Longmont Neighborhoods (Boulder, Niwot: foreclosures, renting, houses)

[delantero]

Currently looking at two homes, one is West of Centennial Park the other is in Southmoor Park.

Any and all information, thoughts, etc would be helpful.

First impressions are that Southmoor has good schools, nice homes, easy access to Boulder, a nice park (Kanemoto ?), but seems boxed in by an industrial area and a retail morass.

Then there's the area west of Centennial Park . . older, factory built homes with good views of the mountains, but schools are not as good (?) and the area just east of the park (which is large) has loads of foreclosures and train tracks . . .

HELP!

[jkcoop]

Originally Posted by delantero

Currently looking at two homes, one is West of Centennial Park the other is in Southmoor Park.

Any and all information, thoughts, etc would be helpful.

First impressions are that Southmoor has good schools, nice homes, easy access to Boulder, a nice park (Kanemoto ?), but seems boxed in by an industrial area and a retail morass.

Then there's the area west of Centennial Park . . older, factory built homes with good views of the mountains, but schools are not as good (?) and the area just east of the park (which is large) has loads of foreclosures and train tracks . . .

HELP!

I would peg Southmoor as old homes - it's an old neighborhood. I'm familiar with it because we have friends who live over there in various parts of it.

School wise - we were/are zoned for all of those schools even though we live in the southwest part of Longmont - West of Hover. My son went to Indian Peaks, then Sunset and now Niwot High. And we have always been very, very happy.

Unfortunately I don't know enough about the Centennial Park area. Keep in mind that as far as trains go - you will hear them in most parts of Longmont. Tracks are right there by the Southmoor area too.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by delantero

Currently looking at two homes, one is West of Centennial Park the other is in Southmoor Park.

Any and all information, thoughts, etc would be helpful.

First impressions are that Southmoor has good schools, nice homes, easy access to Boulder, a nice park (Kanemoto ?), but seems boxed in by an industrial area and a retail morass.

Then there's the area west of Centennial Park . . older, factory built homes with good views of the mountains, but schools are not as good (?) and the area just east of the park (which is large) has loads of foreclosures and train tracks . . .

HELP!

Unless you want a 'South of the Border' experience, those are areas I'd stay away from. That's all I can tell you as a 36-yr resident.

[DressageRider]

Delantaro, I live in Old Town and I'm not too familiar with either of those neighborhoods. (I'm an old house junkie, and really not a fan of housing built... well... after 1935!)

But based on the schools that JKCoop listed for Southmoor, [Indian Peaks, Sunset, Niwot High], those would be the schools I'd prefer my kids to go to. I don't have kids, yet. And we are in the Skyline zoning, which I'm not too excited about. But who knows what it will be like 16 years from now!

Oh yeah, and I live one block from the tracks. There is just a park between me and the trains, and I really don't mind them. Some people absolutely do. But hey, they were here first... little kids LOVE them... and from inside the house it is just a distant fanfare.

[delantero]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

Unless you want a 'South of the Border' experience, those are areas I'd stay away from. That's all I can tell you as a 36-yr resident.

Well, Shuffler, let's just say the Americans of Latino/Mexican descent I've been working with and been friends with are just fine.

And from what I can tell about walking around the East side of Centennial . . seems pretty whitebread compared to where I've lived . . .which is to say amidst a hodgepodge collection of Americans of all origins.

Let's just hope your racial tendencies stay hidden on an internet board instead of the open.

[delantero]

[quote=DressageRider;5635025]Delantaro, I live in Old Town and I'm not too familiar with either of those neighborhoods. (I'm an old house junkie, and really not a fan of housing built... well... after 1935!)""

Thanks! I would agree that the SW side of Longmont, from Old Town to the newer area by the Golf Courses/Open Space etc are fantastic and first on the list. Next would be the area near downtown on the East side of Main, but I think the trains would drive me bonkers---esp at night.

Problem too is that we haven't had much luck finding a reasonably priced place there that's not a quaint closet.

We're looking at foreclosures that we can improve---not flip--- and live in. That means lots of cash for immediate improvements as they are DUMPS!

East of Centennial atop the park gives a great view of the Front Range . .

[DressageRider]

Originally Posted by delantero

Thanks! I would agree that the SW side of Longmont, from Old Town to the newer area by the Golf Courses/Open Space etc are fantastic and first on the list. Next would be the area near downtown on the East side of Main, but I think the trains would drive me bonkers---esp at night.

Problem too is that we haven't had much luck finding a reasonably priced place there that's not a quaint closet.

We're looking at foreclosures that we can improve---not flip--- and live in. That means lots of cash for immediate improvements as they are DUMPS!

East of Centennial atop the park gives a great view of the Front Range . .

Delantero -It is great that you are renting -- you can take your time, get to know the neighborhoods, and then hopefully find a great (or potentially great) foreclosure. Longmont is pretty reasonably priced, especially compared to Boulder, but even though houses have been sitting on the market, the prices don't seem to be dropping much. (At least in my neighborhood.) I always keep an eye on homes popping up on the market and what they're going for.

The trains really bother some people, and don't bother others (moi) at all!

Re: the view. I have friends in an 80s neighborhood that is on the hill, and their view of Longs Peak is just unbelievable. My friend works from home so she gets to look at it all day long.

Oh, and I'm glad that you can brush off some of the comments about Hispanics. But let me just say Longmont has the best taquerias! We love La Panda II, for one.

Good luck!