Good Areas in Denver Metro that are not as well known (Aurora: for rent, condo)

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by cil

For people who imbibe, Bonnie Brae has one of the best wine shops in Denver at Ohio and S. University.
They have an incredible selection, fair prices and knowledgeable staff. There used to be a Dolly Madison next door which turned into a nice ice cream shop.
AFAIK, the Hummel's I knew used to be in what is now the Cherry Creek Mall, then moved to Cherry Creek North but high rent chased them out and they are now at 9th and Jersey--which brings me to two other neighborhoods:

Mayfair
and
Montclair.
Montclair is home to Baron von Richtofen's castle. But it also has plenty of green spaces, and it is easy to get to downtown, DIA or Cherry Creek from Montclair. Shopping is nearby on both sides of the neighborhood. There is a rec center.
We lived in a 50's brick home on Pontiac Street in Montclair from 1980-ish until 1987. Obviously this was before Lowry or Stapleton were redeveloped. We have friends with a nice two-story who still live in the neighborhood.

Thanks for the Info on Hummel's, I did not know that they were still opened.
I wonder if it is the same place--I will have to check. Yes, I know about the cherry creek store. I thought the original store was at the Southgate Plaza but could have been Cinderella City; I have some problems with my memory--we all get old. It was a quite a place--like an old deli in New York. Around that area was a big Jewish Community when I first moved here. I think I remember visiting it at the new location.

I remember about 20-25 years ago running into the daughter of the owner at some alumni event for The Culinary Institute of America--she was a graduate as I am--but my memory is starting to fad--but it was after the original store closed.

It seems to me after you moved to Florida that you miss Denver???

Livecontent

[livecontent]

This is another fine area of Denver that is little known to transplants. Yet, if you take the southwest light rail line, you can see the beautiful park of the same name in the distance--and you wonder what is that??

Today The Denver Post has a nice article about the area

The Denver Post - Ruby Hill ready for 'boarders

This goes along well with the great pictures that MobyLL took in this park

http://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...s-3-parks.html

Livecontent

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by livecontent

Thanks for the Info on Hummel's, I did not know that they were still opened.
I wonder if it is the same place--I will have to check. Yes, I know about the cherry creek store. I thought the original store was at the Southgate Plaza,

Maybe it was? I have no idea.

but could have been Cinderella City; I have some problems with my memory--we all get old. It was a quite a place--like an old deli in New York.A

I doubt that it was Cinderella City--I knew that place like the back of my hand because that was a big hang-out for me as a teen. But maybe there was another, different deli?

around that area was a big Jewish Community when I first moved here. I think I remember visiting it at the new location.

Hmm. Sounds like Cherry Creek (the Denver neighborhood, not the school district) to me.
The Allied Jewish apartments were (still are?) across the street on Adams; I know that the Cherry Creek Safeway carries a lot of Jewish type food, do you think that's where your memory comes from? Not sure.

It seems to me after you moved to Florida that you miss Denver???

Livecontent

Why, because I enjoy discussing a place I lived in for some 30 years?
Honestly, I really don't miss Denver--especially looking at the current temperature.::shiver::
I am very happy in northern Florida; I've been here two years and plan to stay. I love the beach. I am very content.
But I appreciate my former state, its cities, and love to offer what help and info I can.

[tolife]

I'm proud to say that I just bought my first home in Ruby Hill for 175K. I'm a single 36 yr old professional Caucasian female, and I'm told the first one on my street with a Master's degree. I'm from Baltimore, and this neighborhood is truly diverse, so I feel right at home. It's one mile from the light rail and a couple blocks from Ruby Hill Park. I'm a skier, so I look forward to winter workouts on the hill! Ski down the hill, walk back up the hill, ski down the hill, walk back up the hill. The stories I have heard of some of my neighbors is amazing. Some have lived on this street their whole life. I have one of those WWII stock home (typically 2 bed one bath I'm told), but my house has an addition with a fireplace and three beds, two baths, open floor plan.

The most amazing thing about my new home is that they left the original 1955 front patio in tact as they did the renovation. My grandmother just passed away, so I was feeling nostalgic because my patio reminds me of her.

I looked at all the typical places with less diversity before I settled here. At my price point, I could have only afforded a condo or maybe a townhome in those places. Now I have a beautiful TOTALLY remodeled home with a privacy fence back yard and an oversized garage. And I have neighbors who will challenge me to be the best I can be. I can't wait to practice my Spanish.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by tolife

I'm proud to say that I just bought my first home in Ruby Hill for 175K. I'm a single 36 yr old professional Caucasian female, and I'm told the first one on my street with a Master's degree. I'm from Baltimore, and this neighborhood is truly diverse, so I feel right at home. It's one mile from the light rail and a couple blocks from Ruby Hill Park. I'm a skier, so I look forward to winter workouts on the hill! Ski down the hill, walk back up the hill, ski down the hill, walk back up the hill. The stories I have heard of some of my neighbors is amazing. Some have lived on this street their whole life. I have one of those WWII stock home (typically 2 bed one bath I'm told), but my house has an addition with a fireplace and three beds, two baths, open floor plan.

The most amazing thing about my new home is that they left the original 1955 front patio in tact as they did the renovation. My grandmother just passed away, so I was feeling nostalgic because my patio reminds me of her.

I looked at all the typical places with less diversity before I settled here. At my price point, I could have only afforded a condo or maybe a townhome in those places. Now I have a beautiful TOTALLY remodeled home with a privacy fence back yard and an oversized garage. And I have neighbors who will challenge me to be the best I can be. I can't wait to practice my Spanish.

This a great post that has taken me from a self imposed absence from this forum. This is an example of what I was trying to say to people when I started this thread--that there are great areas of Denver with great amenities and wonderful people that are not known or appreciated. These are areas that are not always attractive to the some of the "educated" and "new rich" because of thier self importance and their failure to see the value in real diversity.

Denver needs educated and creative people, like yourself, to settle into these neighborhoods and not just follow the crowd, so the whole city can prosper, not just selected areas. Thank you for your post and thank you for being receptive to differences in people and culture.

Livecontent

[tolife]

Thanks Livecontent, your posts are always so amazing and truly inspiring.

When I was looking for a home in Denver, I realized the right thing to do was to go into an older neighborhood that is being redeveloped, rather than new housing stock. For environmental reasons, actually, I believe redevelopment is the way to go. I could never live in a suburb when I work in the city.

One misconception about Ruby Hill might be that the Spanish speakers don't speak English. Not true. Many do. Also, another misconception may be that the schools are bad around here. Hmmmm...my thinking is that if I ever marry and have a child, I wouldn't mind sending them to a school where they are the minority. They will learn tolerance and see our world the way it truly is. And hopefully learn Spanish which will make them more marketable someday.

Also, it is interesting to note for any other single professional women out there considering some of the older WWII housing stock, that on my street lives a prof. painter, a landscaper, and an electrician. How convenient is that? This is a working middle class neighborhood with a lot of contractors!

[MobyLL]

^^ Congratulations on your new home tolife, and best of luck to you. Maybe we (my family and I) will be seeing you over in the park, my kids love sledding there in the winter.

Originally Posted by tolife

Thanks Livecontent, your posts are always so amazing and truly inspiring.

So true.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by livecontent

This a great post that has taken me from a self imposed absence from this forum. This is an example of what I was trying to say to people when I started this thread--that there are great areas of Denver with great amenities and wonderful people that are not known or appreciated. These are areas that are not always attractive to the some of the "educated" and "new rich" because of thier self importance and their failure to see the value in real diversity.

Denver needs educated and creative people, like yourself, to settle into these neighborhoods and not just follow the crowd, so the whole city can prosper, not just selected areas. Thank you for your post and thank you for being receptive to differences in people and culture.

Livecontent

I have to agree. One thing I have learned is I try not to look for homes in the area that have section 8 housing or apartment rentals in the area. That will chew up the equity you try to establish to your home

[tolife]

Mike, now you have me wondering. I wonder if Ruby Hill has a lot of section 8 and apartments that will affect my home's value. I know there are apartments along Federal and Mississippi nearby that look a little rough. It seems like Denver has so many pockets of nice homes next to areas like this. I'm just not sure this kind of thing can be avoided for those looking for a starter home in Denver that can be afforded.

[deanna.li]

Thanks for the info on all these areas. I am one of those who is moving to Denver (from Minneapolis) and looking for established areas to find a place...close to the city, with character...and it is such a daunting task to do long-distance! I am enjoying hearing about and checking on these areas, thanks!