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Downtown Stillwater Chris Salmon Plaza sports local art murals.
“ A lot of people come back as alumni. You have these friend groups reunify and relive their college days,” Cowan said.“ It’ s super fun to see people come back with their friend groups.”
Stillwater more appealing and welcoming, she said. It’ s a manageable size and relatively easy to drive in, making it a good option for people wanting to age in place. When working with older clients, she often sees people drawn back by their connection to OSU.
“ A lot of people come back as alumni. You have these friend groups
reunify and relive their college days,” Cowan said.“ It’ s super fun to see people come back with their friend groups.”
Affordability and availability of suitable housing options are problems her clients frequently run into. Housing costs in Oklahoma are lower than some other states but Stillwater’ s costs compare less favorably within the state, she said.
The city doesn’ t have enough senior-friendly housing to meet demand, Cowan said. She sees a huge opportunity for the development of housing tailored to the needs of seniors, whether it’ s cottage-style homes to buy or high-end, managed, independent living communities where people can rent. Smaller housing communities within walking distance of amenities would be hot commodities, she said.
Because salaries are often lower in Oklahoma, she tries to shine a light on the lifestyle Stillwater offers people of all ages. That’ s a major selling point for the community.
“ You have this small-town lifestyle that is very proximal to amenities,” Cowan said, noting the easy access to larger cities like Kansas City, Dallas, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.“ You just don’ t have to live in it.”
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STORY BY: MICHELLE CHARLES Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
ALL PHOTOS courtesy of THE CITY OF STILLWATER
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 48