Does Colorado Hate Highlands Ranch? (Denver, Boulder: smog, hoa, luxury)

[LisaCACO]

I didn't say that HR doesn't allow colors- it may. I just don't think the folks here are into colors, lol. all the colors here are very, very muted, though I did see a blue door a few days ago. there's no breaking out and going bold, kwim? maybe they like that, I dunno. on the one hand, you don't have to worry about your neighbor painting his house dark purple with pink stripes. on the other hand, I have a hard time identifying which house is ours-seriously. the muted colors...all so similar, similar landscaping-ugh. not quite what i'm looking for in a neighborhood I think. I really wanna drive up and be thrilled with my home and the neighborhood, on the outside and the inside. hard to do when everyone's home is so similar. it's not just HR, but I see it in many of the new neighborhoods all over in this area (and probably in many others). it wouldn't be so bad if the builders decorated the whole of the outside rather than just the front and a bit of the sides, but then again, they didn't ask me . the more distinct homes are the more expensive ones, 700,000 and up. we swore we weren't going to pay that again now that we've left CA, so we may end up buying a much older house just to get some "character"-dunno. I love the inside of many of these homes here in HR, just not the outside.

on the plus side, we love HR's park system. dd's three and she goes to the park nearly every day. we've visited every one of their parks, lol, as well as their rec centers. nice job there.

[DannyBanany]

Are some Highlands Ranch homes just several different models repeated over and over? Kind of like military housing?

[wealthtrader]

If you search Youtube for "highlands ranch" "problems with suburbia" you have a typical HR suburban hater. The guy thinks every place needs to be a "liberal utopia." God forbid a place where you can actually let your kids play in your street!

[suzco]

What bothers me most about HR is all the bluegrass lawn. No, they're not the only HOAs to require it, but the size of the development makes it a prime example of environmental and climatological insensitivity. A few years ago, during a height of watering restrictions, HR was even then sending violation notices to residents because their lawns weren't green and well maintained. The Colorado legislature has since enacted laws saying that HOAs cannot prohibit xeriscaping completely, but some percentage bluegrass turf requirements remain.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Are some Highlands Ranch homes just several different models repeated over and over? Kind of like military housing?

Look at the older homes in the Denver neighborhoods. It's the same thing. "Cookie cutter" housing is nothing new.

[Highpointer]

I worked for Centennial Water and Sanitation District in Highlands Ranch during the summer of 1996. After work I would explore Highlands Ranch by riding around the community on my bicyle along the many bike paths, or I would work out or swim at the cummunity recreation center. I found Highlands Ranch to be an excellent community and it appeared to have a high quality of life. Highlands Ranch would be one of the first places that I would consider living in if I returned to live in Colorado.

[a51ampFuse]

Hate Hylands Ranch?? Oh say it aint so....Do dogs have fleas, do bears poo in the woods, is Hickenlooper nothin more than a Boulder duffus? Hmmm, gunna have to give this some thought. Even the kids in the ranch are bored to tears and becoming braindead. Lead paint was far less of a threat.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by a51ampFuse

Hate Hylands Ranch?? Oh say it aint so....Do dogs have fleas, do bears poo in the woods, is Hickenlooper nothin more than a Boulder duffus? Hmmm, gunna have to give this some thought. Even the kids in the ranch are bored to tears and becoming braindead. Lead paint was far less of a threat.

Hickenlooper is from Denver.

[.gif]

highlands ranch is sterile and boring but family-friendly. it's also crowded. that about sums it up. the trails are nice though.

[b.adams]

What bothers me most about HR is all the bluegrass lawn

This the same kind of lawn found throughout 99% of the denver metro area and all of its suburbs ... I don't see why its a particularly bad thing about HR.

And the lot sizes are smaller (less grass, less water).

And HR has one of the most progressive water supplies in Colorado. They were planning for renewable source for water back in 1981 when the designed Highlands Ranch. They have both underground and renewable above ground water resources from the South Platte. They actually recharge the below ground water supplies as water is taken out ... recharging with renewable sources. They are also very close to converting a huge gravel pit near C470 and Chatfield into South Platte reservior ... and littleton will get a nice new lake view instead of a noisy gravel pit ... and highlands ranch gets more renewable water. This conversion of gravel pits to reservoirs is about as green as it gets. No new damn to build, no major effect on wildlife.

Compare that to the city of Denver, which for decades didn't even bother to have water meters on the residents homes. So they would run sprinklers day and night ... because it was free. That was wasteful ... and they also have bluegrass yards. In fact the yards in littleton and lakewood are considerably bigger ... but you don't hear people complain about their yards and wasteful watering.

I suppose HR "IS" sterile and boring, especially if you consider they don't have gas stations and roadside hotdog stands next door to residential homes. I suppose its boring that there is a lack of ratty areas where your afraid to walk at night. I suppose its boring that the people are all generally well educated and doing well for themselves ... and a general lack of serious urban crime. Most people with kids have everything they need and more in HR. Being a parent isn't always sexy and exciting ... but its the hardest job in the world ... and doing it proudly in HR is nothing to be ashamed of at all, IMHO.