Commute from Westminster to Cherry Creek N? (Denver, Aurora: best neighborhoods, rentals)

[daisies76]

Ive been reading threads and laughed because we are another set of Floridians moving to Denver!! (Well, we will know for sure in January) My husband and I each put in for a job there and I think its going to happen, so if we do get the jobs then we will be moving out in February. We will be working near the Cherry Creek Mall and will be getting an apt in that area for 6 months to give time while we look for the an area we want to live. We are leaving our kids in Florida to finish out the school year (Staying with family) and will come get them in the summer. We cant wait. I think we are going to concetrate on Highlands Ranch area, maybe Lone Tree, but I also want to look at Centennial, is that a good area? Does anyone have any recommendation on places to look that would have a decent commute to the Cherry Creek North area? My kids are in middle and high school. Thanks!!


MODERATOR NOTE: I copied this posting from another thread to add more detail to this thread.

[daisies76]

We are planning to move to Denver in February and we are trying to look at areas that we would like to live. We will be working off Cherry Creek North, near the mall, and we want to find a nice place to live in the outskirts of Denver. We are currently looking at Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Westminster. A friend also said to look at Thornton, but I dont know anything about that area... We have two kids, one in middle and one in high school... we currently live in Florida and no matter where we go will be a huge change, haha. My husband and I grew up in Colorado near Grand Junction, but I really cant remember a lot about the Denver area.

Do you have any recommendations? How is the commute from Westminster to Cherry Creek?

We want somewhere safe, where my kids can walk around and soon drive, we prefer something more with a small town feel if possible, but yet also be close to amenities and stuff to do. We live in the city now, well, an outskirt of the city, so I understand that small towns are not in metro areas! Mainly I just want something safe and family friendly, would love to be closer to the mountains or at least have a nice view, but I dont want an unrealistic commute either. Hopefully theres a happy medium.
Any thoughts/suggestions or ideas?

Thanks!!

[Mike from back east]

Thornton? Good grief, that's up on the north side of the city, no doubt a long commute would be the result.

Renting for six months or so will give you time to look around and pick what works for you. Should be good rentals near the work site, giving more time for researching the region.

Good schools and family areas abound in the Denver metro area.

[2bindenver]

What activities are your kids into? What do you think is a reasonable commute? Do you wish to rent a town home or a single family house? Can you drive in snow?

There are plenty of suburban like neighborhoods in Denver near Cherry Creek.

[daisies76]

Thank you for your responses. I would love to keep the commute 30 minutes or under, but I want to be in a great location that is safe for kids to go to the mall and run around, etc. We plan on renting a single family home

Drive in snow? haha, I never have before so we will soon find out!

Is the Highlands ranch area reasonable with commute?

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by daisies76

Is the Highlands ranch area reasonable with commute?

HR to CCN? No. Not reasonable.

[livecontent]

I have to agree with 2bindenver that there are plenty of good neighborhoods around the Denver Creek.

Many people coming here think that the best areas to live are necessarily the suburbs from the experiences with other cities. I think Denver is much different and many nice, safe clean neighborhoods and many times better than some suburban areas.

If you can afford to live in Cherry Creek, that would be great. Actually some of the very best neighborhoods in Denver are just directly south of your job site, in and round South University Blvd. or South Colorado Blvd. Living just off University or Colorado, you can have an easy and quick commute by car to Cherry Creek North and better yet by public transit.

The neighborhoods are fantastic from Washington Park, Belcaro, in and around the University of Denver , University Hills, Southmoor etc. There are many good choices. It has to be noted that these neighborhoods are closer very expensive estates of Cherry Hills Village, and Greenwood Village, just south on University.

Here is a map of the Denver Neighborhoods to give you help in understanding Denver
http://www.denvergov.org/denvermaps/...ghborhoods.pdf

Westminster and Thornton have some good areas to live but why bother with a longer commute--these city neighborhoods are very good. If you really had to live in a suburbs, I would actually look at Centennial, South Parts of Aurora, Lone Tree or Highlands Ranch--much easier commutes by car or public transit to Cherrry Creek North.

Livecontent

[daisies76]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

HR to CCN? No. Not reasonable.

Seriously? I didnt realize. When I look at the map, it looks very close. I think 18 miles to Highlands Ranch. I was told that the light rail stops right in both areas and it would be quick. Plus both would be close to I25 and it looked like a straight shot so thats why we were kind of concentrating in that general area. See, I commute almost an hour each way here in FL. I DO NOT want to do that there, such a waste of time and money. Is it because of traffic? What makes it unreasonable?

[daisies76]

Originally Posted by livecontent

I have to agree with 2bindenver that there are plenty of good neighborhoods around the Denver Creek.

Many people coming here think that the best areas to live are necessarily the suburbs from the experiences with other cities. I think Denver is much different and many nice, safe clean neighborhoods and many times better than some suburban areas.

If you can afford to live in Cherry Creek, that would be great. Actually some of the very best neighborhoods in Denver are just directly south of your job site, in and round South University Blvd. or South Colorado Blvd. Living just off University or Colorado, you can have an easy and quick commute by car to Cherry Creek North and better yet by public transit.

The neighborhoods are fantastic from Washington Park, Belcaro, in and around the University of Denver , University Hills, Southmoor etc. There are many good choices. It has to be noted that these neighborhoods are closer very expensive estates of Cherry Hills Village, and Greenwood Village, just south on University.

Here is a map of the Denver Neighborhoods to give you help in understanding Denver
http://www.denvergov.org/denvermaps/...ghborhoods.pdf

Westminster and Thornton have some good areas to live but why bother with a longer commute--these city neighborhoods are very good. If you really had to live in a suburbs, I would actually look at Centennial, South Parts of Aurora, Lone Tree or Highlands Ranch--much easier commutes by car or public transit to Cherrry Creek North.

Livecontent

Thank you so much for this info. Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree were two areas we had been thinking about. I have a friend that lives in Parker and she had recommended HR. We are not planning on buying for a couple of years because we are keeping our house in Florida for awhile. So we just need to be somewhere we can rent a house for a year or two to get to know the area, make sure we are secure in the new jobs, etc.

We will definitely look at Centennial also. Thanks again for the info.

[2bindenver]

Light Rail is not in CC or HR - HR is coming. So it would be a park n ride, or bus to rail and then a bus - and an hour is about right.

18 miles is 40 minutes. Try University Hills.