Stacy Brooks expected to dislike downtown Minneapolis, but a one-year trial changed her mind; she and her husband are now negotiating to buy their condo
Raised in the deep forests of northern Minnesota, surrounded by deer and bears, Stacy Brooks never imagined she would enjoy living in a modern high-rise building. But after agreeing to spend one year living in the city to fulfil her husband’s long-time dream of having skyline views, she is now getting ready to make downtown Minneapolis her permanent home.In a first-person essay published by Business Insider, Brooks shared that she and her husband of more than 15 years are now finalizing the purchase of the 19th-floor apartment they first rented as a temporary experiment.The decision is a major change for Brooks, who spent most of her adult life living in quiet townhomes near park reserves in the north-west Minneapolis suburbs, enjoying a peaceful lifestyle while staying close to work.
A compromise fifteen years in the making
The couple’s move to a high-rise began because they always had different ideas about where they wanted to live. Brooks loved green spaces and quiet neighbourhoods, while her husband had always dreamed of city living.In her Business Insider essay, Brooks said her husband often admired high-rise apartments whenever they drove through downtown areas. He also spent hours looking for hotel rooms with skyline views before a trip to Tokyo and regularly watched YouTube videos of city apartments.By the time they reached their late 30s without children, they had the freedom to try something different. Brooks agreed to test city living for one year by dividing their time between their suburban townhome and a rented apartment on the 19th floor in downtown Minneapolis.On moving day, the difference was obvious. As they carried their belongings up the freight elevator, her husband was excited, while Brooks felt unsure about leaving behind trees and open spaces for roads, tall buildings, traffic noise, and the sirens from a nearby fire station and hospital.
I love looking out of our windows at the world below. Stacy Brooks
Daily life shifts to foot power and local culture
Her doubts slowly disappeared as she settled into daily life downtown. Brooks said she and her husband had always enjoyed walking while travelling abroad, but living in the city allowed them to make walking part of their everyday routine.Their apartment was within a ten-minute walk of three different grocery stores, and a year-round farmers market was only five minutes away.Their evenings also changed. Instead of driving to events, they could easily walk less than a mile to the orchestra hall, the baseball stadium, and several independent theatres.The neighbourhood also offered many dining choices that they could reach on foot, including an Eastern European deli, a Latina-owned coffee shop, an Indigenous restaurant, and an upscale Italian restaurant.Rather than missing a private backyard, Brooks found herself enjoying the apartment’s small balcony overlooking the street. She liked watching people play lawn chess, walk their dogs, or line up at an ice cream truck along the Mississippi River waterfront.
Finding community among childfree neighbours
More than the convenience and restaurants, the people in the building played the biggest role in changing Brooks’s opinion about city life.In their suburban neighbourhood, it had been difficult to build friendships because most community activities were designed for families with young children, leaving childfree couples with fewer opportunities to connect.The downtown building had a very different mix of residents. Since most apartments had one or two bedrooms, many neighbours were empty nesters or other childfree couples.This created a lively social community. Residents organised book clubs, holiday parties, and watch events for major sports like the Super Bowl and the World Cup in the shared lounge. The building even hosted an adult prom with a special theme.These events soon turned into real friendships. Brooks said it became easy to meet neighbours for dinner just a few blocks away without worrying about long drives or complicated planning.
One year of living downtown wasn’t enough for the two of us. Stacy Brooks
Trading suburbia for permanent high-rise life
Only a few months after signing their one-year lease, Brooks and her husband realised they no longer wanted the arrangement to be temporary. They decided they wanted to live downtown for good.When they asked their landlord about extending the lease, they found out the owner planned to sell the apartment as soon as their lease ended.Taking advantage of the opportunity, the couple made an offer on the 19th-floor apartment and are now completing the final steps of the purchase, according to the Business Insider report.After the sale is complete, Brooks plans to list her suburban townhome for sale, bringing her years in the suburbs to an end and fully embracing life in downtown Minneapolis.Although she says she will miss running through the suburban park reserves, Brooks believes she is ready to enjoy the convenience, sense of community, and lively public spaces that come with living in the city full time.
