Ken Caryl Ranch (Denver, Fort Collins, Westminster: apartment, rent, house)

[goldenmom]

Be careful in Highlands Ranch in regards to structural problems too. We found two homes in the Wildcat area that had structural damage. We are now in the process of having another one inspected to buy and we are keeping our fingers crossed. The owner had the builder come out and put a drainage system and fan in a few years back, so I am hoping that any issues are not a problem now.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by goldenmom

Be careful in Highlands Ranch in regards to structural problems too. We are now in the process of having another one inspected to buy and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

That's an issue throughout the front range, due to our expansive soils. A good home inspection should turn up any issues. You should also get a soils report when purchasing a home.

[goldenmom]

The house that we are considering in Highlands Ranch has a zig zag crack in the brick mortar. Does anyone know if this is a structural issue or just a common settling problem?

Thanks!

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by goldenmom

The house that we are considering in Highlands Ranch has a zig zag crack in the brick mortar. Does anyone know if this is a structural issue or just a common settling problem?

Having small cracks in masonry and concrete is not unusual, so it could be nothing, or it could signal a problem. Best bet is to get a good home inspector to check it out.

[eagle06]

I finally received the job offer I was hoping for so my wife and I will be moving to the Denver area in July. We need to rent for a year so we can get settled in and see where we eventually want to purchase a home.

I've found several condo's along Ken Caryl in southern JeffCo which is one of the areas we wanted to live. We chose West of Denver because we want to live close enough to the mountains so we can reasonably go running, biking, etc on some trails without having to make much of a trip. We also want to be within a short trip to Boulder and Lake Dillon.

Do you think Ken Caryl and Alkire St fit this description?

We don't go to a mall much but occasionally will need the mall and big box stores. Which mall is closest to this location? How about a Whole Foods/Vitamin Cottage, or similar?

Thanks!

[eagle06]

Or how about 88th and Wadsworth?

[tfox]

I don't know either area all that well. Your SW/KC location will have shopping at Bowles and Wadsworth (SW plaza mall). There's Vitamin Cottage right on KC, but the closest Whole Foods is not very close, probably in Belmar.

As for 88th & Wadsworth in Westminster, you're not far from Westminster Mall at Hwy 36 & Sheridan. There is a Vitamin Cottage Store close to there on Wadsworth, but again, Whole Foods is far away.

[formercalifornian]

Southwest Plaza Mall is about 5 miles up Kipling and east on Bowles from those condos on Ken-Caryl. The closest Whole Foods is a fifteen minute drive down C- 470, south on University to a shopping center on S. Colorado Blvd in Highlands Ranch. As for other grocery stores, a very nice King Soopers and an Albertson's (I think) are within walking/biking distance. You'll also be very close to the paved bike trail that rings Denver. It's a very popular route for bikers, runners, & hikers.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by eagle06

Or how about 88th and Wadsworth?

There is a Whole Foods, not Far, at 92nd and Sheridan. It was a former Wild Oats that was acquired by Whole Foods.

There is a Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocery Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers - Home Page (broken link) just down the Road at 80th and Wadsworth and across the street, just south, they are building a new Sunflower Farmers Markets Sunflower Farmers Markets - Home Page in Arvada.

The last apartments I lived in were the Castlegate Apartments at 88th and Wadsworth about 28 years ago. This is a very nice area and has shopping, parks nearby. Westminster and Arvada come together at this intersection. The Westminster Park and Ride is just east at 88th and Sheridan. This is the one of the largest park and rides in the Regional Transportation District. There are buses that stop here, almost 24 hours, to connect Denver and Boulder, as well as many other other regional and local buses. Just to point out the regional bus, Route B, to Denver from this Park n' Ride, has no other stops until it hits Union Station Downtown, about 14 minutes. In addition, there are commuter express buses that go straight downtown to Market Street Station.

livecontent

[formercalifornian]

Livecontent, last time I was in the area, the Wild Oats was closed...kaput... with no plans to reopen as a WF, and at least part of the leftover stock has been absorbed by the HR store. Has something changed?