Family moving from Miami (Denver, Lakewood: loan, budget, work)

[gtrov]

My wife, 5-month-old son, and I may be moving to Denver, from Miami, this summer and we are looking for info on good neighborhoods in the city and suburbs. I would be working downtown and would like my commute to be no more than 30 minutes, and, ideally, would have access to public transportation. Here's what we're looking for in neighborhoods:

-Safe
-Some charm and maybe a little history, i.e., leafy streets, older homes with wood floors and arched doorways (not cookie-cutter subdivisions)
-Prices $450K or under
-A yard (could be small)
-Other young families
-Ideally, good access to mountains

I was in Denver very recently to interview and had a chance to briefly drive around West Wash Park and Highlands. The bungalow homes in both neighborhoods did not impress me that much, but I can see why both neighborhoods are popular with young families. Are there other desirable neighborhoods in Denver proper and the nearby suburbs? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[tfox]

West Wash Park and Highlands were both middle-class rather than upper-class areas when they were built back around the turn of the century, so the homes there aren't quite so grand or large as some of the districts built for the upper class around that time. However, I doubt you'll be able to afford one of those grand old mansions on your budget, however, a charming Craftsman or Foursquare or Queen Anne could be had on your budget. If you're willing to put in some serious sweat equity, you might be able to find a large-ish Victorian in Congress Park or Cheesman Park for around that price.

As it turns out, most of Denver's suburbs were built out in the post-war era, so you're unlikely to find what you're looking for in Denver's suburbs, like you might in the older suburbs of an east coast city. Parts of Englewood, Littleton, Golden, Arvada, etc do have a few blocks of historic homes, each. So, that might be worth checking into as well. However, most of what you're looking for is going to be within a 5 mile radius of downtown Denver.

Best plan is to tour the various neighborhoods and discover what you're looking for. There's a LOT of neighborhoods out there so I think you'll find what you're looking for.

[Katiana]

I would add that Arvada, while having an older area, is also rather middle-class, at least in Old Town. The houses look like those in Wash Park, just a different setting. Same for Sloan's Lake in Denver.

[gtrov]

Thanks for your responses. We have also been told that Platte Park and Harvard Gulch might fit what we're looking for. In terms of suburbs, Louisville sounds nice, too, though I fear that the commute to downtown might be a little much (more than 30 minutes?).

[Katiana]

I live in Louisville. Yes, the commute would be more than 30 min most days. However, one of the advantages of going downtown is good bus service. There is a Park N Ride at the Louisville-Superior exit of US 36, the main route to Denver. There are a lot of cookie-cutter subdivisions in Louisville, though the older ones are starting to pick up some character. The downtown is old, leafy, etc, but the houses are small in general. Louisville is an old coal mining town; most houses in old Louis. are miner's cottages.

[gtrov]

I've heard about the express bus from Boulder to Denver (with a stop in Superior/Louisville), which is an appealing option to me because I'm a fan of mass transit and would be working in downtown Denver and could walk to the office. Pittnurse70, Do you have a sense of, how long on an average day, the express bus takes from Louisville Denver? Thanks again for all responses.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Coming from Miami, I wonder if charm translates into something different in Colorado? Are you looking for a stately stucco? I don't mean this in an insulting or confrontational way: we moved from Colorado to Florida, so I can kind of see where you are coming from (no pun intended). They like those arched doorways here, I know.
Tfox and Pittnurse offer excellent advice.
The tree-lined Craftsman neighborhoods in Wash Park and Highlands, in Colorado, are considered quite historic and full of character.
For $450k, as Tfox says, you might find a 2-story fixer-upper.

[gtrov]

Good point, and thanks for your input. We are coming to Denver from Miami, albeit a temporary stop in Miami. Our frame of reference, with regard to neighborhoods, is more Manhattan (Upper West Side/Morningside Heights/Hell's Kitchen) and Brooklyn (Park Slope/Prospect Heights), where we lived for years, and Chicago (Hyde Park) and Minneapolis (South Minneapolis). Those neighborhoods are all different, and have different things to offer, but that's what we're familiar with. Tfox mentioned Englewood, Littleton, Golden, Arvada; how about Lakewood?

[MobyLL]

Originally Posted by gtrov

Good point, and thanks for your input. We are coming to Denver from Miami, albeit a temporary stop in Miami. Our frame of reference, with regard to neighborhoods, is more Manhattan (Upper West Side/Morningside Heights/Hell's Kitchen) and Brooklyn (Park Slope/Prospect Heights), where we lived for years, and Chicago (Hyde Park) and Minneapolis (South Minneapolis). Those neighborhoods are all different, and have different things to offer, but that's what we're familiar with. Tfox mentioned Englewood, Littleton, Golden, Arvada; how about Lakewood?

gtrov -- We are moving to Denver from Miami also, and my wife and I also have lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn (Windsor Terrace). We really like Platt Park and are concentrating our search there, but our budget is more around 300 - 350K so you have more choices in terms of neighborhoods. There are a lot of Bungalows in Platt Park also, so if you don't like that style Platt Park may not be for you.

Anyway I posted some pictures here:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...uth-pearl.html

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by gtrov

I've heard about the express bus from Boulder to Denver (with a stop in Superior/Louisville), which is an appealing option to me because I'm a fan of mass transit and would be working in downtown Denver and could walk to the office. Pittnurse70, Do you have a sense of, how long on an average day, the express bus takes from Louisville Denver? Thanks again for all responses.

No, I do not know the answer to that. My guess would be 35-45 min, b/c the bus follows the same route as the cars, and that's what it would take to drive.

BTW, thanks, cil, for the kind words.

PS: Lakewood is pretty suburban. You can search this forum and get some good info.