Desirable places/Places to avoid (Denver, Parker: apartments, rent, condo)

[wannakatana]

This is probably a worn out topic so please forgive me. I haven't found any info specific to my situation though. I mostly want to find a relatively safe place to live for myself, my wife and soon to come daughter. I'm giving a lot of details but again, my main question is what are desirable areas or areas to avoid around Denver?

* up to $1200 a month
* no school-aged children so schools not an issue
* I work downtown currently but change often as I am a contractor. Downtown or DTC will probably be the most likely employment places for me
* We are not looking for 'night life'
* Quiet preferred, slow pace
* If downtown or close to it, on light rail or no transfer bus route to downtown

* Types of place in order of preference:
- single family house/manufactured home preferably with some space around it is highly preferred or even a cabin, within 40 minutes of downtown and probably DTC as well
- downtown loft/apartment/condo
- multi-family condo/apartment with no up/down neighbors

More info for property owners with specific properties to offer
* 2 bedrooms minimum or 1 bedroom with office/den
* Must have parking for at least one car, either garage or secure lot
* Allow 2 cats without an astronomical pet fee/deposit. My cats are angels :-)

[sumisu]

Hi - there are several options to consider, Stapleton is very close to downtown and has won multiple awards for the entire development plan. The community has a nice variety of homes and builders. There are multiple community swimming pools; great access to public transport and highways, and shopping. If you work in the DTC, Parker and Centennial are very popular and has a good variety of neighborhoods/locations in your price range. Good luck. Sumisu

[Katiana]

There are not many cabins within 40 min. of downtown/DTC.

[Daniel_T]

Is Commerce City a nice place?

[mol666]

if you like the smells of refineries and the Purina pet food factory, sure.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Daniel_T

Is Commerce City a nice place?

Actually, parts of CC are nice. You have to evaluate each place individually, which you would do anywhere.

[greyhead]

Look into the south area of Denver on the light rail like the Baker neighborhood. The baker neighborhood is cool. YOu can probably rent a house or apartment in a house there with a yard. Be close to the light rail which would get you downtown in minutes.

[wannakatana]

Thanks everyone for your input.

[jessallen]

If you just want an apartment until you find a place to buy, I lived at the Wellshire Arms on S. Colorado Blvd just north of Yale. The apartments are HUGE and you have a wraparound balcony. It is an amazing hidden jewel. You'd be in the middle of a LOT, the public transportation is right outside the door. You can walk to dining, a grocery store, movies, etc.

One other thing about Denver...it can be quite homogenous the further out you go into the suburbs. I prefer to raise my kids in a divese environment so they don't get into the mindset that everyone should look like them. We lived in Park Hill for years which is one of the most successful ethnic and socio-economically diverse areas in the country...and now we live in Stapleton. Our neighbors are fabulous...on one side of us is an African American physician and his family, another side is a Hispanic teacher, across the street are Japanese and Russian families. It's pretty cool because on any given afternoon, the kids playing basketball in my driveway look like they stepped out of the UN. it is more expensive to live in the city, but it works for us.