Neighborhoods in Longmont (Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder: foreclosure, condos, crime rates)

[Shuffler]

I've lived here 36 years. Longmont was ~20k people when we moved. Now it's spillover from all the sheeple who can't afford Boulder. That said, Old Town is great West of Main St, but expensive. The 'East Side' (we called it 'Taco Flats' back in the day) is not so nice between Main St and Pace. Southmoor Park is becoming a ghetto. Get West of Pace and you've got Ute Creek and all the newer McHouse and retail dreck where you're relatively safe from graffiti and gangbangers. West of Hover and Airport Roads is generally nice...Longmont Estates was the 'new' development back in the 70s. More recently the area West of Airport Rd has exploded with McHouses and businesses (Seagate & Amgen campuses). It's depressing to see ag land lost to houses and yards...in Colorado they grow more houses than crops these days. Never mind we live in an arid climate with finite water supplies...nobody seems to care, though. Complacency is the status quo.

I think that people suck collectively, but amidst all the doo-doo there are some daisies. I don't disagree that Boulder County is now run amok with self-absorbed poseur wannabes trying to project an image through displays of material wealth (megalomaniacs) rather than just living simply and being generally considerate and friendly to others.

[taildragger]

We lived in Longmont for several years, 'til 2003 when we moved to Phoenix. We loved it! Lived in Golden Ponds Estates and would definately consider moving back if work permitted.

[luckysam]

I grew up in Longmont and it's a nice place to live. It has grown so much in the past 10 -15 years and is not the boring town it used to be. There are lots of new stores and restaurants. They're going to tear down the mall and hopefully turn it into something much nicer.

Stoney Ridge is a nice area but it's close to an older, run down area. Some parts of the neighborhood are really nice but there are the few houses that aren't kept up very well. The homes were built in the late 80s/early 90s. The neighborhood is very close to two fairly new strip malls with banks, hair salons, liquor stores, restaurants and more. Just to the west of Stoney Ridge is an older part of town which is not kept up very well. East of the strip mall is the Ute Creek area where there million dollar houses and the Ute Creek Golf course.

The west side of town is much newer so it's a little nicer and the schools are better on that side of town as well. I grew up in Fox Hill which at the time was as far east as you could go in Longmont. I went to the schools that your kids would go to if you moved to Stoney Ridge. I survived just fine but would agree they are better on the west side.

There is a large Hispanic population on the east side of town so a lot of the schools on the East side offer programs for students who speak English as a second language. There was a big controversy for a while because in order to keep the schools in the area more diverse they started requiring families that lived near a brand new middle school to send their kids to Heritage Middle School which has a high number of kids who don't speak English. I went to Heritage (it was Northeast Junior High when I went there) and did not have one bad experience. There were also lots of negative rumors about Skyline High School but I also went there and loved it. Their sports teams have always sucked for some reason though!

There are some newer neighborhoods just north of Stoney Ridge with some really nice houses that I would recommend. They are between Hwy 66 and 17th Avenue - just off of Pace. I would also recommend the west side of town because it's closer to the mall, it's closer to Target and it's a lot closer to Boulder. Stoney Ridge will add about 20 min. on to your drive to Boulder during rush hour. If you lived on the west side you can be to Boulder in 15 min.

If you don't mind smaller towns Erie is growing and is nice. Broomfied is bigger and growing. Louisville and Superior are nice - getting more expensive though. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. I've lived in this area for so long and will happily give you some very honest answers. I just live 15 minutes East of Longmont now and I work in Westminster which is about 20 min east of Boulder and can tell you all about that too.

[Comedy]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Okay, I'll throw in my 10 cents' worth as a rebuttal. Firstly, I find Coloradoans way more friendly than where I used to live in the upper Midwest. You can actually have a chat with a total stranger at the supermarket without being treated like a lunatic. You can ask for directions or help with choosing a restaurant without being treated like an idiot. People SMILE at you while you're wandering around Target - weird, I know. And if someone doesn't like you or doesn't want to hang with you, they will say so, rather than pretend otherwise and then make endless excuses not to.

I moved to Longmont because I LIKE it there. I think it has a lot going for it. The Westside historic district is pretty and has a couple of great parks with lots going on there in the Summer months, as well as Martini's Bistro. The Eastside historic district is a little shabbier but still nice to walk around and you can find the library there, the Pumphouse (great fun in the evenings) as well as Lucile's for breakfast or lunch. Main Street doesn't look fantastic but there are quite a few hidden gems such as a fabulous secondhand bookshop, antique/junkshop, the pottery store, the Longmont theatre and symphony orchestra. Down near Prospect you have the Longmont Museum (Exhibits, Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, Longmont Colorado) and Prospect itself is pretty cool. Yes it's had some growing pains with the shopping/dining district but name me one area that isn't suffering that right now!

I admit I don't know anything about the schools or the rec centre but I enjoy living in Longmont. Rhythmn on the River is coming soon, the Farmer's Market is open every Saturday morning, the SEVEN greenways are available for walking, running, biking, the municipal golf courses are open all year round. There are SIXTY neighbourhood groups in Longmont alone (Community and Neighborhoods Information, Longmont, Colorado).

I think Longmont is what you want to make of it. If you come here determined to be miserable, then you will be. If you decide to be an active member of the area and thoroughly enjoy the town and its environs, I think you'll be happy.

People here LOVE to complain. WHen its Summer they complain how hot it is. When its Winter they complain about how cold it is and are shocked that it snowed. The recreation department has declined over the years. The Pump is over rated, and has lots of people getting DUI's out of there and from Shorty's.

People also love to make fun of people. Its so funny to see the newbies come smile, talk to them, give them directions, or ideas and then make fun of them for something. Its what we do here in CO so ya better get used to it.

I'm not going to pretend that Longmont is what it was 25 years ago, but I am not dumb enough to believe its the greatest place on the planet. Sure it has great qualities but until the liberal and conservitive parties can work together Longmonts potential will get flushed down the drain.

Longmont can be great, and it has great parts, but it also struggles mightely in other areas. Face it we live in Boulders shadow, and I'm fine with it. I'm just tired of all the transplants making Longmont out to what its not. Its a town that try's to be creative for its citizens. Its becoming trendy with no direction. So hopefully we will get some intelligent people to take Longmont into the future.

[Comedy]

Originally Posted by cincykate

First of all, thanks for the feedback and replies. I appreciate all of the information and will use it to find the appropriate area for my family to live.

Comedy, not sure what to make of your response. I will definitely look into the water thing and obviously the rec center is a real concern. I do, however, find it hard to believe that all Coloradoans can fall under such a blanket statement. We actually have no choice.. my husband's job is bringing us to Boulder! I guess we will try to find the best area for us.

SW Longmont is not our only area we are looking in, but would like to find an area that has good schools. I hear NIWOT schools are great, part of SW Longmont feeds into there, right?. The drug situation is scary everywhere! Unfortunately, I don't think I'm up for home-schooling..

Unfortunately we all fit under the blanket. Drugs are everywhere but the problem here is that schools don't know how to handle it and it gets worse. About 5 years ago school administrators were stealing money from the district, so that should sum up the schools here. Heres how I would move. I would first try to live in Boulder. If I couldn't live there I would work my way down the diagnol until I found a home. There are great things about Longmont, but why warn people about great things. You should be aware of the negative so bad things don't happen to you.

[Comedy]

Originally Posted by darjoh

I want to respond to the comment by "Comedy" about the rec center. You need to consider the fact that the rec center is a public place, and anyone can go there. The "rape" issue mentioned about the mentally challenged girl is obviously not elaborated on. Most likely it was another mentally challenged person that commited the "rape". It happens to be quite common among mentally challenged groups. Think about it, they are mentally challenged, they don't know the true meaning between right and wrong. After a swim in the pool, and then going to the lockers to clean up, mentally challenged individuals will "touch" each other. It happens. The problem is, people who are not familiar with the behaviors of mentally challenged children or adults, immediately assume the worse. Don't let one opinion destroy something that is a benefit to the community.
Going by the name "comedy" I wouldn't take too much said by that person to heart. It is only one person's opinion, and I would guess that person is a troll of sorts. My wife and kids are involved in lots of activities within the community, and the rec center and other places. There are way more desireable people in this area as opposed to "undesireables".
Like another poster said, its what you make of it, and the people you choose to interact with.

First off I'll make a correction, it was 3 rapes in five years. The 3rd rape was the retarded girl. The retarded girl was enticed into the mens room by a Mexican male under 6' tall, when she left the pool. There were no cameras in the hall so the picture put on the City of Longmont website was of a shorter Mexican man. The police then within a few days wrongly accused a Guatemalan man for the rape. The man was not retarded nor from what I have herd has been caught.

The police are constantly at the new Rec center because poor people use it as babysitting especially during the summer, and the people get out of hand. Thats great that you are a part of the community, do you want a medal. I'm a part too, yeah!!! Its not my opinion that someone got raped...It happened. And the fact you brushed it off so easy, ticks me off because you show the character of this town. Everytime something bad happens you say that happens everywhere. Well I lived here for 18 years moved to Phoenix for 7, came back and for the last 2 years have seen in the news about rapes, wannabe gang members killing people with sword, ordering a coke and burrito and getting cocaine at restaurant next to the YMCA. There is + or - 80,000 people here depending on layoffs. This isn't Phoenix, there shouldn't be this type of crime. It wasn't like this is 1999. but it is now.

Also kids are constantly tagging city parks and nothing is being done about it. Pick any weekend and go to Clark Park or Garden Achers and look around and you'll see paint.

The City is not doing what they need to do to make Longmont Great. To many people with your thought process live year and its people like you as to why Longmont is suffering.

[ParkBuff]

We used Housing Helpers when we relocated to the Boulder area last year. We're currently working with Stephanie, one of their Realtors, to help us find a home to buy in Superior. She's been awesome and knows the area like the back of her hand! I'd recommend giving her a call. 303-545-6000 or Housing Helpers Boulder Apartments For Rent, Denver Apartment Rentals, Broomfield Homes for Rent, Longmont Real Estate Agents, Las Vegas Find Roommates, Vegas Realtors, Buy, Sell Houses in Longmont, Lousiville and Superior Colorado.

[Comedy]

Originally Posted by ParkBuff

We used Housing Helpers when we relocated to the Boulder area last year. We're currently working with Stephanie, one of their Realtors, to help us find a home to buy in Superior. She's been awesome and knows the area like the back of her hand! I'd recommend giving her a call. 303-545-6000 or Housing Helpers Boulder Apartments For Rent, Denver Apartment Rentals, Broomfield Homes for Rent, Longmont Real Estate Agents, Las Vegas Find Roommates, Vegas Realtors, Buy, Sell Houses in Longmont, Lousiville and Superior Colorado.

I would use Carol Schack from Prudential in Longmont. She found us a house which we got $20k less than asking, and she was Presidant of the realtors association.

[darjoh]

Originally Posted by Comedy

First off I'll make a correction, it was 3 rapes in five years. The 3rd rape was the retarded girl. The retarded girl was enticed into the mens room by a Mexican male under 6' tall, when she left the pool. There were no cameras in the hall so the picture put on the City of Longmont website was of a shorter Mexican man. The police then within a few days wrongly accused a Guatemalan man for the rape. The man was not retarded nor from what I have herd has been caught.

The police are constantly at the new Rec center because poor people use it as babysitting especially during the summer, and the people get out of hand. Thats great that you are a part of the community, do you want a medal. I'm a part too, yeah!!! Its not my opinion that someone got raped...It happened. And the fact you brushed it off so easy, ticks me off because you show the character of this town. Everytime something bad happens you say that happens everywhere. Well I lived here for 18 years moved to Phoenix for 7, came back and for the last 2 years have seen in the news about rapes, wannabe gang members killing people with sword, ordering a coke and burrito and getting cocaine at restaurant next to the YMCA. There is + or - 80,000 people here depending on layoffs. This isn't Phoenix, there shouldn't be this type of crime. It wasn't like this is 1999. but it is now.

Also kids are constantly tagging city parks and nothing is being done about it. Pick any weekend and go to Clark Park or Garden Achers and look around and you'll see paint.

The City is not doing what they need to do to make Longmont Great. To many people with your thought process live year and its people like you as to why Longmont is suffering.

Wow 3 rapes in 5 years. what a stat for an area of plus or minus 80,000. Then again, you said in a different post it was 3 rapes in 6 years? which is it? Dont matter, either stat is still decent.

So the cops are constantly at the rec center? Especially in the summer? huh. Ive yet to see them there, and we are there quite often. Babysitting? The only kids I see there are kids of moms while working out. Besides there is a limit to how many kids can be there at one time. Its a pretty small number.

Yea. I would like a medal. Where do you want to present me with one? At the rec center??

I didnt brush anything off. If you actually read my post, I stated "It was MOST LIKELY another mentally challenged person" Most likely meaning I did not know the facts, and if you do, I would like you to post the link to the Longmont paper article, or a police log to back up your claim, because I searched for it, and couldn't find anything about it.

You have lived here for 18 years, and lived somewhere else for 7 and came back... Do you want a medal??

Let me guess, you were born here, moved out after HS, went to college in Phoenix, took 7 years to graduate, and moved back?

People like me making Longmont suffer? Hows that. Please elaborate. I need to be amused.

[Comedy]

Originally Posted by darjoh

Wow 3 rapes in 5 years. what a stat for an area of plus or minus 80,000. Then again, you said in a different post it was 3 rapes in 6 years? which is it? Dont matter, either stat is still decent.

So the cops are constantly at the rec center? Especially in the summer? huh. Ive yet to see them there, and we are there quite often. Babysitting? The only kids I see there are kids of moms while working out. Besides there is a limit to how many kids can be there at one time. Its a pretty small number.

Yea. I would like a medal. Where do you want to present me with one? At the rec center??

I didnt brush anything off. If you actually read my post, I stated "It was MOST LIKELY another mentally challenged person" Most likely meaning I did not know the facts, and if you do, I would like you to post the link to the Longmont paper article, or a police log to back up your claim, because I searched for it, and couldn't find anything about it.

You have lived here for 18 years, and lived somewhere else for 7 and came back... Do you want a medal??

Let me guess, you were born here, moved out after HS, went to college in Phoenix, took 7 years to graduate, and moved back?

People like me making Longmont suffer? Hows that. Please elaborate. I need to be amused.

You are so typical. This will be the last time I "elaborate for you." Also, I corrected nyself and told you it was 3, because I incorrectly stated 5. Your a typical Coloradan who needs to enjoy your ingnorant life...

Wow, this took me all but a minute to find. I'll even give you the website too. Police Searching for Sexual Assault Suspect, Longmont, Colorado http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/news/pr/2007/sexassault_suspect.htm
Press Releases

For Immediate Release • March 7, 2007 | Staff Contact: Rigo Leal, Public Information Officer, (303) 651-8840
View the most recent Press Releases.
Police Searching for Sexual Assault Suspect

On Sunday, February 25, 2007 between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM, a 28- year old developmentally disabled woman was sexually assaulted at the Longmont Recreation Center located at 310 Quail Road. The suspect befriended the victim inside the Center and eventually lured her into the Men's Locker Room where he sexually assaulted her in a bathroom stall.
The assault was reported to the Longmont Police Department later in the evening of the 25th. Longmont Police Detectives have been investigating the crime and have been able to develop a composite sketch of the suspect and seek the assistance of the public in trying to identify the suspect. The suspect's description is provided along with the composite drawing of his likeness and a rough sketch depicting a double heart tattoo on the suspect's left shoulder.
Anybody who believes they know who the suspect is, or has information about this crime should contact the Longmont Police Department at 303-774-4590 or 303-651-8523.
Suspect Description: The suspect was a Hispanic male, about 30 - 40 years old, 5'02", thin build, with black hair and a mustache/goatee. He had a tattoo of two blue hearts on his left shoulder area. He wore a blue tank top and black shorts.

Rapes, Sexual Assaults, and Assaults happen all the time. I am informing you about this to be aware and carefull while at the Rec Center. Also, when formualting a study, you cannot have a population of yourself. So just because the police are not at the rec center when your there doesn't mean there not.

Everyone, enjoy the fruits of Longmont, just don't live in a cloud that thinking Colorado is the greatest place and everywhere else is a whole. I know thats the attitude here, but people need to understand that good and bad things go on.

Hopefully the NEW Rec Center they build on the west side of town will be BIGGER and BETTER!