Proximity of shopping & schools in Black Forest (Colorado Springs, Woodland Park: real estate, how much)

[arzoo4250]

We're considering relocating to CS and would like to know the low-down on the Black Forest area.

How far is Black Forest from the Briargate area and the Promenade Shopping center? Is it close to decent restaurants? Are the schools rated well? How far is it from Colorado Springs? How much wind is "usual" for the area? Where we're coming from has two months out of the year that the wind is just awful...day and night 20-30MPH gusts. Is it similar there in the COS area?

We're basically looking for horse property in a location with a small-town feel but close to a bigger city. Any other areas you would recommend that would fit this description?

Thanks in advance!

[froggin4colorado]

Black Forest would be suitable, but so would Divide/Woodland Park area in addition to possibly Falcon. However, Falcon can get windy. Black Forest is part of D20, Edith Wolford Elem is the school out there. Since there is no real downtown in Black Forest or neighborhoods, all the kids are bused in or dropped off. (No sidewalks, just homes settled in the woods.) Picture an area with lots of pine trees on gentle slopping hills. Divide and Woodland Park have a combination of pines and aspens in the mtns nestled next to Colorado Springs.The further away from COS the cheaper the property. Falcon is flat and rolling hills on the eastern plains of COS. It doesn't have trees, unless you plant and water them yourself. You will have mtn views along with the wind and snow/snow drifts. Falcon school district 49 is a good district too. They are all good school districts, you can't go wrong. Decide if you want to live in the mtns, or nestled in pines, or out on the plains. To see property, go to Colorado Springs Real Estate - Official MLS Listings - PPAR.com to browse the listings; every realtor/company lists through this site except FSBO and Assist-to-Sell. The price might determine where you go...

[springshomeblog]

Black Forest is gorgeous, and not very windy at all if you are in the trees! Depending on where you are in BF, you'd be about 10-15 minutes from the Shops at Briargate. A little more if you're closer to Falcon or on the northern edge of the forest.

I'd agree with froggin4colorado, Falcon is windy (think Kansas, only not quite as bad) so that's probably not what you want.

Colorado Springs in general has a few windy days, but it's definitely not all the time. I grew up in Kansas where it blows constantly, and it's nothing like that on a consistent basis here.

You might want to think about Palmer Lake - it's a small town north of Monument, on the west side of I-25. Great small-town atmosphere but pretty close to the Springs. Woodland Park is also gorgeous.

Carrie

[beezle1]

We have lived on the far north end of Black Forest with our horses for 15 years. The northern end is in District 38 which is also a good school district. We are about 20 minutes from the shops at Briargate, and about 15 minutes to Monument which is our closest grocery shopping. I don't think wind is generally a big problem here. We do get more snow (sometimes LOTS more) than down in the Springs area though.