Would like info on living in DTC (Denver, Aurora: apartments, rentals)

[everafter]

My husband is getting a job transfer to the DTC, and we've never visited Denver before. So any help on the following would be greatly appreciated. He will be working long hours, so we would like to live close to his job. It's just the two of us, no children (yet). And we have zero experience driving in snow...

-Is there any advantage/disadvantage to living in the DTC as opposed to, say, Greenwood Village or Cherry Hills Village?
-Is the DTC considered a safe neighborhood? (I have already read that there is no nightlife - that's not really a problem.)
-Are utilities costlier in the DTC?
-Anyone have any recommendations on renting an apartment vs. renting a condo in the area?
-Is it much more important to have a garage rather than simply covered parking?
-Are insects a problem in the area?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[gpraceman]

DTC is within an easy commute of many communities. Greenwood Village, Centennial, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch and parts of Parker and Aurora are only a few minutes drive away.

Personally, I'd rather have a garage than a car port. Keeps you out of the weather getting in and out of the car, especially if you have groceries or other bags to carry in. We can get some good thunderstorms and of course snow.

As for bugs check out this thread http://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...-colorado.html

If you are looking for a rental. You can check out rentals.com.

[Katiana]

Utilities are the same everywhere that has Excel, which is basically the whole metro, I think.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Utilities are the same everywhere that has Excel, which is basically the whole metro, I think.

Xcel Energy for electric and gas, but water and sewer rates will depend on the water district you are in.

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by everafter

-Is there any advantage/disadvantage to living in the DTC as opposed to, say, Greenwood Village or Cherry Hills Village?

No, the borders among them is quite blurred. Cherry Hills is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Metro Denver, with almost NO rentals. Other "close-in" DTC properties are quite expensive.

-Is the DTC considered a safe neighborhood?

Yes, traffic is a bigger problem, getting in/out of DTC.

-Are utilities costlier in the DTC?

No, it's the same all over.

-Anyone have any recommendations on renting an apartment vs. renting a condo in the area?

There are a lot of choices including lots of new apartments, some very nice. You can pick either based on the unit.

-Is it much more important to have a garage rather than simply covered parking?

Not really. Shelter from the weather is about the same, security would be the difference.

-Are insects a problem in the area?

No, there are very few insects, and those that are here are small.

If you are close to work, driving in snow is a minor concern. And if you can wait until afternoon, 99% of snows are melted off the streets by then.

[2bindenver]

What is important to you? There are some nice places in DTC to live - they are more expensive than Englewood, Centennial and Aurora

Englewood & CHV share a zip code, DTC is not a city - but depending on where in the DTC you could be in Denver (Belleview north) Englewood or Greenwood Village.

What are you looking for?

Vallagio is one of my favorite new places. Just put a lawyer under agreement there. There are high rises, and townhomes, and loft looking like condos - a few patio homes...

[everafter]

Thanks everyone for the info so far. It is much appreciated! I just read the referenced thread on insects and I can deal with spiders and mosquitoes (we almost chose to relocate to Atlanta, and the thought of "flying cockroaches" horrified me...).

I've indeed been checking out Apartments.com and Rent.com. Problem is that I read reviews at ApartmentRatings.com on the apartments I like, and there are always so many complaints (usually about the thin walls, which is a universal complaint). So I was thinking that perhaps renting a condo would be a better choice. This is still up in the air. As someone has already replied to me - it will depend on the unit.

What we desire is a safe and quiet area, within ten minutes drive of his job in the DTC, and a comfortable (newer) apartment/condo rental (we're willing to pay up to $950/monthly).

So, if I may:

- I'm assuming areas such as Englewood and Lone Tree are going to be drives through bad traffic (husband will be working at 8am). True? If not, is Englewood a safe/desireable neighborhood?
- I'm also assuming the entire area bordered by DTC Blvd, E Arapahoe Road, S Peoria Street, and E Belleview is safe and desireable? Are there undesireable areas of the DTC?

Thanks again in advance for everyone's advice.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by everafter

- I'm assuming areas such as Englewood and Lone Tree are going to be drives through bad traffic (husband will be working at 8am). True? If not, is Englewood a safe/desireable neighborhood?
- I'm also assuming the entire area bordered by DTC Blvd, E Arapahoe Road, S Peoria Street, and E Belleview is safe and desireable? Are there undesireable areas of the DTC?

The drive from Lone Tree would not be bad at all. I'm in Highlands Ranch and I can get to DTC in 15 minutes or less.

DTC is mostly a business area. I really don't think there is an "undesireable" area in or around DTC, but tastes do differ. I'm not sure what housing is in DTC itself, I think it is really in bordering Greenwood Village and Centennial.

[tfox]

DTC used to have no residential at all until very recently. Recently, there is some residential construction, almost all multi-family and mostly relatively high end.

I think that lately living in DTC has been touted as something of an "urban-lite" lifestyle -- residents can live in a high-rise building, maybe walk or bike to work, but not have to deal with the problems that come with living in a real urban setting. Contrary to what you've heard, there is a growing nightlife in DTC (mostly serving the after-work crowd but also a growing number of residents).

If you're on a budget and you want close to DTC, there's a good number of affordable condos and townhomes on Quincy at DTC Blvd -- this would be at the very northern end of DTC.

In response to your question about living in DTC versus living in Greenwood Village or especially Cherry Hills Village -- there's really not a lot of comparison between them. Cherry Hills Village is a rather exclusive enclave of million dollar homes that is by design NOT connected to DTC, and certainly doesn't have any multi-family housing. Greenwood Village has a little bit more diversity of housing stock than GV, but is still quite exclusive.

[everafter]

I'd like to thank you all for your advice and experience. It is very much appreciated.

One final question: How long is the morning commute from Englewood to the DTC?