ArchivePage 2 of 6

Top Denver Colorado Streets

If you’re home shopping, home selling, or just getting familiar with the Denver real estate market, you might want to check into where the top Denver listings are, which includes top Denver subdivisions (such as Cherry Creek and Park Hill), top Denver single-family home neighborhoods (such as Hilltop and Washington Park), top Denver zip codes, and today’s focus: top Denver streets.  These are today’s top Denver streets:

You’ll find some of the best of the more than 7,000 Denver homes for sale here.  And here are some tips about what you can find at other Denver street locations.

Where the eats are:
Arapahoe, Wynkoop, Larimer and 16th Street are homes to some of Denver best and most boisterous downtown restaurants.

Where the shows are:
Ogden, Broadway, Fillmore, and Colfax are the little centers of music and arts venues where some of today’s best acts can be seen.

Where the parks are:
Washington (Wash Park), Bellaire Street (Cranmer Park), Franklin Street (Cheeseman Park) Colorado Blvd (City Park), and Saint Paul (Congress Park).

Where the schools are:
Of course, there are lots of them.  But these particular ones were featured in 5280 Magazines “best schools in Denver” edition for 2008.

Listings on the High Side in Boulder’s Sunset Hill

Sunset Behind Boulder's Flatirons

Sunset Behind Boulder

Near coveted Sunset Blvd in Boulder, where most residents enjoy sweeping views of the flatirons and foothills is one of Colorado’s premiere neighborhoods: Boulder’s Sunset Hill neighborhood.

The Beginning of Sunset Hill
Earliest Boulder maps refer to the undeveloped area as Lover’s Hill, but in 1944, Boulder contractor Ted McPherson formed a corporation known as Sunset Hill Improvement, giving the western part of the bluff a new name. Several homes designed by the architect Huntington were erected on the north side of High Street. (See a map of High Street in Boulder.)  Most of those homes have since been demolished and replaced, but Huntington’s work exists all over Boulder. He designed the Boulder County Courthouse, Boulder High School, a number of churches, and several sorority and fraternity houses.

What’s There Now
In 1950, Sunset Hill was considered the most rapidly developing, most possible residential section of Boulder. The cost of the homes (including lots) were pricey at the time and ranged from $15,000 to $20,000.  Today, the homes are still considered high-priced items, with single-family homes, luxury condos/townhomes, and land listed at $1.2 M to $2.9 M.  Today listings are few, with about six listings on the Boulder MLS, but data changes daily; check often for fresh listings, prices and more.  And if you’re willing to extend your search beyond the Sunset Hill area proper, there are more homes on the market with proximity to the same ammenities and schools. (Sunset Hill’s public schools are Whittier Elementary, Casey Middle School, and Boulder High.) These homes are in the 80304 and 80302 zip codes, and include Boulder neighborhoods such as Mapleton, Hillcrest, Silver Maple Village, Boulder Old Town, the homes at One Boulder Plaza, and many more.

Denver’s Historic Hilltop Neighborhood

Often mixed in with other Denver neighborhoods for its proximity to Crestmoor, Mayfair, Montclair, Cherry Creek, and BellvueHilltop is in the mix of old and new business and lifestyle developments in Denver. There’s no doubt about it, Hilltop is historical. Near Cranmer Park, where the dog-walkers, strollers and pee-wee soccer leagues roam, and over near Graland Country Day School (founded in 1924), Hilltop is one of Denver’s most regaled historic neighborhoods.

What’s There
Near Hilltop is some of Denver’s most renowned restaurants, and is a long-time companion to the arts and culture scene. Today, the face of Hilltop is, like most other places, changing a little.  While many small homes have been razed and rebuilt, or enlarged to accommodate today’s tastes, most of the historical flavor and architecture remains. A few lots are being consumed almost in their entirety by gigantic homes, but the number of these corner-to-corner builds are pretty limited. George Cranmer’s residence, the mayoral home (also known as Cableland), the modern splendor of the Shangi-La mansion, and other nameless, yet spectacular homes.

What’s Nearby
The area is also home to established community landmarks such as Temple Emanuel, Assumption Greek Orthodox, and Epiphany Episcopal.  And because Hilltop is in the center of it all, the neighborhood is within an hour of destinations such as DIA, Boulder, and Colorado Springs.

Who’s There
For now, Hilltop is a mature neighborhood consisting mostly of single residents without children. In fact, the majority of married couples living there are childless ones as well. What turn the neighborhood will take due to these kinds of demographic turns is likely unfolding now too.

DNC: Denver’s Neverending Cheer

The Pepsi Center, the site of most DNC activity

The Pepsi Center, the site of most DNC activity

It’s all over, and the votes are in: The greater Denver area did a great job hosting the Democratic National Convention.  Who says? Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, cable TV’s best and brightest fake news show on Comedy Central. In their first broadcast of “Indecision 2008: Guess Who’s Coming to Denver” from University of Denver’s Newman Center, Daily Show’s Stewart warmed the crowd by remarking how “suspiciously friendly” the locals are. “You’re all in very good shape,” he said, and then mentioned mountains, beer, trout, and riding horseback. No surprises there.

While there were protests, there were no major scuffles with police; according to most, the convention went off without a hitch, and Denver looked great. Residents with homes in or near Downtown Denver neighborhoods, Auraria, the Pepsi Center, University of Denver/Observatory Park neighborhoods, Highlands, and outlying metro suburbs with good access to the light rail system were mostly reported unbothered by all the activity. Some even rented their homes out at a premium to attendees from out of state.

And for the types who were either uninterested or annoyed by all the traffic, crowds, and hubbub, getting away from it all was a snap.

In Boulder, there was no indication whatsoever that there was any special event at all just 30 minutes down highway 36.  The same story with areas like Fort Collins, and the corridor between Colorado Springs and Denver. Steven Colbert of the same network’s Colbert Report, however, did tease his audience about how he was staying at the Overlook Hotel, a reference to the movie The Shining which was filmed in part at the allegedly haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.

And Then There’s the Beer

Colorado has a long and rich history beginning with the gold rush attracting residents from far and wide, and today, the state’s economy is diversified, noted for its concentration of scientific research and high-technology industries.  Other booming industries here include food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, minerals, and tourism.

But with the help of Coors Brewing Company in GoldenColorado also produces the largest amount of beer of any state. Not coincidentally, Coors Field in LoDo is always a good place to pick up a brew. But it’s not just all fun and games.  The federal government is also a major economic force in the state, hosting important federal facilities including NORAD and the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. NIST makes its home in Boulder, and the U.S. Geological Survey and other government agencies are located at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. In downtown Denver, you’ll find the governmental landmarks of the Denver Mint and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In any case, when you visit Colorado, you’re going to want to drink up.  Cheers to that.

Zooming Out: A Macro Look at Colorado

Consider the vast area of Colorado: Colorado bears the distinction of being the highest low point of any U.S. state. The Colorado Mineral Belt, stretching from the San Juan Mountains in the southwest to Boulder and Central City on the front range, contains most of the historic gold- and silver-mining districts of Colorado.

At the southwest corner of the state, in an intersection commonly called the Four Corners, it is possible to stand in four states at once: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.  And then there are the “fourteeners”–peaks that rise to or above 14,000 feet above sea level.

To look for the property that’s right for you in this vast expanse that attracts national attention with its natural and man-made offerings, turn to our maps, complete with Google’s satellite imagery and detail, and explore:

University, Platt Park, Wellshire Neighborhoods

University of Denver

University of Denver

If there’s a way to see the good in everything, it’s especially easy to find goodness on both the buy and sell side in Denver.  Today, we’ll discuss why while focusing on the DU (University of Denver), Platt Park, and Wellshire Heights neighborhoods.

First Things First:

The University, Platt Park, and Wellshire Heights communities are south of Denver, minutes from downtown, just off I-25.  For a few years, there was some discomfort experienced by residents and commuters passing through this portion of town due to the T-REX light rail project, but just about everyone agrees that the inconvenience was going toward the greater good of a state-of-the-art public transportation system, the likes of which Denver has sorely been in need of since, well, ever. T-REX construction was completed in 2006, and is considered a success for joining business and commuting epicenters Downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center and Centennial.

On the plus side for buyers:

  • These neighborhoods boast reasonable prices, with an average home price of $250,000, which is also the state-wide average.
  • Trends indicate price reductions–prices are down 5-10%
  • There are more sellers than buyers

Good for sellers:

  • Homes remain on the market for a reasonable length of time–about 90-120 days. Compared with other parts of the country, it’s a livable length of time.
  • Most sellers receive multiple offers
  • Nearby communities, such as Wash Park and Bonnie Brae are experiencing an upswing in activity and prices

Check in later this year, when we’ll revisit this area, to witness forthcoming trends following the summer season wrap-up. Until then, look for more good news.

Colorado Springs’ In-Demand Neighborhoods

When browsing your preferred locales at COhomefinder these days, you’ll find a new-ish feature called Top Categories. And if you happen to be browsing Colorado Springs listings, you’ll find under the “top” category Colorado Springs top neighborhoods, school listings and more.

Particularly if you’re new to learning about Colorado homes and real estate, or the Colorado Springs area, the “top” listings are a great place to start, since these categories are of interest to most home buyers getting a jump on the market. And if top Colorado Springs neighborhoods are where most of your interest lies, the following are today’s Colorado Springs top picks–the neighborhoods with the most activity and buyer interest. They are:

Lorson Ranch
Black Forest
Black Forest Reserve
Walden I
Elk Creek Ranches
Flying Horse
Broadmoor Glen South
Flying Horse West

Happy hunting. It’s sure to be a success when you take it from the top.

Open Range: The Denver-Colorado Springs Corridor

Between Denver and its suburbs and Colorado Springs and its suburbs is an hour-long stretch of the I-25 highway that is booming with new and existing populations. Once considered “the boonies” or “no man’s land,” this corridor joining two of Colorado’s largest cities is now known as a collection of individual communities with lives and personalities of their own. Here are a few of the recognizable ones with an active roster of home listings:

  • Centennial–As the closest community to Denver, Centennial is big with commuters who work somewhere within the Denver metro area, or the Denver Tech Center. Centennial is growing such that its municipal airport is the 3rd busiest general aviation airport and among the top 25 busiest of all types of airports.
  • Castle Rock–A long-loved suburb of Denver, it’s the sister city to Highlands Ranch and Parker, CO. Castle Rock is the home to Denver Metro’s most-visited collection of outlet shops, but remains a place where scenic and natural beauty reigns. It’s quiet, prairie landscape with spectacular mountain views is hard to beat.
  • Larkspur–A quiet country respite, where Renaissance Fair lovers flock to in the summer months. Just 30 minutes to Denver, Larkspur is the place where accessible amenities and the country life are not necessarily mutually exclusive, although they could be if privacy and solitude were your priority.
  • Palmer Lake–The last cluster of homes before entering Pike National Forest. Did someone say scenic? Palmer Lake neighborhoods are all within reach of its namesake body of water, and views to die for.
  • Monument–The hill that divides the north end of Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy from the rest of the stretch. Just outside the Gleneagle community, Monument is a little town of its own served by the Lewis-Palmer school system, which serves Palmer Lake, Monument, Woodmoor and the northern part of the Black Forest area of Colorado Springs.

One (or more) Step(s) Beyond:

Manitou 4 listings today (check in for up-to-date data). Just up the canyon that winds a few miles west up the mountain that abuts Colorado Springs.

Fountain 8 listings today. Just ten minutes south of Colorado Springs.

Pueblo 23 listings today. The next major town between Colorado Springs and the New Mexico border.

Colorado City (which is not to be confused with the sensationalist news from Colorado City, Arizona) 2 listings today.

Walsenburg 9 listings today. Isolated and wide-open, Walsenburg is where you’ll find plenty of acreage. A tiny little town that serves as the gateway to the San Luis Valley by way of La Veta Pass.

Trinidad 4 listings today. A “last chance” town before entering New Mexico. Trinidad is a charming little town that has worked hard to retain vestiges of its Old West roots.

Finding Historic Uptown Denver

Denver, all grown up

Denver, all grown up

Historic Uptown Denver is the little area east of downtown, between Grant & York Streets
and Colfax & 20th Avenues.

What you’ll find there: Mostly luxury high-rise condos and townhomes from the 300s up to over $1M, but you’ll also find a few single family homes and a wide variety of condo and loft arrangements in the 80205 zip code.

How to get there:
From Downtown–Take 17th St. east, past Broadway, where it becomes E. 17th Ave.

From I-25 Southbound–Take exit 213 for Park Ave. and head towards Downtown. Pass Coors Field, then go 11 blocks to Tremont Pl. Turn right (south) at Tremont Pl. Veer slightly left to go straight at the light, onto Grant St. Turn left (east) at E. 17th Ave.

From I-25 Northbound–Take exit 210A to merge onto Colfax Ave. (going east). Turn left (north) at Logan St. Turn right (east) at E. 17th Ave.

Some helpful hints on getting around, from our friends at Mile High Business Alliance:

  • E. 17th Ave. is one way, going east.
  • There is plenty of parking on cross streets. Watch for restrictions.
  • The shops at Uptown Square are located on 19th & 20th between
  • Logan & Washington. From 17th, take Logan north to 19th.

What’s around the corner:

Antique Row
Berkeley / Tennyson St.
Capitol Hill
Cherry Creek North
City Park West
Congress Park
East Colfax

Five Points
Golden Triangle
Governors Park
Highlands Square
Larimer Square
LoDo (Lower Downtown)
LoHi (Lower Highland)
Olde Town Arvada
RiNo (River North)
Santa Fe Arts District
SoBo (South Broadway)
Writer Square
Historic Downtown Littleton