Possible Move to Louisville Area ?'s (Denver, Boulder: real estate, house, best schools)

[jtm1631]

Hello. We are thinking of moving to the Louisville / Broomfield area and I have a couple of questions.

First some background. Married with 3 daughters. 17, 13 and 10. If we move, we would wait until after our oldest graduates from high school in May 2012. Our 13 year old has special needs and from what I can tell, it looks like the Boulder Valley school district may have a good program so that will be a consideration in our final location decision.

We currently live in the north suburbs of Chicago but my company has an office in Denver that I would be able to work out of. I work in the suburbs close to my office with a 10 minute commute so I need to get an idea of commute times which leads me to the first question.

I understand with traffic patterns, weather, etc. commuting can be difficult but what is an estimate for the Louisville area to downtown Denver (17th and Lincoln area)? Also, looking at the RTD schedule, even in rush hour the bus travel times from Superior/Flat Irons to Denver do not seem bad. Are the times close to being accurate? For example, 30 minutes from 16th and Lincoln to Superior stop at US 36. I would typically leave the house by 7:00 to get into Denver, but head home 5:30ish.

Also, recommendations via DM for knowledgeable real estate agents / relocation specialists in the area would be appreciated.

JT

[Idlewile]

One of us commuted from Superior/Louisville or Broomfield areas to downtown for a decade; those times are reasonably accurate, not factoring in bad weather -- car or bus (although depends on your bus driver, really). For the most part, the drive in your car is fairly easy, not too long. If you leave as early as you say, it will be 30 min tops, likely 25. Afternoon drive is always a little longer, at peak maybe 35 min. You should be in good shape though. Will DM you on the Realtor.

[Katarina Witt]

If you want Boulder Valley schools, be sure your house is in the BVSD. This is no problem with Louisville; it is in the BVSD in entirety. In Broomfield, this is not the case. The boundaries are (roughly) west of Sheridan Blvd and north of 120th Ave. Do not count on open enrollment from outside the district.

[Micktooth]

I live in Louisville and drive to Denver every day. It takes me about 40 minutes door to door. My office is a little farther than downtown, I'm usually downtown in 25-30 min. I do leave at 6 am.

I have a 15 yo daughter with special needs. We are happy with the BVSD. I also wanted to let you know about an organization called Imagine Colorado which we use extensively. Imagine! - Innovative Resources for Cognitive and Physical Challenges

[NickMan7]

Lived in Superior for 5 years and the commute is fine if you're leaving before 7:00 in the morning. To be on the safe side and ensure you'll be to work on time every day, I would allow no less than 45 minutes. Once you merge onto I-25, traffic can come to a screeching halt and you'll be in stop-and-go until your exit at Park Avenue or 20th (either is fine if you're trying to get to 17th/Lincoln). Obviously, a major accident will have huge implications. Also, during the few times each winter when the roads are messy with snow and ice, Highway 36 is no picnic and, if you are commuting every day, you will eventually get stuck in a 3-hour gridlock going to work or coming home from work. The area right around Superior is quite hilly and can be a nightmare at best when the snow is falling heavily. Always make sure your gas tank is topped off if you're going to be traveling on icy roads. You never know when you might be stuck in traffic for hours. This is not to put you off, as extreme commute times are rare, but they do happen and you should prepare for them. Early season snows are usually the worst for traffic conditions - you know, people have to remember how to drive in it all over again!

Taking the bus has its advantages. First, there are numerous busses that traverse the corridor between Denver and Boulder in the mornings and evenings. Getting a bus around 7:00 in the morning won't be a problem, but be prepared to have plenty of company. To benefit you most, you'll likely be parking in the RTD lot at Highway 36 @ Highway 287 (it maybe be considered Wadsworth there). You shouldn't have a problem catching an express bus from that location, although it may stop at Sheridan. Likewise, there should be express busses from Denver back to your lot in the evening (again, it may stop at Sheridan). I, personally, always found it easier to commute by car, but many people prefer the bus. Parking in downtown can be very expensive, but so can express bus passes if you don't have a company subsidy. I know people who pay upwards of $100/month for a bus pass vs. $130 to park. If money is the concern, see what your company offers. If it's not about money, the choice is yours.

Re school districts, BVSD has a very good reputation with some of the best schools in the state. I don't know anything about a gifted program, but it would be worth looking into.

Good luck with your search and I hope I provided something useful!