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Sweeping Views from the Top of the Regency Tower
For Cathy and Alex Primm, the decision to downsize gave them a birds-eye view of the city.
By Krysten Muench
Sep 2020
Photo by Brandon AlmsCathy and Alex Primm love the buzz of the city when on their south balcony that overlooks Missouri State University. They'll often sit down to dinner once rush hour has passed and the sun starts to set. The balcony also overlooks the Rountree neighborhood where they can almost see the rooftop of their previous home.
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Cathy and Alex Primm love living in the heart of Springfield, and they wanted to remain close when it came time to downsize. As luck would have it, a brief inquiry about a balcony that overlooks Missouri State University’s campus would have them moving just down the street from their previous home and into a spacious apartment on the top floor of the Regency Tower, complete with not just one, but two balconies overlooking the city and neighborhood they love. Each view offers a different experience, providing the couple with the choice of the buzz of campus or a tranquil, treetop escape.
Photos by Brandon AlmsAs avid art collectors, Cathy and Alex Primm have had to make some tough decisions about which pieces to keep and which to part with. The couple picked up this set of hand-blown, pewter wine glasses while on a trip to Telluride, Colorado years ago. They made the cut.
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What to Consider When Downsizing
When the Primms found themselves tired of the lawn work required around their Rountree home, they knew it was time for a change. Cathy Primm offers some advice for others who might be considering a downsize.
Flexibility
Flexibility is key when looking for a new home. “This isn’t our style of house, but it’s close enough,” she says. “We didn’t want to leave the neighborhood, [which] made this apartment perfect.” She suggests creating a list of ways you’d both be willing to compromise or conveniences you’d be willing to give up.
Patience
Once you and your spouse have agreed on what you are looking for, it takes some patience. “You just have to wait for the solution to come,” Primm says. “Sometimes it takes a while. Everything’s not going to be the same, so you just have to realize that things are going to have to change. You just wait to figure it out.”
Communication
Open dialog with your spouse is of the utmost importance when deciding what to keep and what to part with. “You have to be brutal,” Primm says. “It’s really hard when one of you wants to hold onto everything and the other one is willing to let go of a lot of stuff, so you have to really talk to your spouse and say, ‘Are you okay with this?’”
