Can't wait to move to the city!! Tell more more about....

[HighlandsGal]

When we first moved to Denver we were all about living in Capitol Hill or its surroundings. Then we stumbled upon Highlands (I guess it is East Highlands technically) and we knew right away it was a much better neighborhood for us (late 20's and no kids). Capitol Hill is very busy and the streets are narrow....we found it a pain to drive around in. There are lots of cool bars to hang out at though, especially Gov's Park and it is very walkable.

On the other hand, Highlands is a lot more quiet than expected -- meaning not a lot of street noise, not quiet in that there is nothing to do! We live very close to hip bars, dive bars, delicious ethnic restaurants and standard pizza joints. The streets are wider (so it doesn't feel as crowded) and there is a great mix of new professional people moving in and long-time residents. I feel very safe here, even walking my dog around at night.

Personally, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!!

By the way, I wouldn't let location totally stop you from considering a particular neighborhood in terms of commute time. I have found the traffic to be overrated...I drive to Castle Rock every day for work, and even at 4 pm, I make it home in 45 minutes, which is not bad considering the distance.

[steveindenver]

I moved to Denver in my early twenties some 10 years ago, as a male with a wife and requirements similar to those you stated.

Granted the area has changed, but not enough to (I believe) invalidate my comments … so without any more rambling on:

When we first moved to Denver we rented a carriage house behind an old Victorian on the 1500 block of north High St (right next to the Satire and Pete's Kitchen -- back before all the prostitutes were pushed further east).

The area was great. Tons of dive bars, the 15 to take you downtown with entertainment (always something odd on those buses), restaurants on Colfax and 17th, a video store you can walk to, Video One, multiple grocery stores, three concert venues within stumbling distance, more parking than Capitol Hill proper and a bit less crime.

We liked the 80218 zip code enough to move a few blocks away from our apartment to a condo when it came time to buy our first place. The area is young and mixed in terms of socio-economics. I have friends who live in Capitol Hill proper. While there are some good deals on apartments south of Colfax nearer to the capitol parking becomes a real issue and crime is more apparent. That’s not to say it is a dangerous place by any means but you might want to look either north of Colfax say from Sherman out to York or as someone else mentioned in the Cheeseman park area south of Colfax from Marion to York. I do recall a lady being killed in her apartment a couple years back in the Cheeseman park area, but that was by no means the norm.

My wife and other women I know feel safe enough to walk around our old area of 16th ave and Park at night alone.

After two kids our situation changed. The schools in 80218 are terrible, and any private schools are a bit of a commute. We moved to Stapleton (which is 80238 by the way in correction to the aforementioned zip).

If you don’t want a family oriented area, don’t move to Stapleton. There seems to be a requirement that you have at least two prior or immediately after moving there. It’s not a bad area mind you, and neither is nearby Lowry which is more retiree, dual income no kids, but they are not young at heart and both areas will require frequent use of your car to get downtown or to capitol hill if you are looking for young entertainment.

If I can answer anything more please post your questions.

-Steve

[awsun1980]

Thanks for the recent responses. Now I'm even more overwhelmed than I was before, my lease is up end of next month & I have to have a place before then. It's starting to seem like no place is going to be right for me

Steve, what do you mean by this comment? ( There seems to be a requirement that you have at least two prior or immediately after moving there. ) That is a crazy statement, don't you think?

I seem to be getting mixed reviews on Stapleton/Lowry, I had a feeling that might happen from other posts I've read before on this board. This was the area I was leaning towards because I found (online) some nice apts in my price range that aren't old complexes like the ones I seen online for areas in Capitol Hill or Cheesman Park.

pittnurse, a child-free area? That sounds like heaven to me!! don't I wish that were possible.

Here's the thing--I've always lived in an apt complex--I don't think I'd feel comfortable renting from a 'landlord' so to speak or in an older building. I'm looking for a nice apt that is not really old--so I know that eliminates some of the neighborhoods previously mentioned. I don't need or really want to be within walking distance of downtown.

Here are the apt complexes I've found that I plan to visit--if anyone knows the area or anything about the apts, please respond.

Lowry North----8001 E 11th Ave Denver, 80220
Aero Flats at Stapleton---8008 E Montview Blvd, Denver, 80220
The Estates at Mira Vista---10000 E Alameda Ave-Denver, 80247
Lakecrest at Gateway Park---4699 Kittredge St, Denver, 80239

These are just a few so far.

I appreciate the responses, keep them coming!!!!

[Katiana]

pittnurse, a child-free area? That sounds like heaven to me!! don't I wish that were possible.

Seriously, if that's what you want, look at undergrad complexes in Boulder. My DD lives in one.

[Carrie_Blair]

Check out Boutique Apartments. They have several buildings in Central Denver and rents start at a little over $500 for Studios. I don't think I'm allowed to state the website but you can Google it or just try the obvious (boutiqueapartments).

[awsun1980]

Thanks, Carrie_Blair,
Those apts looks pretty neat, but not really my style. Maybe good for someone looking for a starter apt or something or someone a lot younger than me. And they're about 1/2 the size of my apt now! Yikes!

You probably work mainly with just houses, but any thoughts on the apts I listed above in my previous post?

By the way, anyone, dumb question, but what is DD? Or DH?

Originally Posted by Carrie_Blair

Check out Boutique Apartments. They have several buildings in Central Denver and rents start at a little over $500 for Studios. I don't think I'm allowed to state the website but you can Google it or just try the obvious (boutiqueapartments).

[Katiana]

DD means "Dear Daughter"; DH means "Dear Husband", (or as someone over on the Pittsburgh forum said, also D*** Husband!

[elfyum]

Wrong forum...There is only one "The City" - the city so nice they named it twice! Sorry...