Monthly Archive for June, 2008

Boulder: Go West! (But not too far)

Published
by
Highrground
on June 30, 2008
in Boulder Homes
. 0 Comments

Boulder Flatirons

In Boulder County, mountain living is attainable, and accessible, and reasonable. Why? Because the city of Boulder is nestled right up against the renowned Flatirons and Indian Peaks. With the mountains right there already, all it takes is a ten to twenty minute drive–westward and upward–to reach some of the most serene, scenic communities you’ll find not only on the Front Range, but in Colorado.

Where are the mountain homes?

Boulder Heights - At the up-and-coming north edge of Boulder is Lee Hill Road, which connects Boulder Heights to the NoBo community and beyond. These homes near BLM land feature sweeping views of Boulder and spectacular natural rock and pine views. Although it’s no more than ten minutes from town, the wildlife lets you know you’re living in their world.

Pinebrook Hills - A lovely community up Linden Avenue consisting of single family homes ranging from the typical stick-built two-story, to exercises in grandeur that resemble small hotels. What you’ll find in Pinebrook is a new reservoir in the making, and a tight-knit association between residents, despite the area that these winding roads cover.

Jamestown - A close-knit community of families and professionals who mostly work from home or in Boulder. Here you’ll be able to hear the babbling of Lefthand Creek, and hear great live bluegrass bands and other artists jamming at the Mercantile. Jamestown is up Lefthand Canyon, between US highway 36 and the historical, scenic Peak to Peak Highway.

Nederland - With its own elementary, middle, and high school, Nederland is one of the larger towns in the area; its grocery store, restaurants, gas stations, and small mall make it a central stop for those living in outlying towns where the amenities are few. Few mountain towns in Colorado to receive regular public transportation to it via the RTD system, which makes “Ned” a place of great convenience to commuters who work in Boulder, or even Denver, especially during the winter, when the drive up and down Boulder Canyon becomes a trickier excursion. The RTD bus service serves not only Nederland, but the town of Eldora as well, with direct service to Eldora ski resort. Now that’s a nicety that won’t cost you your skis.

Crestview Estates - This deceivingly large community is tucked into the hills between Boulder and Lefthand Canyon, just west of US highway 36, for no-brainer access to Boulder (to the south) and Lyons (to the north). While you’ll notice the larger single-family homes here, there is also some vacant land on which to build in this reasonably-priced community.

Sugarloaf - Renowned for its one-time resident David Crosby, Sugarloaf goes up, up, up, and west, west, west, as an the ultimate scenic alternate passage to the Peak to Peak Highway. Here, the homes range from grand and opulent to modest and off-the-grid. Those in Nederland, Gold Hill, and Ward can take Sugarloaf to and from Boulder, which is paved about halfway, and dirt road the rest of the way.

Magnolia - Sugarloaf’s twin sister to the south of Boulder Canyon, Magnolia homes are just as likely to offer the same spectacular, sweeping views, with lots of flat meadow at the top, where the road connects to the Lazy Z community, Gross Reservior, and eventually the Peak to Peak Highway.

Table Mesa/Devil’s Thumb - South Boulder’s answer to the country community takes the shape of the Devil’s Thumb subdivision. Although it’s not nearly as high or as “out there” as the other mountain communities, it’s on the edge of open space for prime privacy and quietude. Devil’s Thumb marks the edge of the Table Mesa neighborhood, which is gaining popularity with Boulder newcomers and natives alike.

Coal Creek Canyon - Technically not in Boulder County, these home between Boulder and Golden are nestled in an intimate and markedly quiet little canyon near the mountain towns of Nederland, Rollinsville, Black Hawk, and Central City. Beginning at highway 72 and ending at highway 119 (the Peak to Peak Highway), the neighborhoods in Coal Creek include Pinecliffe, Wondervu, Miramonte, Copperdale, and Castle Village.

Other little mountain respites close to Boulder include Sunshine Canyon, Four Mile Canyon, Eldorado Springs, and the Walker Ranch Area.

Deja Vu in Denver, Boulder, and the US-36 Corridor

Published
by
Highrground
on June 23, 2008
in Colorado Homes
. 0 Comments

The Petroleum Club on 17th Street in downtown Denver was a private club for those in Colorado’s oil industry, and was the place to be if you were a Colorado oilman in the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. Then in the ’70s and ’80s…not so much. Its home, the 37th and 38th floors of 555 17th Street, became Qwest Tower after having been Anaconda Tower.

In the ’90s, along with the transformation of Petroleum to Pinnacle, came a new kind of oil rush: The dot-com era. With the new economy rearing its silicon head, all kinds of businesses and people were flocking to homes in Denver, homes in Boulder, and the towns in between, a region some called The Wired West, and others called the Silicon Summit. The US-36 corridor and the towns of Westminster, Louisville, Lafayette, Longmont, and Broomfield were bustling with business venture funding and real estate activity. The Petroleum Club became the Pinnacle Club, a private social club and facility for businesspeople and entrepreneurs. And then…not so much. The Pinnacle Club closed its doors in 2005.

That brings us to today, where we’re seeing a kind of convergence of the old and new. With what some call the Web 2.0 movement, a lot of the same high-tech conversations are picking up where they left off. ConocoPhillips is opening a new global technology center and corporate learning center at the Sun Microsystems/StorageTek site in Louisville. The learning center will handle research and development of renewable energy and high tech carbon fuels recovery. Grand Hyatt renovated the Pinnacle Club and opened it to the public.

And the old Petroleum Club is now the new Petroleum Club, and moved down the street, to 1325 Glenarm Place, downtown Denver.

Exploring Boulder Newlands Neighborhood

Published
by
Highrground
on June 11, 2008
in Boulder Homes
. 0 Comments

A listing in the heart of NewlandsNewlands is a classic Boulder neighborhood on the northwest side of Boulder, a larger, well-known subdivision between the boundaries of: the mountains, Iris Avenue (map of Iris Ave), Alpine (map of Alpine Street), and Broadway (map of Broadway). In Boulder Newlands neighborhood of single family homes, you’ll find new houses, one story houses, two story houses, and more.

With prices ranging from the high $300s all the way to almost $3 million, there’s plenty of room in this Boulder gem of a neighborhood, both figuratively and literally speaking. The homes are a friendly mix of turn-of-the-century, 1940s-‘50s, and new construction. Architecturally, Craftsman is the dominating style.

Boulder Newlands, What’s there:

  • New families and new empty-nesters, professionals, and stay-at-home parents.
  • Known for its community orientation, Newlands residents enjoy the natural amenities provided by nearby Mount Sanitas and the Red Rocks trail network.
  • Get out your Eco Pass: the Pearl Street Mall is just a ride away on the Community Transit Network; the North Boulder Rec Center and North Boulder Community Park are within walking distance.
  • Ask the Newlands Neighbors about home tours and festivals, not to mention their annual Junkengruven free yard sale.
  • The area’s public schools are Foothills Elementary, Casey Middle School, and Boulder High.

Denver Wash Park Homes: Still a Solid Real Estate Bet

Published
by
Highrground
on June 10, 2008
in Denver Homes
. 0 Comments

Wash Park mapThe Washington Park homes in Denver are nestled between I-25 (to the south), Cherry Creek Drive / East Alameda (to the north), University Boulevard (at the east end), and Downing Street (at the west). Known as “Wash Park“, the area has always been a beloved respite for singles, marrieds, families, retirees, dog people, runners, and just plain folks who played their real estate cards right.

And it’s one of 14 Denver neighborhoods that 5280 Magazine tapped in its May, 2008 issue as a reliable buy in what has otherwise proven an unsettling market. This desirable pocket of Denver is a great demonstration of the maxim: When considering markets, use a microscope, not a telescope. In other words, when evaluating real estate trends, drill down. A closeup view of the market is usually the more accurate one. National data is unhelpful to the individual buyer, especially in Colorado, where certain Front Range neighborhoods are famous for bucking wider US trends.

Washington Park has long been one of Denver’s best-loved and best-bet neighborhoods; the draws to it are: its long-standing reputation, charm, old Denver aura, the schools, accessibility to Downtown, and its 165-acre park of, not coincidentally, the same name.

There’s been a price hike in the Washington Park neighborhood from 2006 to 2007; about 9 percent, with houses along the park taking top dollar. Those streets are South Downing (map of Downing), Louisiana Avenue (map of Louisiana Ave.), South Franklin (map of Franklin), and East Virginia Avenue (map of Virginia Ave.). Off-Washington Park, the pricier streets are Corona (map of Corona) and Ogden (map of Ogden ).

You’ll find more detailed information of Wash Park information and listings from the Denver MLS at COhomefinder, where you’ll also always find detailed Google Maps of the Washington Park area, and all the other cities and towns COhomefinder serves.