Not sure I like Denver - where are the nice neighborhoods? (Aurora: apartments, lease)

[snoussi]

Hi all,
Just moved to the area a couple weeks ago and while I really enjoy where I work (downtown, near 16th st and all that mall thingy) I must admit I'm having a very hard time finding a decent place to live. Apartments and homes that are supposed to be in "nice" neighborhoods seem really old and depressing, without many shops or amenities nearby.
Am I expecting too much? My parameters are $1200 max for a 2br, somewhere near a park/playground or some sort of kids' activity, not too far from downtown. There are many great looking buildings downtown, but these seem extremely expensive ($2000+?!). My family lives in Arvada, so I'd prefer something that's not way out east or down south, but perhaps this is where the nicer apartments are?
Not trying to offend any Denver-ites but I just can't seem to figure out a good place to live. Highlands seems nice, but only a few areas and then it's probably over budget. Capitol Hill seems OK, but also probably too expensive.
If anyone can give any search tips I'd appreciate it as I'm getting discouraged, thinking that all of Denver is slushy and dark.. !?
thanks!

[maciesmom]

If anyone can give any search tips I'd appreciate it as I'm getting discouraged, thinking that all of Denver is slushy and dark.. !?
thanks!

We've had snow (it is winter) and yesterday was in the mid 60's. Kinda hard to avoid "slushy" right now. Dark? Well maybe today but remember yesterday?

[Ghostgecko]

I lived there for about a year till my job failed and I moved to LA...while I like the temperature...I hate the parking and traffic...(duh right?)

What I didn't like about Denver in my opinion was it seemed that the housing had too straight of a jump...from crap to really nice and unaffordable. But the places in the middle were nuts. I looked at some neat places out in Broomfield...but too much. My job being right around the corner, I stayed there, but I stayed in a weekly motel in Wheatridge.

When the job was done...I left. I don't regret it...I do miss the mountains, and the less congestion. Going to get groceries here is a fiasco. You just have to deal with it. Just keep looking. I lived East and didn't like it, as I left Key West for Denver...so I was about living nearer the mountains. Not to mention the commute was hell from Aurora to Broomfield during a snowstorm...

Good luck to you and I hope I offered some help...check between Boulder and downtown...Broomfield, that area...very nice and sounds much more your alley than mine, affordability wise. I realized Denver was a great place to live AFTER you have the degree...otherwise it's hard to get by.

[blobbin]

Your price range leaves you with a large area to consider. Neighborhoods like Uptown, Capitol Hill, Cheeseman Park, City Park and more will have 2 bedrooms in the 1200 range and are all close to downtown with parks, shops and places to eat nearby.

[JDBattleMC]

Check out Sloans lake and the Highlands, I found plenty of places for $1200 on CL which would be awesome.

[davidv]

As a whole Denver is less kid friendly than the suburbs. Most of the really kid friendly areas are in the suburbs, especially down south near Littleton and Highlands Ranch, which are kid-central. There are some really great neighborhoods in Denver that have a ton of kids and activities, but I don't think that they are in that $1200 price range, though I could be wrong. Inside of Denver, you might try Stapleton (but you might not get a place for your price). Outside of Denver on the west side, you might try Lakewood (south of Jewell and west of Wadsworth or Green Mountain). Plenty of places will fit your criteria there, and it is not terribly far from Arvada.

I will disagree with JDBattleMC in that I do not think that Sloans Lake or Highlands are places where I would want to raise my kids and send them to school. While I am not afraid of any of those places, the school populations tend to be very transient and until, West Denver Prep moved in, most of the schools were considered to be failing by any measure you want to apply.

[Dorthy]

When I think of the more urban kid friendly neighborhoods (which it sounds like what you are looking for?) South Park Hill, Congress Park and City Park West come to mind. If you wanted to go further south, I'd add Platt Park and West Washington Park to the list. Highlands, Berkley and Tennyson are all areas that I'd consider on the west side as long as public schools were not a concern.

[livecontent]

You are working Downtown, so you have many areas good to live, both in Denver and the suburbs, as many would be very convenient for commuting by public transit direct to downtown—so what is the complaint.

You mentioned your family lives in Arvada but you have just moved here? You say you want to be close by, so live there. Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Westminster have all great family friendly areas to live that are close to downtown. I am not very familiar with apartment lease rates as I have not rented for over 30 years but I do know that these areas have great neighborhoods, good schools, expansive parks and excellent shopping.

Perhaps you are trying to hard and looking at too many areas. I would suggest you narrow your focus on those close-in areas, to Downtown, of those suburbs. Have your family help you with their familiarity of Arvada and nearby, to help you find a good apartment in a nice area. For example, there are many apartments along West 64th in West Arvada; near good Jeffco schools, good shops, great parks and have quick express buses to downtown. You can also look at the Arvada/Westminster area at 80th and Wadsworth which would give you a good place to live. There are many nice apartments in Wheat Ridge/Lakewood from West 20 to West 38th. You can easily find good apartments up on North Wadsworth and Sheridan in Westminster that are new and close to the parks, schools and newer amenities of Westminster.

Denver, itself, has wonderful great neighborhoods to live but if you think they are too old and do not satisfy you, then do not live there. Many of them, especially on the West/North Denver side, are older, very desirable but there are other choices. You can easily live in the adjacent suburbs and still be close enough to downtown and find newer housing and perhaps cheaper rent.

Livecontent

[backfist]

Originally Posted by snoussi

Hi all,
Just moved to the area a couple weeks ago and while I really enjoy where I work (downtown, near 16th st and all that mall thingy) I must admit I'm having a very hard time finding a decent place to live. Apartments and homes that are supposed to be in "nice" neighborhoods seem really old and depressing, without many shops or amenities nearby.
Am I expecting too much? My parameters are $1200 max for a 2br, somewhere near a park/playground or some sort of kids' activity, not too far from downtown. There are many great looking buildings downtown, but these seem extremely expensive ($2000+?!). My family lives in Arvada, so I'd prefer something that's not way out east or down south, but perhaps this is where the nicer apartments are?
Not trying to offend any Denver-ites but I just can't seem to figure out a good place to live. Highlands seems nice, but only a few areas and then it's probably over budget. Capitol Hill seems OK, but also probably too expensive.
If anyone can give any search tips I'd appreciate it as I'm getting discouraged, thinking that all of Denver is slushy and dark.. !?
thanks!

It looks like your max for rent ($1200) is going to be too low for what you want -- not that you're wanting anything unreasonable.

Now, since you have family in Arvada, you logically want to stay as close as possible. But I would suggest focusing first on your daily work commute and keeping it as reasonable as possible. You might get lucky and find an apartment in your budget on the outer edges of Wash Park or City Park. Or, you could look at apartments in Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree that are reasonably close to the Light Rail station.

Good luck.