Highlands Ranch or Stapleton? (Denver, Westminster: HOA, day care, house) - Colorado (CO) - City-Data Forum

buccoy · 10-28-2007, 06:14 PM

Really at a loss here so any advice would be mucho appreciated! The lady & I are expecting our first child shortly, so we are looking to move from our city address to the proverbial "burbs". Looking at a mid 500's house price. Complicating matters, my office is in the tech center (5 days a week) and hers is in Lafayette but works from home 2 - 3 days a week. She is favoring Stapleton, while our other options are more southern based like Highlands Ranch due to my daily commute needs. Stapleton is a new build but concerned about the safety for kids with the proximity to older areas, lack of a yard, competing with builders in re-sale, etc, while HR gives a newer build, open space, a real yard, and rec centers and the like, but not a real "city type feel". Any advice would be very appreciated, our unique commute challenges is really making this a tough decision as we enter into the children phase.

2bindenver · 10-28-2007, 06:56 PM

Any chance DW can work in the southern suburbs? HR to Lafayette would be painful especially with a new baby needing Mommy.

Kibbiekat · 10-28-2007, 08:56 PM

I don't know about commuting and I don't know about Stapleton. I live in Highlands Ranch, and really like it. We're a 30's couple with 2 kids under 4. HR is very family oriented. It does lack a downtown, but there are frequent community events in HR, usually at Town Center. I also enjoy downtown Littleton, which is a short drive. The parks and walking trails are great. There are 4 rec centers included for $118/quarter HOA fee.

tfox · 10-28-2007, 09:23 PM

HR would be an okay commute to your DTC job but horrible for your wife. I wouldn't even consider it in your situation. Stapleton would be a long commute for both of you, though maybe marginally doable. I wouldn't recommend either one in your case.

If you want something close to DTC, but more sane for your wife's commute, maybe try something like Southmoor or University Hills? At least that would be in-between DTC and Lafayette. Those neighborhoods would be MUCH closer to DTC than HR would be, plus it would be MUCH easier commute for your wife (though still not an ideal situation for her). Unfortunately, there won't be a lot of new builds in those areas but the schools are decent there, and the yards are usually generously sized. I think you could find something updated and in good shape there that might meet your needs.

Katarina Witt · 10-28-2007, 11:09 PM

Even Univ. Hills may take 45 min to Lafayette, esp. in bad weather. So, for that matter, would Stapleton. I would look farther north, maybe Westminster, Thornton or Broomfield. The DB (dear baby) will need day care, either near one of your offices or near your home. This will be true even on the days DW works from home, at least once the baby gets to be 3 mo old or so, unless she works when you are home to care for DB.

marie_co · 10-29-2007, 04:57 PM

I know lots of people who love HR and it is really nice. However, the traffic sucks, there is not a city center of any kind, there isn't really a community feel (maybe a neighborhood feel but not a community in the larger sense), it's not incorporated so you are the mercy of the county which can be a danger and it's full of yuppies (which if you are one you'll love it and if you are not it will really suck for you - no judgement either way).

2bindenver · 10-30-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marie_co

I know lots of people who love HR and it is really nice. However, the traffic sucks, there is not a city center of any kind, there isn't really a community feel (maybe a neighborhood feel but not a community in the larger sense), it's not incorporated so you are the mercy of the county which can be a danger and it's full of yuppies (which if you are one you'll love it and if you are not it will really suck for you - no judgement either way).

uh, the traffic sucks? Pray tell where? There is a great deal of construction at the HR Pwky/University/Colorado intersection...but otherwise....where is the traffic?

There is no city center (town center might grow into being the city center) because HR isn't a city, it's a great big subdivision. The location between DTC and the Springs and Denver can't be beat. The trails, proximity to transportation and shopping...it's a nice place to call home.

Mercy of the County? Please elaborate. HR would incorporate so fast if the County pulled anything. I don't think the county is up to anything. There is no additional revenue stream here to be had.

Personally, I think Lone Tree or the new Castle Pines North (to be voted on next week) will make a move, a catalyst, if you will. Then HR will incorporate.

But incorporation isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Centennial is struggling now to provide services to it's residents. It has a contract with Arapahoe County - or maybe not.

.gif · 10-30-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

uh, the traffic sucks? Pray tell where? There is a great deal of construction at the HR Pwky/University/Colorado intersection...but otherwise....where is the traffic?

i agree somewhat with that person's statement. traffic can be pretty bad on university and sometimes on broadway.

Kibbiekat · 10-30-2007, 08:09 PM

Lucent has easy freeway access and very little traffic.

Palindromed · 11-01-2007, 02:45 AM

Can you guys elaborate on "bad traffic"? Coming from California, "bad traffic" may be something entirely different than "Denver bad traffic". I'm just trying to get a sense of that here.

For example, in Silicon valley, "bad traffic" is stop and go, bumper to bumper. Something like driving 5 miles and it taking 20 minutes or more.