Comments on 80907, Holland Park area? (Colorado Springs: apartments, foreclosures, cheap home)

[JennyMMM]

I'm also looking to move to the area from Virginia ... to be near my son and his family. I'm researching on-line, have a realtor helping. I'm looking to buy under $300K if possible since I'm retired, paying cash.

I really want mountain views, found one that needs fix-up that could be great, but gov't owned, makes me leery about the neighborhood, could be a bad HUD zone? I love to buy cheap and fix up exactly as I want.

I'd greatly appreciate input on this area from those of you who know Colorado Springs well. Thanks!

[Vision67]

Holland park has had problems with landslides and expansive soils.

A cheap home may be cheap for that reason.

Caveat Emptor.

[beezle1]

If your son and his family are here, maybe they can drive by and see if they think the neighborhood would be a good fit for you?

[dr.frog]

The soil instability issue was the first thing that popped into my head about that neighborhood, too.

I'd think you'd be able to find a nice non-fixer-upper with mountain views for under $300K. I assume that, as a retired person, you are probably looking for a smaller home, not something with 4 or 5 bedrooms?

[Kar54]

Agree with the landslide/soil instability issues. As a former home inspector, I saw a lot of what appeared to be damaged foundations and basement floors. Proceed with caution.

[TCHP]

Definitely do additional research on Holland Park area. There are geographic risks, as others have pointed out. Neighborhoods are also varied. The vast majority of it is very nice middle income housing But there is a couple of fairly significant streets (Chestnut and Centennial) running the length of the development that carry a fair volume of traffic. There also are a large number of fourplexes, townhomes, and apartments on its northern and western edges.

[coschristi]

I lived in Holland Park from 2002-2010. There are probably still some HUD/foreclosures there as during the housing crash we were at an almost 1 out of every 4 homes in foreclosure. The neighborhood was built around 1969 & has some very nice homes & some "let-go" properties also. The area along Chestnut has some multi-family housing that are low-rent along with an area that runs from Forrest Hill Rd on the north to Holland Park Rd to the South. Even so; the single family homes on that southern stretch are well-maintained.

Garden of the Gods Rd to the north of the neighborhood has very heavy traffic but it is less than 1 mile to the highway from Chestnut/GOG so it's still navigateable. One major issue (right now) that is affecting traffic is a giant sinkhole that was created by a water main break on North Chestnut over a year ago. I go through that area every day & it is now finally being fixed.

Jackson Elementary School, in the heart of the neighborhood is an amazing school; my kids flourished there. That area also is "in boundary" for Holmes MS & Coronado HS. We live out of boundary now but I drive my twins to Coronado for the Robotics program. They love it there.

The people are fairly diverse as far as race & age. I'd move back there right now if I could but thats just my humble opinion/observations of the area!

P.S. came back to expand on what was said in post #5. This is absolutley true. Any potential buy will require a good inspection as these issues do exist in some (not all) of the houses there.

[JennyMMM]

I greatly appreciate input from all of you who have posted responses. The home I really like with great views and opens to huge green space does have some foundation cracks. So, what several are saying here is becoming a big issue. I thought the price left room for some foundation repair (if not too expensive), but now wondering.

Is it an ongoing stability issue that will continue ground shifting? So, if you repaired, it might likely happen again? I lived on the epicenter of the big earthquake here in Virginia ... had my fill of instability, LOL!

[Mike from back east]

RUN! don't walk, to the nearest exit. There will be better houses without the foundation issues which are a real issue in parts of the city. Keep us informed as you do your research.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by JennyMMM

I greatly appreciate input from all of you who have posted responses. The home I really like with great views and opens to huge green space does have some foundation cracks. So, what several are saying here is becoming a big issue. I thought the price left room for some foundation repair (if not too expensive), but now wondering.

Is it an ongoing stability issue that will continue ground shifting? So, if you repaired, it might likely happen again? I lived on the epicenter of the big earthquake here in Virginia ... had my fill of instability, LOL!

I used to live in Rockrimmon way back in the late 70s. The guy across the street had foundation problems. They had to come in, jack up the whole house, and replace the foundation beneath.

It cost him $40K

I decided then that if the soil report showed bentonite (expansive clay) we're done.

Because of that, I bought a house in Briargate in Windjammer. It has sand clear to China. Sidewalks are perfectly planar after 33 years.