Does Colorado Hate Highlands Ranch? (Denver, Fort Collins: appliances, how much, home)

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

People go a little crazy if they are packed too closely together. So, we do "need" open space. Build a walkable community, and I'd live in it. Before you tell me to move to Stapleton, remember that my husband works in Littleton, so he'd have to drive even farther than the 3 miles he drives to work now.

Part of the beauty of the Denver area is the large park and trail system through the city and surrounding suburbs. I don't disagree that most people need some kind of open spaces for their sanity, but there is a tendency among developers to build further and further out from the primary density (out on the fringe), then people move in for the open space, and then another developer builds beyond them, eliminating that open space.

I'm all for a green belt approach. Build pockets of density surrounded by a strong park, trail, and range system that provides that kind of open space without just sprawling out unchecked and unplanned. The current popular American suburban model simply is not sustainable, and negatively affects everyone. I know not everyone can instantly pick up and move to a more appropriate location to support a more sustainable lifestyle, but I think we should all make efforts in that direction over the course of our lives. Support a combination of density in the suburb you currently live in, but also support a good park system to balance out that density.

There will always be houses, and there will always be apartments, but if we can create a more genuine neighborhood construct (more than just a neighborhood being the residential housing development we happen to live in) then it benefits everyone.

[Mr. Answers]

I love Highlands Ranch and always have. The irony is that the fancy pants hipsters who rail against HR being "so, like, cliche and, like, you know, lame," will amost certainly end up either living there or wishing they were when they start a family.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by Mr. Answers

I love Highlands Ranch and always have. The irony is that the fancy pants hipsters who rail against HR being "so, like, cliche and, like, you know, lame," will amost certainly end up either living there or wishing they were when they start a family.

Not sure about that. I think you over stated how good Highlands Ranch is, like I said before its a great area and I can see why people would want to live there but if I was to move to Denver there are many nice neighborhoods closer to downtown that I would prefer to move to. It just all depends on what a person is looking for in a neighborhood.

[mczabe]

Why people would "hate" any particular place or people for choosing to live in that place is beyond me? I find it rather ironic when people who herald diversity can't extend that to reach outside their own personal preferences and beliefs.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by mczabe

Why people would "hate" any particular place or people for choosing to live in that place is beyond me? I find it rather ironic when people who herald diversity can't extend that to reach outside their own personal preferences and beliefs.

Agreed, every city in the United States, and the world, has their good and bad points. It all depends on what a person is looking for in a community, that is why we have so many. To say one city is better then another is purely subjective and no two people will have the same ideas.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Mr. Answers

I love Highlands Ranch and always have. The irony is that the fancy pants hipsters who rail against HR being "so, like, cliche and, like, you know, lame," will amost certainly end up either living there or wishing they were when they start a family.

I'm no HR hater, but I wouldn't raise my family there. Stapleton is perfect for us.

[2bindenver]

In April, I will have lived here for 20 years, 10 in SoJeffCo & 10 in HR.

Obviously, I prefer HR to anywhere else.

I like the community, the amenities, the activies, the proximity...

It is a lot like where I grew up in Potomac, Maryland, except for the petting zoo.

I would live in Stapleton, if I didn't know about HR. I'd also live in Southshore...there is a heavy pull to be near water.

I'd like to retire to LoDo - volunteer at the Rockies games. Maybe in 15 more years

[rkb0305]

I hear so many complain about HR being "cookie cutter" it makes me wonder what their priorities are. Not many can afford their perfect house in their perfect location. Everyone has to prioritize. I live in HR because good schools, parks, and activities for kids were important to me. Also proximity to my husband's job. So my house is the same floor plan as a couple others on the block... so what? Why would that bother me?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

I hear so many complain about HR being "cookie cutter" it makes me wonder what their priorities are. Not many can afford their perfect house in their perfect location. Everyone has to prioritize. I live in HR because good schools, parks, and activities for kids were important to me. Also proximity to my husband's job. So my house is the same floor plan as a couple others on the block... so what? Why would that bother me?

Don't you know that if you can't afford $1,000,000 for a custom home, you shouldn't own a home?

[Josseppie]

I never understood cookie cuter homes, they don't cost that much less then homes that are built for the buyer as the materials cost the same. I live in a home that was built to specifications and it was the same price as a cookie cutter that is about the same size. Prices of home are more affected by what you put in it etc. To be honest I think its just the lazy ness of the developers who want to get in and get out and build another house.