George Jagger is probably not quite the hipster that Claire Gaudiani had in mind, when the Connecticut College president was predicting a downtown renaissance that would make New London a "hip little city."But 86-year-old Jagger is indeed what the doctor ordered for making the downtown a more interesting and dynamic place, a transplant from the suburbs.

But 86-year-old Jagger is indeed what the doctor ordered for making the downtown a more interesting and dynamic place, a transplant from the suburbs.Jagger last month moved from his secluded home in Quaker Hill, where he has lived since retiring from a New York banking career 30 years ago, to an apartment on lower State Street.

Jagger last month moved from his secluded home in Quaker Hill, where he has lived since retiring from a New York banking career 30 years ago, to an apartment on lower State Street.From the three big picture windows of his new living room, he has a panoramic view that takes in the new Parade, the broad brick façade of Union Station and the arriving and departing trains and ferries.

From the three big picture windows of his new living room, he has a panoramic view that takes in the new Parade, the broad brick façade of Union Station and the arriving and departing trains and ferries.He's already become accustomed to the quick "toot" each Long Island-bound ferry makes, at five minutes past the hour, as it slips away from the pier. And each time a ferry leaves it opens up a wider view for Jagger of the blue waters of the Thames River.

He's already become accustomed to the quick "toot" each Long Island-bound ferry makes, at five minutes past the hour, as it slips away from the pier. And each time a ferry leaves it opens up a wider view for Jagger of the blue waters of the Thames River.The classically robed granite woman atop the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, across State Street, is so close she appears to be almost peering into Jagger's handsomely appointed apartment.

The classically robed granite woman atop the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, across State Street, is so close she appears to be almost peering into Jagger's handsomely appointed apartment.Below, there is car traffic winding its way out of the city, construction work under way and pedestrians pulling luggage, making their way to trains and buses and ferries.

Below, there is car traffic winding its way out of the city, construction work under way and pedestrians pulling luggage, making their way to trains and buses and ferries. It's a long way from the quiet of Quaker Hill.

It's a long way from the quiet of Quaker Hill."So far, I'm very pleased," Jagger summed up his new surroundings, when I asked it he was glad he made the move.

"So far, I'm very pleased," Jagger summed up his new surroundings, when I asked it he was glad he made the move.As for the old house, one he had built on land surrounded by the woods of the Connecticut College Arboretum, Jagger said: "I'm surprised I don't miss it more."

As for the old house, one he had built on land surrounded by the woods of the Connecticut College Arboretum, Jagger said: "I'm surprised I don't miss it more."The move downtown was not really out of character for someone who spent many years living in New York City brownstones, and Jagger has already settled into some city habits in New London, strolling the waterfront park for exercise or lunching at Monica's State Street Diner.

The move downtown was not really out of character for someone who spent many years living in New York City brownstones, and Jagger has already settled into some city habits in New London, strolling the waterfront park for exercise or lunching at Monica's State Street Diner.He parks his car in the Water Street Garage and has discovered he sometimes goes two or three days without using it.

He parks his car in the Water Street Garage and has discovered he sometimes goes two or three days without using it.It was actually his dependence on a car in Quaker Hill that pushed him into a move.

It was actually his dependence on a car in Quaker Hill that pushed him into a move.He broke his arm last May, an injury that laid him up and unable to drive for four months.

He broke his arm last May, an injury that laid him up and unable to drive for four months."That brought me to reality in a hurry," he said, saying he had to ask himself, without a car, "how are you going to live your life isolated in the county?"

"That brought me to reality in a hurry," he said, saying he had to ask himself, without a car, "how are you going to live your life isolated in the county?"He quickly ruled out the idea of assisted living apartments, knowing he did not want to live in a community where everyone is the same age.

He quickly ruled out the idea of assisted living apartments, knowing he did not want to live in a community where everyone is the same age."They're very depressing, once you get beyond the grand front rooms," he said.

"They're very depressing, once you get beyond the grand front rooms," he said.He looked at a few other apartments in the city - he was determined to rent and not buy - before settling on the one on State Street, which a friend told him about.

He looked at a few other apartments in the city - he was determined to rent and not buy - before settling on the one on State Street, which a friend told him about.Jagger says he's been busy making the move and settling in, but he hopes to spend more time getting to know the city better.

Jagger says he's been busy making the move and settling in, but he hopes to spend more time getting to know the city better. Acquiring a library card and and checking out the senior center were high on his agenda.

Acquiring a library card and and checking out the senior center were high on his agenda.He's also busy with projects for arts and community organizations he has supported over the years, including a plan to raise money for renovations to the Pequot Chapel, of which he is trustee.

He's also busy with projects for arts and community organizations he has supported over the years, including a plan to raise money for renovations to the Pequot Chapel, of which he is trustee.He looks forward to being within walking distance to concerts. He's also been online, to check out the SEAT bus schedules.

He looks forward to being within walking distance to concerts. He's also been online, to check out the SEAT bus schedules. Jagger says the set of steep stairs he has to climb to get his apartment have been manageable, but he said he might consider some day asking the landlord to let him install an automated stair chair "if I reach that state."

Jagger says the set of steep stairs he has to climb to get his apartment have been manageable, but he said he might consider some day asking the landlord to let him install an automated stair chair "if I reach that state."Jagger, it seems, is downtown to stay.

Jagger, it seems, is downtown to stay.The city could use a lot more like him, hipsters or not.

The city could use a lot more like him, hipsters or not.

This is the opinion of David Collins.