Looking for a community - like new england? (Denver, Fort Collins: home, condos)

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Elizabeth and Kiowa come to mind. Not sure if they fit a New Englander's definition of "close" to Denver.

[TropicanaRose]

Every time I've come to answer this thread, something or someone has erupted/screamed/been too quiet etc. I don't know if you are still checking this thread, but here are my thoughts.

You may not find the New England layout here, but I think there are places that have the feel you desire. One that springs to mind is Lyons. You'll be twenty minutes from Boulder or Longmont if you need their conveniences, but there won't be any in your backyard. There are new subdivisions surrounding Lyons, but old town still feels very much like a small, friendly town. The shops are more on the touristy side, but it's not full of saltwater taffy and cheap sweatshirts like Estes Park. There's a nice natural foods market, good coffee and restaurants. I think it's worth a look.

[Shuffler]

I'll add that Lyons experiences high volumes of "Tourons" in the Spring/Summer/Fall...it's a main gateway into Rocky Mtn National Park and Estes Park, as well as Pinewood Springs where a lot of folks live, so there is a pretty steady flow of traffic through town which greatly diminishes its character/appeal (IMHO). Lyons is pricey as well...you will pay for the premium of living at the base of the foothills. Also, seasonal stuff like Good Ol' Days and the RockyGrass festival are pretty big crowd draws.

[Rumblebelly]

Berthoud seems kinda close to what I've experienced in the northeast (I lived in Fort Collins but I now live up by Saratoga Springs, NY). However, that's a drive from Denver. You might wanna check out Erie too.

Much of those small, quaint towns on the front range now have to support huge suburbs. They are all still pretty safe, walkable, and nice. However in Colorado, you don't have those natural obstacles such as hills and trees to block out the burbs.

[Shuffler]

Eeerie is another option, yes...although it's just becoming another 'bedroom community' for commuters working around the Ft Collins/Denvoid/Boulder area...most of the communities surrounding the greater Denver area are becoming homogenized suburban "Anytowns" and thus devoid of real character, if they ever had any to begin with. Thornton, anybody?! The 'spin doctors' i.e. chambers of commerce are the ones who dream that stuff up...but I have yet to see any that would tout any community around here as being "New England-ish"...that would be a hoot!

[Rumblebelly]

There is a town that we lived in briefly in Upstate NY called Clifton Park, reminded me so much of Colorado it wasn't even funny. The entire town consisted of strip malls, soccer fields, apartment complexes, and cul de sacs. No downtown whatsoever.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by Rumblebelly

There is a town that we lived in briefly in Upstate NY called Clifton Park, reminded me so much of Colorado it wasn't even funny. The entire town consisted of strip malls, soccer fields, apartment complexes, and cul de sacs. No downtown whatsoever.

yep, sounds like our "New West" to me! It's real great, y'all!! Come on out to Colorado and see how the West has been 'won'....LOL

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by newlymoved

I just moved to Denver with my boyfriend and we were planning on staying here for awhile. I am starting to look into different towns near Denver to buy and settle in (we both work in Denver), but am having trouble finding what I am looking for. I lived in new england for awhile and really love the small town community.

I am looking for a community(town) that has that new england flavor. Town center with library/church/community center, quiet streets, neighborhoods that you can walk around in (safe). Houses not on top of each other, but close enough to have neighbors. Only a few simple stores in town for basics or none at all (as opposed to strip malls)

I know there must be places like this here somewhere close to Denver?

I would appreciate suggestions from anyone who lives or knows somewhere like this, or who comes from new england/east coast and has ideas.

thank you!!!!!!

The only two places I can think of are Lyons and Berthoud, neither of which anyone would consider "close to" Denver. Lyons is expanding and gets horrendously packed with traffic in the Summer with all the tourists heading up to Estes Park and the RMNP. I don't think anyone goes to Berthoud any more since they finished the Hwy 287 bypass.

Possibly Morrison at a push? Or perhaps some of the small towns along I-70 going west?

[Katiana]

Lyons and Berthoud look more "New England" than Morrison and the I-70 towns.

[denverian]

I never understood why people do this - move to a completely different part of the country, looking for exactly what they left. I worked with several people who moved to Orange County from Massachusetts and most of them were looking for "colonial architecture, quaintness, no palm trees, etc." just like they left in New England. Of course they couldn't reproduce New England in SoCal. If I moved from California to Vermont, I wouldn't be trying to find a Spanish style home with ocean views and palm trees.

I guess I just try to embrace wherever I live, not recreate someplace else.