City Retirement Lifestyle Without Compromise
Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood is vibrant, walkable, and historic. It’s known for world-class culture, entertainment, and dining. It’s a great place to visit, but can retirement in First Hill work without compromising your lifestyle?
Many seniors assume a city retirement lifestyle means difficult compromises to their social, cultural, intellectual, and civic lives—even access to quality healthcare. But Gary F. and Randy E., residents of Seattle luxury retirement community Horizon House, beg to differ.
“People see how we’re living and realize they want the same thing,” Randy, a retired architect who spent 17 years of his 50-year career managing construction projects at the University of Washington, says.
Gary and Randy lived in nearby Capitol Hill for decades, frequenting downtown venues and exploring the city’s arts scene. Yet when they moved to Horizon House in 2023, even these urban veterans discovered the community and its location amplified—not restricted—the things they loved.
“Within 10 minutes, you can find a whole new world of activities and things to do,” Gary says.
Connect in a “Vertical Neighborhood”
Traditional neighborhoods spread horizontally across multiple blocks, making it difficult to connect with neighbors who live farther away. Because Horizon House is vertical and more densely populated, just relaxing with a cup of coffee in a public lounge can have fascinating results. As Gary puts it, “… somebody will sit down and say, ‘We haven’t met. I’m so-and-so from the Central Tower.” It’s another way a city retirement lifestyle creates connections that suburban living simply can’t match.
In their time at Horizon House, Gary and Randy have met retired math professors who came to Seattle every four years for Wagner’s Ring Cycle and came back to stay, as well as Randy’s former college librarian (more on her in a minute) and several other fun, interesting neighbors.
“It changes your perception of retirement,” Gary reflects. “People think we’re just a bunch of old people kind of shuffling along. But the majority of people here? They’re not shuffling in their brains. Their brains are still functioning quite well, thank you very much.”
Cultural Access Without the Drive (or Parking!)
Our arts-focused senior living community also supports Gary, a retired hospitality and public relations executive, in his engagements with the broader cultural community. “Randy and I are both very active in the professional theatre community here in Seattle, and Horizon House has been very supportive.” Currently, Gary sits on the board of The 5th Avenue Theatre, which is within walking distance.
Our Seattle luxury retirement community puts world-class venues at your doorstep. When Gary says, “There’s plenty of live theater within a 10-minute walk,” he’s talking about ACT Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and The 5th Avenue Theatre. “If you’re looking to go to the symphony, Benaroya Hall is 15 minutes away,” he adds.
Randy’s assessment, “I could say we have everything from an ice cream shop to a symphony” captures the variety of First Hill perfectly.
Ellen Greene of the First Hill Improvement Association explains how the neighborhood’s strategic location provides infinite opportunities for exploration: “We’re very lucky to be situated between downtown, the Chinatown-International District, and Capitol Hill—walking in three directions lands you in another interesting neighborhood.”
Worried about Safety? Don’t.
For many considering retirement in First Hill, safety concerns top the list—just not for Randy. The reason: his college librarian, also a Horizon House resident.
“I met her when I came to the University of Washington in 1967, and she remembered me by name when we moved in more than 50 years later,” he marvels. “Her mind is as sharp as a tack, and she walks downtown with her shopping bag through Freeway Park and the convention center by herself—in her mid-nineties.”
To Randy, her evening walks through First Hill represent the freedom that comes with choosing the right retirement community in the right location.
The Right Care Is Right Here
Moving to a retirement community can necessitate a change in healthcare providers and facilities, which is another reason people are skeptical about the care they’ll find in the heart of a city. The good news is that Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Swedish Medical Center, and Harborview Medical Center are the anchors of a world-class healthcare community so close by that medical appointments become convenient errands rather than day-consuming ordeals. “I’m a 10-minute walk from every doctor I see,” Gary notes.
Add to that convenience the comprehensive support of a Life Plan Community and you’ll start to get a sense of the peace of mind that redefines aging for residents of Horizon House, as well as their families.
Learning Never Stops
The intellectual energy at Horizon House comes from its residents—retired professors, civic leaders, medical professionals, and artists who didn’t stop being curious when they stopped working. Whether you want to attend talks by Seattle’s civic leaders, join stimulating discussions, dive into the community library, or take lifelong learning classes through partnerships with nearby colleges and institutions, there are plenty of ways to keep your mind engaged. You can also attend courses and workshops taught by Horizon House resident experts or participate in more than 60 resident committees and ad hoc groups.
The intellectual stimulation extends throughout First Hill. Town Hall, which is two blocks away, “has more than 30 activities every month—lecture series, film series, live performances, and more,” Gary notes. When you’re surrounded by independent thinkers with a passion for learning, there’s always something fascinating to do. This is what makes retirement in First Hill so intellectually rewarding.
Your Civic Voice Can Speak Louder Than Ever
Worried about losing your ability to make a difference? Horizon House has roots in activism dating back to legendary Seattle advocate Myrtle Edwards, who founded the community in 1961. That tradition continues today through residents with histories of writing policy, leading government agencies, working on task forces—and getting things done.
Environmental committee members are exploring how to make our campus carbon neutral. Some resident quilters handcraft items for shelter families, while others volunteer as friendly visitors and appointment escorts for residents in our assisted living neighborhood. It’s a city retirement lifestyle that amplifies rather than diminishes your impact.
And because Horizon House has a reputation for creating positive change, community leaders regularly visit to share ideas and learn from residents’ expertise.
Creativity Without Compromise
Retirement at Horizon House doesn’t mean compromising your creative passions; it means discovering new avenues for self-expression. Dedicated creative spaces including a painting studio, sculpture studio, and sewing room, make it easy to continue beloved hobbies or explore new ones. Take a writer’s workshop or art class inspired by Horizon House’s impressive 800+ piece art collection featuring works by renowned artists like Jacob Lawrence, Dale Chihuly, and Mark Tobey.
The Real Test
Gary and Randy regularly host dinner parties for friends curious about their decision to move. “We’ve had multiple friends change their minds about senior living and make appointments with the sales department,” Randy says. “One couple reserved in the West Tower last month.” Like many, they realized that making a priority deposit early was the best way to ensure their preferred floor plan and view in this highly anticipated expansion, which is scheduled to break ground in 2026.
With reservations going strong, it’s clear that more Seattle seniors are discovering what Gary and Randy found—choosing a city retirement lifestyle at Horizon House isn’t about settling for less but gaining access to more.
Ready to discover how Horizon House can amplify the lifestyle you already love? Contact Horizon House at 206-382-3100 to schedule a visit.
