Capitol Hill vs. DU area (Denver, Aurora: apartment, work, houses)

[kmcg]

Hey everyone,

I'm moving to Denver in Aug or Sept and I am trying to decide between Capitol Hill and the DU area. I'm 22 (23 in Nov) and will potentially have a roomate(s) because of a program I'm doing. My work will be in either Englewood or Aurora and I will have a car. I know in DU it seems like I can get a house for the same price as an apartment in Capitol Hill (after splitting wtih roomates) but I'm worried that I will regret not living right in the city. I've been living in downtown DC for 4 years now, so I'm used to city life.

Is it easy to get from DU to Denver with public transportation? Are there plenty of things to do in DU at night and during the day? I'm not a crazy partier or anything, but I like bars and coffee houses, etc.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[Katiana]

DU is in Denver. It's not right downtown, but it's very close. My DD lives in the DU area and loves it; she is 23. It's close to everything, but a little more residential than Cap Hill. There are bars and coffee houses, a hooka bar near her place! (She says she's never been there, LOL!) Lots of trendy restaurants and many nearby. A car is helpful, but public transportation is doable.

[dj32]

yep DU is in the city of denver- about 2 miles to Cherry Creek and a mile to the bars and shopping of old south gaylord. There is public transportation- easy for downtown bars, shopping,etc... you can hop on right at University. It is more neighborhood-y than Cap Hill and I feel, a bit safer but you can't go wrong with either location.

[MattDen]

Both areas are close to Downtown Denver. Capitol Hill is just east of Downtown Denver and the other about three miles south-east.

I prefer Capitol Hill over the area down on South University though. Capitol Hill is just full of much more interesting characters in the neighborhood in my opinion , its much more vibrant, more dense.

Denver is not a dense city overall so Capitol Hill and the several urban neighborhoods are unique. The other area down on South University is just mainly brick houses mixed in with some apartment buildings and retail just very pleasent and quaint.

It just depends on what sort of neighborhood is prefered both are close to downtown and in Denver proper. Capitol Hill is more dense, urban, vibrant and louder.

[kmcg]

Thanks everyone,

I'm kind of torn between which area seems nice, and its hard because I can't afford to take a visit there before moving. I think it would be nice to have a little house near DU, but I also love the idea of a vibrant urban setting.

If anyone else has any opinions I would love to hear them!

Or, does anyone know of a site that I could check out some pictures of the areas?

Thanks!!

[tfox]

There's also a traditional neighborhood commercial area at Old South Pearl, which is somewhat close to DU. It's not "downtown", but kind of looks like a small-town main street in the heart of the neighborhood. Check out the website at Old South Pearl Street - The Heart of South Denver

I personally think that the old neighborhood centers with their bars/shopping like Old South Pearl, Old South Gaylord, Highland Square, etc are one of the coolest things about Denver's old neighborhoods. They were mostly built along the old streetcar lines.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by kmcg

Thanks everyone,

I'm kind of torn between which area seems nice, and its hard because I can't afford to take a visit there before moving. I think it would be nice to have a little house near DU, but I also love the idea of a vibrant urban setting.

If anyone else has any opinions I would love to hear them!

Or, does anyone know of a site that I could check out some pictures of the areas?

Thanks!!

The setting around DU is vibrant and urban. It's just a little more residential. There are certainly bars, coffee shops and the like around (even a hooka bar on University), and it's not far from the Cherry Creek Mall for shopping.

[MobyLL]

Originally Posted by kmcg

Thanks everyone,

I'm kind of torn between which area seems nice, and its hard because I can't afford to take a visit there before moving. I think it would be nice to have a little house near DU, but I also love the idea of a vibrant urban setting.

If anyone else has any opinions I would love to hear them!

Or, does anyone know of a site that I could check out some pictures of the areas?

Thanks!!

I took some photos of the south pearl area (a little west of DU) and posted them here:

[url=Removed[/URL]

There are also a couple of pictures of the DU light rail station in there. Be aware though that some of the pictures are of the 5 points area and are not of the area near DU (I included captions and a map). In fact, most of the residential pictures are of the Platt Park neighborhood which is similar to the area just west of DU but of course not so many students, but only about a 5 minute drive from DU. The pictures were taken on a Sunday, so probably depict less activity than is typical.

Getting to downtown denver from DU via light rail is really easy. There are several bars student type restaurants/bars along University, but i didn't spend a lot of time there. I know there are lots of houses rented by students just west of DU and it seemed like the whole area was fairly active and all, but I wouldn't compare it to the Georgetown area in DC or NYU in NYC.

Just a hunch, but my guess is that if you like living in DC, you will like Capitol Hill better. I think it would just provide more variety and choices than the DU area for the types of things you may be looking for.

[MobyLL]

Moderator cut: off topic Anyway these are photos mostly in the Platt Park area about 4 miles south of Downtown Denver. A few of the photos are of the DU Light rail station. I removed the photos mentioned above that were in the 5 Points area.



Louisiana / Pearl Station






University Station (University of Denver AKA DU)



Broadway Station


Platt Park -- South Pearl Street Area (Near Lousiana / Pearl Station, 4 Miles south of Downtown)































Bonus! -- Couple of shots from Hayden Green Mountain Park west of Denver

[Katiana]

Way cool pictures. There is a thread on General US (I think) for posting pix of your city. These would be good.