Job in Westminster - Need to pick a neighborhood (Denver: cul-de-sac, apartments)

[PDX2colorado]

I'm a single mom who is asian & caucasian, my son is asian. My job is relocating me to their Westminster office in about a month.

I don't want too bad of a commute. I need very good schools. I also need a little bit of culture though as well. Walking distance to shops and such would be nice.

Have suggestions on a neighborhood?

[Bradburn1]

Hi,

First, welcome to Colorado! You don't mention what your price range is or if you are looking to buy or rent, but either way, I've got a suggestion. Being able to walk to shops/restaurants etc.. is very rare in the suburbs (Westminster is a suburb of Denver) and the only neighborhood I know of that really offers this is Bradburn Village. Bradburn is on 120th Ave. between Federal and Sheridan.

There's also a neighborhood next to Bradburn that is close enough to its shops, and to the shop development next to it that you could walk, that neighborhood is called Weatherstone (houses are significantly cheaper in there).

Schools in this area are great--they are in the Adams 12 Five Start District which has a mix of schools some good, some not, but the ones in that area are excellent. There's also a K-12 charter school just adjacent to Bradburn--it's a 5-15 minute walk from every house in the neighborhood.

Bradburn offers a wide range of housing options there are for rent townhouse style apartments which are very nice, townhomes, and single family homes. Townhomes currently range from $230-350K and single family homes from $350K-1.2 million.

Good luck in your search!

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Bradburn1

Hi,

... Being able to walk to shops/restaurants etc.. is very rare in the suburbs (Westminster is a suburb of Denver) and the only neighborhood I know of that really offers this is Bradburn Village... Bradburn is on 120th Ave. between Federal and Sheridan...

I do not agree with this statement. The suburbs have numerous shopping areas, with grocery stores, drugs stores, restaurants and varied shops that are easily reached by walking and this is not rare. In addition, there are many on bus routes and commuter lines that are self contained areas of shopping and recreation and have existed for years.

In Westminster, there is the area around 120th and. and Sheridan which has a numerous shops and stores. The Area of 120th and Sheridan has groceries stores and restaurants, Kohls Department store, Kmart, King Soopers and Safeway Grocery. There is reasonable housing, in single residences, condominiums, and rentals and it is down the road to the west to the new center of Broomfield with Recreation and stores. Also it is accessible by many bus routes and a new Walmart being built down to road across from the overpriced Bradburn to the east.

72nd. and Federal is the old center of Westminster that has been redeveloped and have many nice old neighborhoods with numerous shops and Safeway that are walkable; good Bus transportation with a growing Asian Community and stores and Hispanic ethnic community. Nice safe mixed area with new library and future location of a rail commuter line.

7nd and Sheridan is established area that will have a new Walmart on the corner with good housing and is down the way from the mall at 88th and Sheridan which is near the new city center at 92nd and Sheridan which has shoping, super walmart and one of the largest bus park and rides with numerous transportation options.

There are areas of shopping and residences on Church Ranch (104th) west of Sheridan which is connected with the new big city park and recreation centers and encompases housing with paths through the parks to the recreation area and businesses. The Promenade Center is just north with a Target, A very Large Ice Skating arena, movie theatre and fancy shops.

Now down the road is Brandburn. With respect to the people who believe Bradburn Village is ideal---it is not. It is developed with higher price housing (which are quite attractive, nevertheless) and restaurants,shops and bars which are overpriced and not necessarily the type of businesses which serve working families but young professionals that want a safe sterile environment to walk, sit outside, and sip their lattes. Some people like these planned communities and if so, then it is good for them and serves their purposes. However in planning these expensive communities, it leaves out reasonable priced businesses because the rentals are too high and you see specialty shops that cater to people with the money to pay $3.00 for an ice cream or coffee. Many of these shops are chained franchises, overhyped bars and "gone tomorrow" theme restaurants. However there is hope on the horizon because of the new Super Walmart, that has been approved by the city, somewhat across 120th which many of these people vehemently opposed. Now there will be clusterings of reasonable shops a short distance and, heaven forbid, the poor coming down the road by "our Bradburn"

Westminster has numerous areas that are businesses that are surrounded by housing because it is a extensive city from older areas in the south to newer areas in the north. There are just too many to list. And the other connecting cities such as Arvada, Northglenn, Broomfield etc. are rich in walkable communities, with good housing, excellent shopping, and good public transportation and they are all in the suburbs. So do not restrict yourself to the planned communities which many people consider the only place to live. Asians are very visible in Westminster and are welcomed. Good Luck.

[Bradburn1]

Well thanks for pointing out other places you can walk to shops from in the suburbs in Westminster, that's always good! However, I still do think the majority of most suburban subdivisions (especially new ones) make it difficult to walk anywhere. Many lack sidewalks (or they are too small), and their cul-de-sac road structure that isn't connected well to the main grid means it takes 20-30 minutes or more just to walk out of the subdivision. I've seen urban planning studies showing most people will not walk to things if they are more than a 10-15 minute walk from home, the vast majority of subdivisions in the Denver suburbs (and other places) do not fill this requirement. We do have an excellent public transit system here in Denver that I'm shocked more people don't take advantage of.

As far as Bradburn, everyone's entitled to their opinion. Many people here in Bradburn want the Wal-Mart, because goodness knows it's nicer looking than the turkey plant! Some people are against it, but whenever you get a large group of people, there is going to be variation. Our developer said the best thing that could ever happen to us would be for the Wal-Mart to be developed across the street because it would bring more business and people into the area and I personally happen to agree. If a nice neighborhood with clean parks and great neighbors that all know each other translates to sterile, then I guess sterile is for me and my other neighbors who all love living here.

As far as the housing being expensive, Bradburn offers a wide choice in housing from the 200s to over 1 million--but I personally agree the single family homes are expensive. They are expensive because they actually have thought and design behind them instead of the traditional subdivision which is "let's develop the cheapest way possible"--huge blank garages in front, large lawns no one uses, no public spaces for neighbors to share (unless you count the drainage areas they put grass in and call "open space"), and nothing fun to walk to--to get anywhere you have to get in the car. However, good design, it does cost. This is a problem in all new urbanist communities--they create places people want to live which in a free market drives up prices. This, as you pointed out, goes for the retail portion as well--they do have expensive rents (although they are about the same as other higher end retail centers, like the one at 104th and Church Ranch or the Promenade) which limits what businesses can come in. Beer at our Bradburn tavern is $2.50 a pint on special, which is pretty reasonable, come on by sometime and have one! Although watch out for the sterile Stepford people, they may convert you LOL.

It's certainly not the only place to live, there are lots of great neighborhoods in Denver suburbs, it depends on what you are looking for.

[Katiana]

Well thanks for pointing out other places you can walk to shops from in the suburbs in Westminster, that's always good! However, I still do think the majority of most suburban subdivisions (especially new ones) make it difficult to walk anywhere. Many lack sidewalks (or they are too small),

I believe there are sidewalks in all the Denver suburbs, certainly the ones I am most familiar with (Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield, Boulder).

I am not a fan of "new urbanism". It reminds me too much of the Old Urbanism with which I am all too familiar. We lived 2 blocks from a steel mill when I was a small child; my mom used to tie my brother and I up on the front porch with a clothesline so we wouldn't run in the street and get hit by a truck from the mill. I like being able to walk places, but I don't think they all need to be behind a fence in my own little subdivision.

As for the excuse that "good design costs money", I think it is just that, an excuse. These designs are nothing new; again, they were part of the Old Urbanism.

[livecontent]

Bradburn1,

Thanks for the very intelligent reply. I have to agree with you that many newer developments make it "difficult to walk anywhere". I do have to admit that these new planned communities add some good value to the residential mix and will look even greater when they age. I believe they are especially a good fit as an infill development, like Belmar but are very poor when they are far away and sit by themselves like any other sterile residential development. Bradburn is actually a good location because it is closer to other older development and accessible by public transit.

It is good that you see the value of the good public transportation system; I use it frequently. I live near an walkable intersection (1/5 mile) that has a major bus route, a planned commuter rail station (1/4 mile), King Soopers, Walgreens, Moving Picture Theatre and restaurants and bars but no Starbucks or Cold Slab Creameries

I would suggest to anyone coming to this area think about how you can get around without a car, if it becomes necessary, and look at a walkable community.

Thanks for the great conversation.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

We lived 2 blocks from a steel mill when I was a small child; my mom used to tie my brother and I up on the front porch with a clothesline so we wouldn't run in the street and get hit by a truck from the mill.

This brought tears to my eyes, and a smile to my heart with this sentimental image---Thanks for sharing.

[Katiana]

This brought tears to my eyes, and a smile to my heart with this sentimental image---Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome. We did move away from there to a safer neighborhood. The mill is now closed. That's sad, too.

[Bradburn1]

"no Starbucks or Cold Slab Creameries" You are fortunate. It is NOT a good thing to be able to walk to ColdStone in 5 minutes--the 50 calories you burn walking there is quickly overshadowed by the 1000 you eat when ordering even their smallest ice cream! We also joke not having to drive encourages people to drink more, so there have been some jokes along the lines of "new urbanism encourages alcoholism"

I think you also bring up an excellent point about new urbanist developments, they work better as infill than greenfield developments, but, if they have a retail/office section (no neighborhood without mixed-use is new urbanist even if they claim to be) at least they might encourage more walking and less driving than a traditional subdivision--and they provide people with something the suburbs has lacked for 50 years: A choice other than large lot, pedestrian hostile, individually focused development. Greenfield development is going to happen no matter what, but wouldn't it be better if some of that development was pedestrian friendly, mixed-use, and higher density?

Interesting conversation, thanks!

[Katiana]

Many "new urbanist" neighborhoods simply throw some little "shoppes" into the mix. There is one in Erie that calls itself new urban, and I'm not sure if it has any shops at all! (Last time I drove through there, it seemed like they were still trying to attract the businesses.) In regard to offices, what guarantee is there that you can get a job in your enclave? My DD lives in the DU area of Denver, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, offices, even a hospital within walking distance of her apt, plus she can bike to her classes at UCHSC. So I don't get all the fuss about new urbanism when the old seems to be alive and well in certain areas. Even in the height of suburbia, as someone pointed out, it is usually possible to walk to stores. It is certainly possible in Louisville, and I have done it.