Highlands Ranch (Thornton: best neighborhood, rental, house)

[lola8822]

I'd love some info on Highlands Ranch, What is the best neighborhood? Is there locally "understood" knowledge that one part is better than another? East, West, South, North? Just curious.

[gpraceman]

There really is not a good part of HR and a bad part. HR is only about 26 years old and is a large master planned community. You will find a mixture of housing prices in each of the ridges (North, South, East and West), plus parks, shopping, rec centers (4 of them), churches, walking trails, open space, schools, etc.

There is a big thread here on Highlands Ranch. You can do a search for it. You can also find info at the HR websites, Highlands Ranch.org and Highlands Ranch Colorado | Welcome to Highlands Ranch

[gpraceman]

Here's the thread that I mentioned. http://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...formation.html

[2bindenver]

We had one poster lived in Westridge and recently sold her house and move east, I think.

Another lives in Eastridge. I live in Southridge, and have a rental property in Northridge.

The only things "new" to HR is the soon to be opened Staples and the Sunflower market on County Line....The Clock-tower residences, Back-country, Tresana, The Hearth all have new construction available...Flying B Ranch was turned into a retirement community Wind Song by Erickson...now they are planning what to do with the park south of County Line &west of Lucent...I hear they are paving the entry road off of Lucent soon.

[rkb0305]

I've lived in Westridge for about 4 months now and really like it. When house hunting we saw many of the same floor plans on different sides of HR. All different types of housing are interspersed, so there is no good or bad side. We narrowed it down to Westridge mostly because it is closer to my husbands job. It is closer to work but farther from the I25/470 shopping area.

[.gif]

probably the western part of highlands ranch (just west/southwest of lucent). there is much less traffic on lucent than broadway or university. it is also closer to the mountains and to the trails along the platte river and chatfield reservoir area. close proximity to the light rail at mineral station. the town center and highlands ranch library are just down the street. the rec center, too.

if you need to go to the mall, just hop on c-470. it's a straight shot.

[lola8822]

Thank you all for your helpful advice, I figured that it is a nice area all around but just wanted a "local" point of view. Thanks again!!!

Lori

[Nea1]

How are the schools? We are having a awful time with our son in school where we are , with gang jumping and the kids he is hanging out with. We never had this probelm before and dont know if it is the school and area.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by Nea1

How are the schools? We are having a awful time with our son in school where we are , with gang jumping and the kids he is hanging out with. We never had this probelm before and dont know if it is the school and area.

HR is serviced by Douglas County schools, which are overall excellent.

As far as hanging with the wrong crowd, that can happen at any school, unfortunately. A change of schools may help, but it may not. Though, you don't hear of gang problems in HR. Drugs can be a problem (with some spoiled kids with too much time and money on their hands), but I haven't heard it to be a big problem.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by gpraceman

HR is serviced by Douglas County schools, which are overall excellent.

As far as hanging with the wrong crowd, that can happen at any school, unfortunately. A change of schools may help, but it may not. Though, you don't hear of gang problems in HR. Drugs can be a problem (with some spoiled kids with too much time and money on their hands), but I haven't heard it to be a big problem.

I know I have a rough decision to make. It seems alot of these kids at this school are into something they shouldnt, more so than other schools we had been to. He is having problems with the hispanic gangs ( or want to be gangs) which is a large portion of the school. We were in Chandler AZ and didnt have these issues, which makes me think it is more the area we chose. He goes to Thornton High, as will my other son and daughter in a year or so.