Homes So Close Together? (Denver, Center: 2013, home builders, neighborhoods)

[RunnerDave]

My wife and just got back from a trip this week to Denver, and were curious as to the proximity of homes to each other. I mean, CLOSE together. Her presumption is that land (and lawns) aren't a priority due to the low precipitation. It would cost too much to keep your lawn green throughout the summer scorch.

Is this a good reason, or are there other reasons for the closeness of homes to each other?

[AceShopper]

Coming here from living in a Midwest home with over almost an acre of land is a big adjustment. I am still trying to get over the fact that homes are SO close to one another - And this is in the suburbs !

The area's climate does not work out for having big lawns, so I guess that must be the reason. But each area has it's own characteristics and even this will eventually grow on me .. Plus side ? Saving of the hours that it took to finish mowing our lawn in midst of killer mosquitoes - Priceless

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by RunnerDave

the proximity of homes to each other. I mean, CLOSE together

You mean close like the District of Columbia?

[rockymtn]

Home builders just want to make more money. Pack em' in and charge them an arm & a leg.

No, no "good" reason.

[Bradburn1]

In my neighborhood, houses are close together as part of an overall design to make the neighborhood more walkable--and it is, very. I live in a new urbanist neighborhood and the proximity of the homes together makes for a pleasing streetscape (a sense on enclosure on the street), and also to maximize public space where people can socialize (we have 9 parks in our 120 acre neighborhood).

It's especially great for kids, who even from a very young age can easily walk to their friends' houses and they really clean up on Halloween LOL. Our yards are also small to conserve resources as sod in this semi-arid climate takes tons of water and chemicals (and mowing) to maintain. I personally don't want to spend money and hours of my time maintaining a large lawn.

I actually like my neighbors and enjoy seeing them. I never have a problem with privacy, but I'm a very social person--I could see how this arrangement wouldn't appeal to everyone.

[patrickfatrick]

Depends on what area you're talking about (because I think the 'burbs are full of houses with actual lots and all that). If you're talking about the actual city of Denver, though, I assume part of the thing is that a lot of the neighborhoods are older, y'know, before cars were the staple they are today, so they're more compact and walkable. Is this a bad thing? In my opinion, I like that about Denver; it's interesting that not far outside the very center of the city you can find actual single-family houses, but they're still in cute and funky neighborhoods that you can actually walk around in. As mentioned earlier, it lends itself to a nice neighborhood vibe more than recent suburban developments do. I think the whole idea of having a a ton of space to yourself and a perfectly green and landscaped lawn is terribly outdated and environmentally harmful to boot.

[RunnerDave]

Originally Posted by patrickfatrick

Depends on what area you're talking about (because I think the 'burbs are full of houses with actual lots and all that).

Thanks for the responses. The only areas we visited that I remember by name are Cherry Creek, between 1st & 6th to Colorado St., and the Stapleton neighborhood.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by RunnerDave

only areas we visited that I remember by name are Cherry Creek, between 1st & 6th to Colorado St., and Stapleton

1. Cherry Creek was platted in the 1870s as the town of Harmon. Leonard Leonard & Associates - Denver Neighborhoods: Cherry Creek History
Travel was by horse and foot so house were close together.

2. Stapleton is a "new urbanism" place. Similar to (in theory):
Virginia
Arlington Square, Arlington arlingtonsquare.com, tortigallas.com
Belmont Greene, Ashburn dpz.com, (http://www.dpz.com/project.aspx?type=3&Project_Number=8821&Project_Na me=Belmont+Forest - broken link) waterforddevelopmentllc.com
Cameron Station, Alexandria cameronstation.org, epa.gov
Carlyle/Eisenhower East, Alexandria alexandriava.gov, cooperrobertson.com, flickr.com
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/smart_growth/tags/carlyle/ - broken link)City Center at Oyster Point, Newport News oysterpointonline.com, cmssarchitects.com (http://www.cmssarchitects.com/City_Center_at_Oyster_Point_ud.php - broken link)
Clarendon Sector Plan, Arlington County arlingtonva.us, Market Common (http://www.cbre.com/NR/rdonlyres/87C6E0E6-7C51-40C9-B918-D3006E229811/0/MarketCommonClarendonMarketingBook.pdf - broken link)
Columbia Pike, Arlington County arlingtonva.us, arlingtonvirginiausa.com, doverkohl.com
Diggs Town, Norfolk urbandesignassociates.com
East Beach, Norfolk eastbeachnorfolk.com
Eisenhower East Plan, Alexandria alexandriava.gov, Design Guidelines, eekarchitects.com (http://www.eekarchitects.com/portfolio_projects.cfm?typology=3700&ProjectID=450 49 - broken link)

[JrzDefector]

Actually, I'm in Park Hill. Being from the Trenton, NJ area, when I visited I assumed that since I was surrounded by yards and free-standing homes that I was in the suburbs - my host assured me that I was in an actual city. Now I live in the same neighborhood, and I'm on what I consider to be a huge lot considering that I am in what is still "urban" Denver.

[odie91]

Where do you live?

Originally Posted by Bradburn1

In my neighborhood, houses are close together as part of an overall design to make the neighborhood more walkable--and it is, very. I live in a new urbanist neighborhood and the proximity of the homes together makes for a pleasing streetscape (a sense on enclosure on the street), and also to maximize public space where people can socialize (we have 9 parks in our 120 acre neighborhood).

It's especially great for kids, who even from a very young age can easily walk to their friends' houses and they really clean up on Halloween LOL. Our yards are also small to conserve resources as sod in this semi-arid climate takes tons of water and chemicals (and mowing) to maintain. I personally don't want to spend money and hours of my time maintaining a large lawn.

I actually like my neighbors and enjoy seeing them. I never have a problem with privacy, but I'm a very social person--I could see how this arrangement wouldn't appeal to everyone.