects what they wanted. One of the things important to the family was to include some of the 111-year-old brickwork of the original building. They ended up constructing an archway with the bricks. The family also made sure their home included a laundry chute that begins on the top floor and ends in the laundry room on the main level.
Fred Taccolini, a Marquette native, decided to move back to his hometown after living in three different family houses downstate and elsewhere.
“My family still lives here,” he said. “We always liked it here.”
The Taccolinis decided that the Waterfront has the best of both worlds: city and small town atmosphere.
“It gives you the feeling of living in the city,” he said. “This is the place to be in town — on the water and near downtown.”
Besides the low maintenance of the place, the Taccolinis also find their new home surprisingly quiet and the view of Lake Superior from the top floor is priceless, they said.
However, there are a few downsides. For example, Taccolini’s daughter Courtenie, 12, misses her old backyard, and Kristy Taccolini misses a traditional neighborhood.
“You don’t have quite the camaraderie (as) in a neighborhood,” Kristy Taccolini said.
She added that the “drop-by-visitors” are a lot less common, but they do have neighbors in the building.
Storage is also an issue, but the family’s two-car garage helps with that.
The Taccolinis said they briefly considered a house on Ridge Street, but found the condo to be their best option.
Now, Fred Taccolini said he’s glad they chose the condo.
“I don’t know if I would go back to home ownership,” he said.
