any bad areas to avoid (Denver, Aurora: real estate, apartment, high crime)

[Needaplace]

any high crime areas? I am looking for an apartment and would rather live in a quiet safe area, any recomendations? I was hoping to spend no more then about $650 a month

[tfox]

There's been LOTS of posts on so-called "bad areas" in Denver. Just do a search. If you ask me, we don't really have that many truly "bad" areas. However, the industrial areas just north of I-70 are probably the ugliest and most polluted sections in the metro area, and that may attract a certain undesirable element. Ditto for the industrial stretches of I-25 between Colfax and the Santa Fe exit.

If you're simply looking for "safe" and gasoline consumption isn't a concern, then the outer 'burbs are about as safe as you can find anywhere, no matter which direction you go.

[paleo99]

I also suggest avoid Colfax. It seems when you go east of the State Capitol building it just goes downhill for the next couple miles. I should know..one night I was unfortunate enough to walk on that street at night when I was in town to get back to my hotel.

[Sign]

Originally Posted by paleo99

I also suggest avoid Colfax. It seems when you go east of the State Capitol building it just goes downhill for the next couple miles. I should know..one night I was unfortunate enough to walk on that street at night when I was in town to get back to my hotel.

Yeah, East Colfax from the Capitol to Aurora has a lovely rep.
Don't know about today but it used to have plenty of hookers, crackfiends and drive-bys.

[steveindenver]

I also suggest avoid Colfax. It seems when you go east of the State Capitol building it just goes downhill for the next couple miles. I should know..one night I was unfortunate enough to walk on that street at night when I was in town to get back to my hotel.

This could not be more wrong. Colfax is the heart of the city and has some of the best restaurants, all of the good show venues, and some of the best bars in Denver.

I walk frequently on Colfax at all hours of the night, as does my wife, as do tens of thousands of other people. Never had an issue in 15 years. The hookers were pushed east in the late 90's to around Yosemite and Colfax, and then out of that area a few years back to where I do not know.

I can see how a hick from the middle of nowhere Nebraska might find the color of Colfax alarming and thus equate color to crime but anyone who has actually lived in proximity to Colfax would laugh at this notion.

For 650 if you want to be near the heart of things you are going to be looking at Capitol Hill, Uptown (North cap hill), Cheeseman, Congress Park and Cheeseman Park. All are safe areas, residents of these areas all make use of the supposedly dangerous Colfax daily.

[livecontent]

I agree with SteveinDenver in that Colfax is a interesting street with good restaurants and offers to those who are in the know, some good living in Denver.

I am one of those "ten of thousands of other people" that has walked Colfax from one end to the other in the 31 years that I have been in Colorado. I have seen East Colfax change from a little rough, to an area that is definitely inviting to those who want a real taste of Denver City Life. Or are we going to change Denver into a plasticized, sanitized boring city with overpriced fluff shops and restaurants that cater to the "look at me" crowd.

Livecontent

[Brian_M]

Originally Posted by Needaplace

any high crime areas?

The only place my Realtor wouldn't take my wife and I was Federal Heights, said that there was nothing in there worth taking our time to see because of the crime issues. I don't know if it's bias, or fact... just passing along the info I received.

Past that, we saw pretty much everything west of I25 and no areas seemed "bad", just ethnic. Lots of people think that ethnic means bad and high crime, my wife and I aren't among those (and bought in an "ethnic" area).

Brian

[2bindenver]

You should report that licensee to the Fair Housing committee, or the Real Estate Commission.

It is not up to her/him to exclude a city because of the so called "crime" there - it's up to you to decide where you'd like to live.

[steveindenver]

The only place my Realtor wouldn't take my wife and I was Federal Heights, said that there was nothing in there worth taking our time to see because of the crime issues.

That's unfair. I think Federal Heights gets a bad rap that it does not deserve.

Granted, federal heights has more than its fair share of trailer parks but it also has some nice neighborhoods built in the 60's and 70's that are well maintained and it remains in close proximity to most of Denver and is where Water World is located.

[XAFLOC]

I would absolutely recommend checking out East Colfax in the area known as the Bluebird district if you want to experience a unique and trendy part of town with good restaurants in a safe environment. This section of Colfax is located between York and Colorado.

The only danger you'll find there is maybe suffering a heart attack from eating gourmet cupcakes at the Shoppe.

Don't listen to the Colfax naysayers. They need to get out more often.